Glasses, do you love them or do you want to ditch them?

Glasses are a reality for three in five of us, myself being a glasses wearer. Sometimes it can be down to genetics but environmental factors can also play a role. Naturally ageing can also worsen eyesight for the vast majority of us, and prescription glasses are the most affordable option to go with but are your glasses getting in the way of your style? Personally, I love my glasses however, one of my kids who wears glasses would prefer to seek other options and it's made me think, do you love yours or would you prefer to ditch them? 

My mother who has a far stronger perception than I do has been wearing contact lenses for years and couldn't wait to swap her glasses for them, me on the other end I feel my glasses add to my overall style and I feel that having options means you don’t need to get rid of glasses altogether, but instead folded contact lenses into your vision-corrective rotation?

Fashion and frames

I can understand why some people would prefer to have contacts over frames, as glasses frames unavoidably have a style, and that style needs to complement other items of your clothing and some my find that too much of a faff to deal with while others could be subconsciously dressing for their glasses, and limiting their creative palette in the process or on the otherside they could feel frames give them more confidence to try new things. With contacts, you no longer have frames to clash with your clothing or jewellery for some this may mean they feel freer to take more risks, and benefit all the more from stylistic expression in the process.

Confidence In Social Settings

If you don’t have the money to buy trendy frames or refresh your glasses regularly, you may feel a little vulnerable wearing them out and about, day in day out. Indeed, there’s scientific evidence to back this up, where glasses have been found to impact your confidence in terms of self-image and self-confidence.

Add in, too, that glasses can act as something of a barrier between you and the outside world. The frames are easy to hide behind, some may find this a hindrance while others find this comforting. For some contact lenses, then, can help people feel more comfortable when putting themselves out there, particularly at events such as weddings or work functions, where glasses would otherwise feel restrictive.

Practical Benefits for an Active Lifestyle

While glasses don't bother me while hiking or exercising, it can cause issues for some esepically those engaging in physically sports such as Judo or Rugby. 

Even if your vision needs are greater than others, you can get multifocal contact lenses that meet your specific needs. Doing this means you can exercise safely and without worrying for the loss of the very things you need in order to see.

As a final note, it bears mentioning that swapping glasses for lenses isn’t so much about vanity as it is about confidence. Glasses are both useful and stylish but contacts can give some people more flexibility, agency and the opportunity to make practical style choices.