Eyesight is a prevailing concern for many in the UK. According to recent statistics, 59% of UK adults wear spectacles – placing the nation just outside the top 10 for largest spectacle-wearing population percentage in Europe.

If you have recently discovered that your eyesight is changing, and that you may need a prescription, you might find yourself wondering what your options are. Between the two principal options – glasses, and contact lenses – which might be the best for you?

Wearing Glasses

Glasses are an evergreen option for correcting eyesight, and have been a primary method for doing so since their invention in the 13th century. They are a handy in that they can be put on and removed with ease, and can be customised to suit your style and needs.

However, glasses can also be an ungainly option. They preclude you from being able to safely participate in a number of activities, whether getting in the way of using viewfinders and scopes or presenting a direct risk in sporting activities. They can also be lost if placed down and forgotten about – resulting in poor eyesight and increased costs.

Choosing Contacts

Contact lenses, meanwhile, are a useful alternative that can return freedom to day-to-day activities. Contact lenses were first theorised by world-famous inventor and mathematician Leonardo da Vinci in the 1500s, but only became a practicable solution with the development of new, eye-safe materials in the 19th and 20th century.

Today, contact lenses are a supremely safe alternative to glasses, that provide complete vision correction and enable freedom of movement and activity without fear of losing or breaking them. They can come in a variety of types, with some being worn long-term and others being single-use, disposable lenses. For the uninitiated, though, contact lenses can feel like a major imposition in comparison, owing to the prevailing method of applying lenses to your eyes by hand.

Transitioning from Glasses to Lenses

For those who find contact lenses too scary a concept on account of their usage, provider Lenstore had some useful advice:

“Contact lenses can be daunting for those who haven’t used them before, with the idea of putting something in your eyes. For many, touching their eyes is an off-putting concept. But contact lenses can actually feel a lot more natural than glasses and in some cases more comfortable for longer periods of time, particularly for those with higher prescriptions. They’re also often easier to wear when playing sports or engaging in more active pastimes.”

“If you’re thinking about swapping to contact lenses, you should speak to your optometrist and get advice, as they can help to allay many fears and concerns that might otherwise put you off.”