Glasses, contacts, or vision correction surgery may improve your vision. Which is right for you depends on the severity and type of vision loss and your overall health, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
Multiple options are available if your vision needs correcting. You must, however, consider several factors when deciding upon glasses, contact lenses, or vision correction surgery.
Each vision correction option has advantages and drawbacks. Your health, lifestyle, and personal preference are also considerations when deciding on the best option for you.
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There are four types of refractive errors:
- Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, results from an atypical eye shape that causes light to come into focus before it hits the retina at the back of the eye. This makes it difficult to see far-away objects.
- Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, results from an atypical eye shape that causes light to come into focus behind the retina. This makes it hard to see nearby objects.
- Presbyopia is farsightedness that occurs as you age when your eyes lose the ability to shift focus between distant and close objects. It’s common for people to start experiencing presbyopia
after age 45 yearsTrusted Source . - Astigmatism often distorts images and might cause additional symptoms such as double or slanted vision. It generally happens when the cornea or lens of your eye is elongated instead of round, but there can be other causes.
Vision correction can help you see clearly, no matter the type of refractive error. For many people with refractive errors, daily tasks would be impossible without some vision correction.
Read more about nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism.
The right type of vision correction for you depends on a variety of factors:
- Day-to-day needs: Do you need to improve your eyesight for all activities or only for certain things, like reading or driving? If you only need vision correction for some tasks, glasses may be more practical. Contact lenses or surgery might be a better option if you need vision correction for most activities.
- Eye health: Not all vision correction options are suited for all refractive errors. Vision correction surgery isn’t generally recommended for presbyopia.
- Overall health: Some chronic conditions might make vision correction surgery unsafe. You must store, handle, and wear contact lenses carefully to avoid infection. This may be difficult if you’re managing another health condition.
- Lifestyle: Some jobs, sports, and hobbies can influence your vision correction choice. Some environments might be unsafe for contact lenses, and others may not be suitable for glasses.
- Personal preferences: Your personal preference also influences what works best for you. Some people enjoy the look and style of glasses. Others might consider glasses a hassle or don’t like the feeling of glasses sitting on their noses and ears.
Glasses use clear lenses to refocus light to the correct point on your retina so you can see clearly.
When you have an eye exam, the eye doctor performs a series of tests to assess exactly how these lenses must be shaped to correct your vision. This exact shape of the lens is your glasses prescription.
Your eyeglass prescription might be the same or different in both eyes. One lens can also have multiple types of vision correction.
Types of glasses
There are two primary types of glasses:
- Single vision lenses have one prescription on the entire lens. They correct either near or distant vision.
- Multifocal lenses correct both near and distance vision in the same lens. Another type of multifocal lens, trifocal lenses, can correct near, middle, and distance vision all in one lens.
Cost of glasses
Glasses can cost, on average, $234 out of pocket. This price can be much less or much more. Several reasons can explain the wide range in price:
- Frames: Choosing non-designer frames for your glasses can cut the cost. Plenty of good quality, fashionable, and affordable frames are on the market.
- Lens material: Standard plastic lenses are generally inexpensive. Thinner and more durable lenses, such as high index or polycarbonate lenses, can increase the cost of your glasses.
- Type of lens: Multifocals cost more than single vision lenses. Higher prescriptions sometimes require high index lenses, which can increase the cost. Any additional correction you might need, such as prism for double vision, will cost extra.
- Where you buy your glasses: Your eye doctor will generally have a wide range of glasses at their office, but you’re not limited to this selection. You can often find less expensive options online. If you only need glasses for reading, you can usually pick up a pair at a drugstore or big-box retailer for less than $20.
- Vision insurance: Vision insurance will typically cover a portion of the cost of your glasses, and all or a portion of your eye exam if it’s an annual exam.
Contact lenses are thin, clear discs you wear directly on your eye. The principle is the same as glasses: The thin disc corrects how light enters your eye, helping you see more clearly.
You’ll get a prescription for contact lenses during a contact lens exam. Your contact lens prescription is the disc strength that’ll correct your vision and it might not be the same for both eyes. Your eye doctor will ensure your eyes are healthy enough for contact lenses.
A contact lens prescription won’t be the same as a glasses prescription. You need a prescription specific for contact lenses, which must be updated yearly.
Types of contact lenses
There are several types of contact lenses:
- Soft contact lenses are the
most common typeTrusted Source of contact lenses today. They’re comfortable and easier to manage than most other types of contacts. They’re typically disposable, and you can choose from contact lenses that you change daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly. - Hard contact lenses are firm and made of thin plastic, which lets oxygen pass into the eye easily. They’re often a good option for people with astigmatism or keratoconus.
