Glasses? contacts? question

[Millie42]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:40pm

As a refreshing topic change, and out of my curiosity, I have a question for those who wear glasses and/or contacts.

I got glasses for the first time 2 years ago... I had become a little near-sighted. I only wear my glasses about 25-30% of my day (to drive, in big classes, if a tv is small and I am several feet away, etc.). Well, my eyes have gotten worse... not horribly worse, as my glasses still work but it IS possible that I would see better with a new prescription.
So, here is my question: is it just as expensive to get new lenses as a new pair of glasses? See, I feel bad b/c after the appointment and all the additions to the glasses, my dad paid $500 those 2 years ago. And to me, that is just insane.
I dont want to mention it to him if it is going to cost him another ridiculous amount. I can CERTAINLY live with it...possibly even until I graduate and can pay myself. I had just been wondering about that.

Also, are contacts considerably more expensive?
Plus, would it be stupid to get contacts? I know that eyes only accept contacts for about 20 years so I wouldnt want to waste some years if I don't need to yet.


Oh the freedom of an off-topic board!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:48pm

Having worn glasses for 25 years and contacts for three I will tell you this.

The most expensive part of glasses are the frames (usually) if you need a new prescription, but the frames are fine, they can make new lenses for the frames and that will save money.

Contacts vary a lot based on your prescription.

How old are you? Your age will indicate how much you eyes will change.

Most of the "getting worse" of near-sightedness happens from ages 12 to 25. Then they stay the same for about 10 years. Then you start to 'revert' so that means bifocals.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:51pm

I think I am going to get dark rim glasses...

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:51pm

I want to get glasses b/c I am the only person I know without them...

And yes, I know that makes me a follower not a leader.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:53pm

What are you talking about "eyes can only accept contacts for 20 years?" I've only had mine for a few years, but both my parents have worn contacts for far longer. I started wearing glasses my freshman year of high school and only wore them in school, but by the time I was a junior, I needed them full time. Yes, eye correction can be expensive, but in the long run, keeping up with your perscriptions is more important.

Plus, your eyesight will deteriorate much more quickly if you don't keep up with your perscriptions. Rodney's right on this one, the frames are what are expensive.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 5:54pm

That you can only wear contacts for 20 years is total myth. I've worn contacts for 22 years and counting and have never had any significant problems whatsoever. A pair of daily wear lenses usually last me three or four years (I take very good care of them) and typically cost around $80 for the pair so they're incredibly inexpensive. Multipurpose solution is about $8 for a large bottle that lasts a month or two. I enzyme them once a month (a pack of 8 tablets is roughly $7 or 8 ). For me at least, it's all very cheap and easy (it can be more expensive if your eyes require a more "exotic" prescription). My prescription has been exactly the same for more than a decade and I have yet to require bifocals (my parents are in their 70s and my mother only got bifocals about 10 years ago and my father still doesn't need them). I wear glasses at work (since I stare at a computer screen all day I find that my eyes get less fatigued and dried out wearing glasses rather than contacts).

Updated On: 11/3/04 at 05:54 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:01pm

I've been wearing contact lenses for more than thirty years. I'v never heard that there is a time limit for how long one can wear them.

If you got glasses two years ago, you are already overdue for an eye exam. You can explore the option of contacts while you are there. If you shop around, they are not all that expensive. I get disposables, and throw them out every week or two...whenever they start to feel funky. A six month supply runs me around $80.00 at BJ's.

If you get contacts, hang onto your glasses. You'll still use them sometimes.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:01pm

It really depends on the type of contacts you need. Soft disposable lenses can be MUCH cheaper than glasses if you have no major special requirements. In order to wear soft lenses, I need a Toric lens (weighted for astigmatism) in my left eye and it still is cheaper than glasses if I bought a new pair every year (and this is just for the lenses of my glasses). But due to a rotated axis in my left eye, I will never be able to see as clearly with contacts as with glasses, so I only wear them for special occasions or for acting. The price of glasses also varies wildly not only on frames, but on the lenses and the hundreds of options for lenses and whether or not you have an eye plan on your insurance. Plus, a good pair of frames can last several years and lenses can be replaced every two years if your eyes change slowly. I need a new prescription every year. With my insurance, I was able to get my new titanium rimless glasses with every available scratchproof, lightweight option on the lenses that would normally cost $800 for $225. An annual supply of disposable contacts cost me $150 with insurance, so for me, the glasses were a better investment. The frames should last about 10 years.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 8:00pm

I wear glasses when I am driving

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 8:57pm

Not considering cost, etc., I personally really prefer contacts to glasses. While they dry out after over-use, I find them more practical. I hate the fact that I have to keep pushing my glassing up to the bridge of my nose, and that if I roll my eyes and look at my peripheral, everything's blurry.

