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Glasses or contact lenses: which is better for me?

Most people who need vision correction can choose spectacles, contact lenses or both. The right answer depends on your eyes, your power, your work, your hobbies and how much care you are willing to give to lenses. Here is an honest comparison.

Spectacles: the advantages

• Nothing touches the eye, so the risk of eye infection from spectacles is very low.
• They are quick to put on and take off, and easy to look after.
• They shield the eyes from dust, wind and grit on a scooter ride.
• Lenses can be made for distance, reading, computer work, or all three, and can darken in the sun.
• A good pair lasts until your power changes.

Spectacles: the drawbacks

• They fog up when you come out of air-conditioning, and rain spots the lenses in the monsoon.
• They slip down the nose with sweat on hot days.
• The frame limits your side vision.
• With high powers, lenses are thick and things look smaller (with minus power) or bigger (with plus power). If the power of the two eyes is very different, the images can differ in size.
• They can be knocked off or broken during sport.

Contact lenses: the advantages

• A wider, more natural field of view, with things seen at their true size, which matters most with high powers.
• No fogging and no rain spots.
• Freedom for football, running, dancing and other active sport.
• You can wear any plain sunglasses over them.
• When the two eyes have very different powers, lenses can be more comfortable than spectacles.
• For some eye conditions, the eye doctor may advise lenses because they give clearer vision than spectacles.

Contact lenses: the drawbacks

• They need a daily hygiene routine, and the rules must be followed every time.
• There is a small but real risk of a corneal infection, which is much higher if you sleep in lenses or let water touch them.
• They can feel dry in air-conditioned offices and during long screen sessions.
• They must be stopped during eye flu and can be uncomfortable during eye allergy.
• Lenses and solutions are an ongoing cost, and regular eye checks are needed.
• You still need an up-to-date pair of spectacles as a backup.

Read our page on contact lenses in Vasco for the fitting and the safety rules, and types of spectacle lenses for spectacle options.

Which suits everyday life in Goa?

• Football, running and dance: contact lenses, or sports spectacles with impact-resistant lenses.
• Swimming and the sea: contact lenses must come out before swimming. Swimming goggles made with your power are another option.
• A scooter commute in the monsoon: spectacles fog and get rain spots; lenses with a helmet visor stay clearer, but dust and wind can irritate.
• Long hours in an air-conditioned office: spectacles are often more comfortable for eyes that tend to dry out.
• Weddings, feasts and special occasions: many people who wear spectacles daily like lenses for the day.
• Dusty, smoky or chemical workplaces: spectacles, with safety lenses where needed, are usually the safer choice.
• Children: spectacles for most; some teenagers manage lenses well.
• Over 40: both progressive spectacles and multifocal contact lenses exist; some people use lenses for distance and reading glasses over them.

Who should not wear contact lenses?

Lenses may not suit you, or you may need extra care and closer follow-up, if you:

• have had repeated eye infections, or have eye flu at present;
• have marked dry eye, a strong eye allergy, or inflamed eyelids that are not yet treated;
• work in very dusty, smoky or chemical surroundings;
• find it hard to handle lenses, for example because of stiff fingers, or cannot keep up the cleaning routine.

The eye doctor examines your eyes before a fitting and tells you if lenses are not a good idea.

Can I use both?

Yes, and many people do. A common pattern is lenses for work, sport or outings, and spectacles in the evening and at home, which gives the eyes a rest. If you wear lenses, keep your spectacles up to date too, so that you can switch the moment your eyes are red or tired.

What about laser treatment?

Some adults whose power has been stable for a while ask about LASIK. At ReNew Vision, a LASIK suitability check-up and counselling can help you find out whether laser treatment could reduce your need for glasses; the laser itself is done at a laser centre we refer you to. Not everyone is suitable. See our eye specialities.

How to decide

Start with an up-to-date eye test for glasses and tell the eye hospital team about your work, sport and daily routine. If you are interested in lenses, a fitting with trial lenses shows whether they suit your eyes. At ReNew Vision Eye Hospital in Vaddem, Vasco, the eye check, spectacles and contact lens fitting are all in one place. The eye OPD is open Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm. See the Vision Correction Centre page, or call or WhatsApp 072489 88039.

Questions patients ask

Are contact lenses safe?

Yes, for most people, when they are fitted by an eye hospital and the rules are followed. The main risk is a corneal infection, which is rare but serious, and much more likely if you sleep in lenses or let water touch them.

Is my contact lens power the same as my spectacle power?

Not always. The power can differ, especially at higher powers, and a contact lens also has a size and curve that only a fitting can decide. A spectacle prescription is not a contact lens prescription.

Who should not wear contact lenses?

People with repeated eye infections, marked dry eye or untreated allergy or eyelid inflammation, those working in very dusty or chemical surroundings, and anyone who cannot keep up the hygiene routine may be better with spectacles. The eye doctor advises after an examination.

Can I play football in contact lenses?

Yes, many players do, once lenses have been fitted and you are comfortable with them. Daily disposable lenses are convenient for sport. Take the lenses out if your eye becomes red or painful, and see an eye doctor the same day if it does not settle quickly.

Do I still need spectacles if I wear contact lenses?

Yes. Keep an up-to-date pair for evenings, for rest days, and for any time your eyes are red, tired or infected and the lenses must come out.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.