Vision correction has greatly contributed to the human civilization. And contact lenses and
eyeglasses have long been the most common methods of vision correction. Although many people claim that modern contact lenses win hands down, some other individuals would like to advocate benefits of eyeglasses. There is actually no common sense in this comparison.
Eyeglasses with a single prescription usually offer a wider range of vision correction and additional safety, while contact lenses in modern times are easy to wear and more convenient. The selection of contact lenses over eyeglasses or vice versa indeed involves many factors, including age, eye prescription, work and entertainment environments, peer pressure and finance.
Single focus contact lenses provide wider corrective view than multifocal lenses. For most young adults with a sole vision problem, single contact lenses are the most common. But many old folks need vision correction at more than one distance. In general, multifocal contact lenses are widely used now to correct presbyopia. However, cylindrical correction by contact lenses for astigmatic patients involves more risks that the lenses may move off of the cornea or rotate.
Multifocal contact lenses are usually thicker than single vision contacts and more expensive. Yet another solution to multi-correction is monovision contact lenses. Presbyopic patients can wear a near contact lens in one eye and a far lens in the other eye. This new form of vision correction can seriously degrade the wearers vision at some distances. Actually, the selection of contact lenses in single, multifocal or monovision type mainly depends on the wearers vision needs.
Unlike eyeglass lenses, contact lenses are beyond the technology of polarization. But other extra benefits such as anti-glare and UV protection are available from contact lenses. A shortcoming of contacts is that they can not offer adequate protection against bright light and UV rays, because they only cover the cornea.
As the federal law Fairness To Contact Lens Consumer went into effect in 2004, prices of contacts are now much lower because patients can buy contact from any sources they want.