- Multifocal contact lenses can correct both near and distance vision at the same time.
- Hybrid contact lenses combine hard and soft contacts. The center is rigid, but the outside is soft, allowing for a more comfortable fit.
- Toric contact lenses are specialized soft contact lenses designed for people with astigmatism.
- Cosmetic contact lenses change the color or appearance of your eyes with or without correcting your vision. You’ll need a prescription for these lenses, which must be cared for like regular contacts.
Cost of contact lenses
The price of contact lenses can vary widely depending on which lenses you need:
- Daily disposable soft contact lenses can cost between $400 and $750 a year, or around $50 to $90 for a box of 90 lenses (one eye).
- Weekly disposable soft contact lenses can cost from $425 to $600 a year, or around $50 to $70 for a 12-week supply of lenses for one eye.
- Monthly disposable soft contact lenses can cost between $200 and $400 a year, or around $50 to $100 for a box of six contact lenses (one eye).
- Hard contacts can cost between $80 and $325 each. A single pair is designed to last an entire year.
Vision insurance, coupons, and manufacturer rebates may reduce these prices.
Vision correction surgery can correct how your eye processes light which, in turn, helps you see more clearly. It’s a popular option for people who don’t want to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Types of vision correction surgery
Several types of vision correction surgery exist:
- LASIK creates a small flap in the cornea and uses a laser to change its shape. This changes how light reaches your retina. LASIK treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
- Wavefront-guided LASIK involves measuring your eye from front to back with a special laser technique called “wavefront” technology. This creates a 3-D image of your eye and allows for a more customized surgery based on your eye measurements.
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is the most common alternative to LASIK. PRK removes the epithelial layer of the cornea and uses a laser to reshape it.
- Epi-LASIK is similar to PRK, but it saves the epithelial layer of the cornea to put back in place after it’s reshaped.
- SMILE is an acronym for small incision lenticule extraction. SMILE is similar to LASIK, but the surgeon makes a smaller incision to alter the shape of the cornea to correct nearsightedness.
- Conductive keratoplasty uses heat to shrink and tighten the cornea. It’s used for people over 40 years with mild to moderate farsightedness.
- Phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) are surgically implanted lenses placed in front of the natural lens of the eye. IOLs are often used for people who need strong vision correction that standard LASIK or PRK can’t correct.
- Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens. RLE can be used for farsightedness that LASIK or PRK can’t correct.
Cost of vision correction surgery
The cost of vision correction surgery can vary depending on the procedure and the degree of vision correction needed.
- LASIK can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 per eye.
- In 2020, the average cost of LASIK in the United States was $2,632 per eye.
- Insurance typically doesn’t cover LASIK because it’s an optional (elective) surgery.
- You’ll need to pay for LASIK out of pocket unless you have a medical reason why glasses or contact lenses can’t correct your vision.
Regular eye (ophthalmic) exams are a key part of keeping up with your overall health. The American Optometric Association’s (AOA) recommendations for eye exams are:
| Age | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | At 6 to 12 months of age |
| 3 to 5 years | At least once between 3 and 5 years of age |
| 6 to 17 years | Before first grade and once a year after that |
| 18 to 64 years | At least every 2 years |
| 65 years and older | Once a year |
The frequency of eye exams may vary based on your eye doctor’s recommendations. The AOA recommends adults have a comprehensive eye exam at 40 years, when presbyopia is likely to begin.
People who are at a higher risk for vision or eye health concerns should also have an annual exam, no matter their age. You may be at a higher risk if you:
wear contact lensesTrusted Source - have a personal or family history of eye conditions such as glaucoma
- have
progressively decliningTrusted Source vision - require a high degree of vision correction
- have
type 1 or type 2 diabetesTrusted Source - have vision in only one eye
- have been injured or had past surgery in one or both eyes
Some vision symptoms shouldn’t wait until your regular eye exam. See a doctor or eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience:
- a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- eye pain
- ongoing eye itching or burning
- flashes of lights in your eye(s)
- a sudden sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Glasses, contacts, and vision correction surgery can all help you see more clearly. The right type of vision correction for you depends on the severity and type of vision loss you have and your overall health, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
An eye doctor can test your vision to determine the prescription you need. People ages 18 to 64 should get an eye exam at least every 2 years.
An eye doctor can also explain the pros and cons of each vision correction option to help you find the right fit.