Why do contacts make you see better than eyeglasses?

Question

Thihs is true in everyone I know. I have glasses and i don't see that well with them. Should I get contacts. I have sensitive eyes.

Answer 1

Contacts are not as exacting as glasses, many eye doctors write the prescription higher for contacts than they would for glasses. In addition the "better" vision that the wearer experiences is probably a statement as to having fewer blind spots than they have with glasses.

As for having sensitive eyes and getting contacts, make sure to use a high quality lens cleaning solution, be prepared to not wear them during allergy season, and make certain to remove them at night. Be sure to replace them a little earlier than the period that you are "supposed" to wear them for to lessen any issues you could possibly have with your eyes.

If you smoke, NEVER touch your eyes without washing your hands first, you wouldn't believe how much nicotine your hands get on them.

If your lens falls out because it's dry, DO NOT use saliva to rewet the lens, if you have sensitive eyes your just begging for problems. (Granted I've been wearing them long enough that I've pulled this a couple of times, fortunately without any ill effects.) Yes, I know it sounds gross, and the question "why would I DO that" comes to mind. Keep in mind contacts never fall out at a good time.

As some general advice, while annoying, keep going back for follow-ups until the doctor says you don't need to. These appointments are normally free, and help both you and the doctor make sure you have the right lenses that will cause you the fewest problems.

As a suggestion, ask about the Bauch&Lomb SoftLens series. While a little "outdated" these are really low maintenance lenses that the least number of people have problems with (slipping, falling out, drying out, tearing, etc.)

Most good optometrists start with these for first time contact wearers, however a lot of optometrists will try to sell you on the most ultra modern cool (read expensive) lenses possible.

Hope all of this helps.

Answer 2

Contacts have their own set of problems, depending on brand, just like glasses do.

Some people complain that the frames of the glasses keep them from seeing as well... and you have to be careful of them to keep them in good shape, not to mention they're not always the most comfortable. I gave up on contacts though because I got tired of dealing with all that fuss... and I had ones for astigmatism that didn't let a lot of oxygen through so if you accidentally slept in them you would wake up with and have cloudy vision all day (after you took the contacts out). That kind was also very uncomfortable, and I was advised by my doctor that no contact will ever correct astigmatism as well as glasses.

Anyway, if you CAN have the day and night type that are okay to sleep in, those are super comfy and you don't have to fuss with taking them in and out every morning and night... so if you can have those, then I would say you would like contacts better.

Answer 3

Contacts don't necessarily let you see better than glasses. In fact, in the vast majority of cases vision through glasses will be better than contacts. There are some exceptions...but I wouldn't go into a contact lens fitting expecting super vision.

Benefits are probably to do with what people mentioned before to do with vision restriction. Also, people tend to update their glasses script less if they wear contacts so the people you know may be comparing old glasses prescriptions with new contact lens prescriptions

Answer 4

If you lose your glasses all the time, contacts may help. As long as you don't lose your contact lens case that is. In my experience Contacts generally do not provide as much vision correction, but they work pretty well. It takes a while to get used to them, and they can really irritate your eyes, and yes, you will come to depend on eye drops quite a bit. Give them a try, you might like them, but a lot of people think they are too much hassle.

Answer 5

I wear both contacts and glasses and I actually see worse with the contacts. They don't make my distance vision as sharp as my glasses do and I have a harder time reading while wearing them. Contacts are more convenient than glasses but they also have their own set of problems. They can be very difficult to wear comfortably if your eyes don't produce a sufficient amount of tears. The contacts irritate your eyes and make them become bloodshot. They also are very uncomfortable if you accidentally fold the edge under or tear them but the worst if if you get a loose eyelash under them. That is pure agony.

Answer 6

You see better with contacts because they mimic natural vision better than glasses. The lens sits directly on your natural lens rather than a distance away from your eye. This allows you to perceive the actual size of things, allowing for better depth perception. Additionally, your peripheral vision is better because there are no gaps at the sides of your head as there are with glasses and no barrier to vision created by the frames.

Answer 7

Contacts can make you see better because the lens is applied directly to the eye, eliminating the variable space that glasses allow.

Answer 8

I see better with contacts than glasses--in fact my eye doctor noticed that. This may be something that is an individual situation with each person: one may do better with glasses, and vice versa.

In my case I seem to "relax" with better vision with contacts, with the full peripheral vision.

Answer 9

I wear contacts and I like them because they don't scratch, fog up, or get fingerprints like glasses do which is why you can probably see better with them.

Answer 10

I know this question is old but here are my thoughts.
For the vast majority of people who need vision correction there should be no difference between the 2. That person should be able to see just as well if they wear contacts and just as well if they wear glasses. The only difference is contact lenses offer more peripheral or side view vision than glasses cause they sit directly on the eye. With glasses you only get vision correction looking out of them.

For some people with eye diseases contact lenses help much more than glasses. This is due to them sitting directly on the eye that allows that person much better vision. Cause glasses sit a little away from your eyes that affects how that person see's due to light being reflected wrong. This is rare but it does happen.