Most of us take our eyesight for granted, yet our lives would change hugely if we were to have eye health issues or even to lose our vision altogether. Given that many eye health issues can be detected with an eye exam, there is every incentive to visit an optician or eye specialist regularly to have your vision tested.
In the event you have a problem with your vision that needs correcting, there are three types of vision correction that are generally used – glasses, contact lenses and laser eye surgery. But how do they compare?
Glasses
The most traditional and commonly used vision corrector is glasses. Glasses have many positives, but improving technology means they are far from the only option these days.
The pros of glasses are that they’re suitable for people of all ages, they offer a high degree of accuracy when it comes to correcting vision, they’re affordable, and they’re relatively convenient and robust. There is also less risk of complications with glasses than there is with contact lenses, as wearers don’t have to touch their eyes.
The cons of glasses are that they can be lost or damaged due to their ‘external’ nature, and they’re not cheap or easy to replace. Glasses can be expensive, depending on your tastes, while some people find them uncomfortable. They’re all unsuitable for some professions and activities.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses are a fantastic option if you don’t like wearing glasses, or have a job or hobby where wearing glasses isn’t practical.
The pros of contact lenses are the excellent field of vision they offer, their suitability for physical activities and adverse weather conditions and for their neutral effect on your look and style. Contact lenses are also usually very affordable.
The cons of contact lenses are that putting them in, taking them out and cleaning them is inconvenient and that some people are squeamish about anything coming into contact with their eye, or simply find them uncomfortable to wear. They can also be easily lost if your eyes get dry.
Laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery is the latest innovation in the field of vision correctors. Groups such as Optimax offer laser eye surgery as it not only improves vision, but helps to cure certain eye diseases; procedures such as cataract surgery are an investment that can provide long-term physical, mental and financial benefits.
Other pros of laser eye surgery include long-term savings on other types of vision correctors and the peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about forgetting or misplacing your glasses or contact lenses. It is a safe, fast procedure that offers excellent results although there are a lot of things to know about eye surgery before you book in for the procedure.
The cons of laser eye surgery are having to use eye drops immediately after the procedure, requiring time off work after the surgery and the initial cost. You might be asking yourself, will I need glasses after cataract surgery? and the answer is yes. But only for a short period of time to protect the eye and then you don’t have to worry about glasses ever again!
Given the importance of your eyesight to your quality of life, it is vital you have it reviewed regularly and, if you find yourself in need of vision correction, make sure you look at all the options available to you.
