Glasses and Contact Lenses

See your best with our eye glasses and content lenses in Tooele, UT

What are eyeglasses and contact lenses?

Eyeglasses are now being used to complement one’s style and make a fashion statement but, traditionally, prescription eyeglasses are used for the purpose of improving the vision of our patients who have poor eyesight. The choices of lenses and frames at Griffeth Vision have become very extensive and are designed mostly to cater to the ever-changing needs and styles of the patients in Salt Lake City and Tooele, UT. Aside from the normal plastic lenses, we now have available thinner version of lenses that are lighter and are scratch resistant that are perfect for those who lead active lifestyle.

Contact lenses are categorized into 2 general types, soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable lenses. Soft contact lenses are made from soft and flexible materials that allow oxygen to pass through the patient’s cornea. These are easier to adjust and are more comfortable compared to its rigid counterparts. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable compared to soft contact lenses and are resistant to the buildup of deposits which provides wearers with a clearer and crisper vision. There are also decorative contact lenses that have been used extensively to enhance the patient’s natural features and make them look more appealing.

Which is the better choice, eyeglasses or contact lenses?

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are being used primarily for vision correction. One is not necessarily better than the other and deciding on which one is best for the patient depends on many factors such as convenience, comfort, budget, lifestyle, and aesthetic value. The eye experts at the Griffeth Vision facility have listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of each to give patients a better idea as to which option is best suited to their preference and lifestyle.

• Eyeglasses – Advantages

  • Eyeglasses reduce the need to touch the eyes directly. Anything that comes in direct contact with the conjunctiva usually results to eye irritation or infection.
  • Eyeglasses protect the eyes of patients who have dry and sensitive eyes by protecting the eyes from environmental elements such as wind and foreign particles in the air from entering the eyes.
  • Eyeglasses are generally cheaper compared to contact lenses because patients do not have to change them as often as they would change contact lenses. When the prescription is updated, patients have the option to keep the frame and just change the lens to make the change more affordable.
  • Eyeglass frames can be used to compliment your style and many patients use them to make bold fashion statements.

• Eyeglasses – Disadvantages

  • Eyeglasses can distort peripheral vision since they sit a few millimeters away from the eyes.
  • First time users have complained of blurry vision and a slight difficulty focusing on objects when they first wear their glasses, but this will change over time.
  • The wrong choice of frames and lenses may reduce the aesthetic value of your features.
  • For patients with high prescriptions, the thick lenses and the magnified appearance of the eyes make the overall look unappealing.
  • Eyeglasses can easily get blurred with debris from the wind and also fogs up when there is a change in temperature. This can momentarily affect vision and can be very inconvenient at times.
  • Some patients experience headaches and discomfort when the eyeglass is ill fitting and exerts pressure on the nose and the area behind the ears.

• Contact lenses – Advantages

  • Contact lenses follow the natural curvature of the eyes and provide a wider area of clear vision and have less vision distortion and obstruction that is often experienced with glasses.
  • Contact lenses are good to have when you regularly participate in sports and exercise, as it does not get in the way of these activities.
  • Contact lenses do not clash with any of the patient’s outfits and will not affect their style.
  • Contact lenses do not fog up when there are temperature changes
  • Contact lenses offer a wide range of eye colors that patients can choose from to see which shade best complements their features to improve their appearance.

• Contact lenses – Disadvantages

  • Wearing and applying contact lenses need some getting used to and some patients will find it difficult to apply them at first.
  • Contact lenses can aggravate dry eye syndrome because they significantly reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the eyes.
  • Wearing contact lenses at work and constantly being in front of a computer will increase the chances of having computer vision syndrome.
  • Contacts require higher maintenance and must be cleaned and disinfected every day to avoid eye infection and irritation from contact lens deposits that could lead to more serious eye problems.
  • Failure to take out contact lenses before the patient sleeps sleep will result to waking up with dry eyes.