Compare/Contrast Essay

Topic: Eyeglasses Vs Contact Lenses

Outline: Point-by-Point
I. Introduction
II. Price
a) Eyeglasses
b) Contact Lenses
III. Sight of Vision (natural and peripheral)
a) Eyeglasses
b) Contact Lenses
IV. Comfort
a) Eyeglasses
b) Contact Lenses
V. Conclusion

Eyeglasses Vs Contact Lenses

When you go to an ophthalmologist for the first time, the first thing that comes to your mind is that he or she is going to tell you that you are having sight problems, and due to this you will need to wear corrective eyewear. Wearing eyeglasses as we know is not the best option, since wearing them brings some disadvantages, such as having nicknames. However you need to know that eyeglasses are not the only option that corrects sight problems, since contact lenses also exist. They have some disadvantages too, but it is another option. So, in order to reach a decision on which type of corrective eyewear is the best for you, I am going to give you three differences between them, which are: price, sight of vision (natural and peripheral) and comfort; with the purpose of helping you to decide which option is more appropriate for you.

The first difference between eyeglasses and contact lenses is their price, since one can be cheaper than the other. Eyeglasses are considered to be cheaper, because the minimum price to buy one of these is $300 MXN, and their life span is for a year or more. So, if you want to buy a treatment for a year the cost will be between $300 MXN to $5,000 MXN, but you have to be aware that the price also varies depending on the brand you want to buy, the life span and the material by which is made. On the other hand, contact lenses’ treatment for a year start from $1,800 MXN to $2,500 MXN, but you should know that the price also depends on the brand you want to buy, the life span, and the material by which is made. So, if you are starting to have sight problems, and you do not know which type of corrective eyewear you want to buy, you have to look first into your pocket, since money is an important element to reach a decision.

A second difference between these two types of corrective eyewear is their sight of vision (natural and peripheral). With eyeglasses you cannot have a natural vision, because “the distance between the eye and the glasses cause the objects to appear larger or smaller than they actually are” (Wright, 2006, para. 10). Also with eyeglasses you are not able to have a peripheral vision, since the frames of the glasses block it and every time you want to “move your eyes to the side, you are no longer looking through the optical lens, and due to this you can have a blurred and distorted vision” (Wright, 2006, para. 12). On the contrary, with contact lenses you can have a more natural vision, since the place where you wear them is right on the cornea of the eye, and due to this, “objects appear in the correct size and positions, without any distortion” (Wright, 2006, para. 10); moreover, with contact lenses you are able to have a wider view and a peripheral vision, due to the fact that with them you always see in a clear way because they move along with your eyes (Wright, 2006, para. 12). To sum up, you have to know that the sight of vision (natural and peripheral) of these two types of corrective eyewear is another thing in which you have to think about, because choosing the inappropriate eyewear will not let you have the vision you are expecting.

A third difference between glasses and contacts is their comfort. Using eyeglasses is not very comfortable because they fog up with every temperature change, they are a distraction while practicing a sport or playing a game, because they do not remain in the same place, that is to say, they are unstable. Also this type of corrective eyewear is not very comfortable because wearing them while it is snowing or raining is annoying, due to the fact that they partially block your lens; whereas, contact lenses are seen as more comfortable, because they do not fog up with every change of temperature, they do not distract you while practicing sports or playing games, since they remain stable (without moving), and it is not annoying to use them, because they do not blur your vision every time it snows or rains (Wouldn’t you rather wear contacts than glasses?, n.d., table). In other words, you have noticed that comfort is another aspect to take into account in order to make the right decision on which one to buy, because depending on how comfortable you feel using one of these two types of corrective eyewear, you will perform satisfactorily all of your activities.

To conclude, even though eyeglasses and contact lenses are two types of corrective eyewear that have the same purpose which is to correct sight problems, they differ in some aspects such as: price, sight of vision (natural and peripheral) and comfort. So, taking into consideration these aspects one might require or benefit from using these two types of eyewear. If your budget allows you might be able to consider using glasses for formal situations or educational practices and limit the use of contacts for outdoor activities.

References

Wright, M. (2006, August 29). The Advantages of Contact Lenses over Glasses. Retrieved November 17th, 2010, from http://www.articlealley.com/article_84513_17.html?ktrack0kcplink
GP ContactLenses. (n.d.). Wouldn’t you rather wear contacts than glasses? Retrieved November 18th, 2010, from http://www.contactlenses.org/clsglasses.htm