Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with a vision problem or you’ve been visiting the eye doctor for years, you may wonder whether your choice of glasses or contacts is actually the best option for your eye condition, lifestyle and personal style preferences. If so, we’ve got you covered. This handy guide covers four common vision problems and offers tips to help you choose the corrective solution that fits your needs, so you can enjoy the confidence that comes from both seeing well and looking great.
Common Vision Problems
Vision troubles happen because the shape of the eyeball or the cornea causes light to be refracted differently and not focused directly on the retina.
The four most common vision problems are:
- Farsightedness: Images are blurry close up.
- Nearsightedness: Objects far away are blurry.
- Astigmatism: Blurry vision is caused by the cornea being more oblong than round.
- Presbyopia: Difficulty seeing up close caused by aging, when the lens in your eye begins to weaken and can’t focus as well.
Corrective Options
Glasses and contacts will work all four common vision problems, according to MedlinePlus. Eye surgery is an option for farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. For presbyopia, glasses are usually recommended, although contacts are also an option. What you choose depends on your lifestyle, prescription strength and personal preference. Here are some things to consider.
Glasses
These can range from basic reading glasses to multifocal lenses. For age-related difficulty seeing up close or focusing when driving in the dark, you may simply need a pair of glasses to wear occasionally. The American Optometric Association notes that it’s common for people to experience changes in vision after the age of 40 and that, if you do, your eyes will likely continue to change for the next few years, which is why glasses or contacts are the simplest treatment for presbyopia.
Many people who wear contacts also like to have a pair of glasses for times when their eyes are irritated or they simply need to take a break. Glasses are an easy way to correct all four vision problems and, with so many options available, they’re also a great way to express your unique personal style.
As you age, you may need to transition to bifocal or even trifocal lenses to correct faraway and up-close vision changes.
Contacts
If you need glasses all the time or are very active, contact lenses may be a better fit for your lifestyle. You can get lenses that you throw away and replace daily, weekly or even monthly. Your eye doctor can recommend what would work best for you.
Contacts require an extra fitting at your eye exam to make sure you get the right size and prescription. This prescription is different from the one you get for glasses. Contacts are a convenient option for many people. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 million people in the United States wear contact lenses.
Eye Surgery
Eye surgery is another option to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. This is a surgical procedure, and as the Food and Drug Administration recommends, you should always evaluate the risks and benefits before deciding to pursue this option. The LASIK procedure uses a laser to remove corneal tissue, reshaping the cornea to improve its focusing power.
If you have large refractive errors (i.e., a strong prescription for your glasses or contacts), the surgery may not fully correct the problem, and you may still need to wear glasses or contacts.
No matter your vision issue, you need to wait until your eyes have stabilized before getting the surgery. If your prescription hasn’t changed for a couple of years, it may be a good time to talk to your eye doctor about eye surgery.
Paying for Corrective Options
Once you make a decision based on your prescription, age, and lifestyle, it’s time to make an investment. The cost of glasses, contacts or surgery can add up. Vision insurance helps you offset these expenses. By opting into these benefits during the spring open enrollment period, your annual eye exam will be fully covered (after a small copay), you’ll receive an ample allowance to cover your contact lens fitting, and you’ll receive additional discounts and allowances for glasses and contacts. You may even get an allowance for eye surgery.
Watch this video to find out more about how vision insurance can help you cover the costs of keeping your eyes healthy.