Go for contacts and get a cheaper pair of glasses for home use, is my advise.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:00pm

If you're near-sighted, wearing contacts can help slow down your vision's rate of disintegration as well. Take it from a girl who was heading towards legal blindness. :)

[WiCkEd4LyFfE]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:04pm

I'm slightly near sided and have a pair of plastic frames (black and in purple), then silver metal frames. Only wear them in school and tv.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:04pm

Glasses, but not all the time. They're purple. :)

[Millie42]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:34pm

Thanks guys. Very helpful!

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:40pm

I'm nearsighted. I've worn glasses since the 4th grade. I got contacts in 7th grade and they have helped to correct my eyesight(I've only had them for about 4 years...I'm in 11th grade now). I still use my glasses at night, so if you get contatcs don't get rid of them! You'll still use them.

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:03pm

I've had contacts from the age of 6 months (yes, I typed that correctly), then went to glasses when I got big enough that they fit, and have both at the moment (clearly, not worn at the same time). Make sure that if you get both, you get the appropriate vision measurements taken for each thing, because it *will* differ. I see much better with contacts than I do with the same prescription in glasses - the lens is right on your eye so it'd be a lower prescription in contacts than glasses.

PLEASE, do YOURSELF a huge favor and keep your appointments regular, keep up with your prescription changes, do NOT neglect your eyes at any cost. Just...trust me on this. (Im not comfortable detailing my situation on the board but if you need to know *exactly* why this is important, PM me).

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:44pm

I've been wearing glasses and/or contacts for over 40 years. I used to work for an eye doctor and picked up a lot of good info re contact lenses while I was there.

Contacts have improved tremendously over the years. They're super thin now and really comfortable. Most important - if you're eyes are healthy and you're just experiencing near sightedness, your eyes will definitely strengthen with the use of contacts. We've had kids come in who were in glasses for most of their childhood. We fitted them for contacts and (no joke) before the second year was out they were no longer wearing either glasses OR contacts! Their eyes had improved that much.

Besides the comfort factor, contacts are also very inexpensive now. Most manufacturers offer special discounts if you buy theirs and that brings the price down even lower. The more you buy, the less they are.

The more complicated the vision is, the more expensive the contact becomes. Torics (as mentioned) do correct astigmatism and they cost more than regular contacts. Bi-focal contacts will cost even more, with the price depending on what kind of bi-focals they are.

You aren't interested in this - but older folks might be. A salesman from one of the big contact lens companies told me that next year (probably) they'll have a daily wear toric bi-focal. Perfect for baby boomers who have been wearing contacts most of their lives and now need bi-focals. Unfortunately these are also the folks who will be retired and can't afford to buy them!

[midnghtdolphin]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:24am

i have really bad astigmatism in both eyes and am nearsighted on top of it... and yes, i wear contacts... and yes, they're soft ones (ok, so they are toric lenses, which are super expensive, but still). and i have glasses for when i take the contacts out. you can get new lenses for the same pair of frames. if you like glasses, fine, but i like contacts much more. just my two cents.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:32am

I much prefer contacts too. Oh yeah, if you're too lazy to take off your contacts after 14-18 hours of use (hey, it happens), you might want to consider spending (substantially) more money and purchasing "Night & Day" lenses (I think that's the brand name). You can wear them while you're sleeping as well. Very convenient.

ALSO consider how sensitive your eyes are. It's so, so important. I was wondering why my eye sight was giving me trouble and seemed to dry faster than usual and they were a bit ichy, and it turned out I was over-wearing my contacts and because they in turn weren't allowing my eyes to breath as much as they should, my eyes started to grow veins on the surface to give them more oxygen. Also, because my contacts weren't cleaned or something, my eyes would start to treat it like a foreign substance.

I might be slightly inaccurate with this (my memory isn't what it used to be), but the point is the same - be careful with contacts, but they're a great alternative.

[midnghtdolphin]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:39am

the night and day ones aren't as healthy for your eyes though. they don't let them enough oxygen in.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:42am

Just took my contactsmout and out my glasses on :)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 12:48am

Same here, shlamdiddly.

Yeah, that's what I was told too, midnightdolphin. That's why I wear Pro-Clear instead of Night & Day. It would've been terrible for the blood vessels on my eyes.