glasses vs contacts?

[sightlines]

http://www.weinstockeyecare.com/faq's.htm

Good FAQ on the procedure.

[rrrr]

I got by with reading glasses for a couple years, but then got glasses that helped for reading as well as distance. I hated wearing them, so I switched to contacts. One contact for reading, and one for distance. I much prefer the contacts, although they are not perfect. As someone stated earlier, I have a hell of a time with menus in dimly lit restaurants. Also I don't like the glare while driving at night. I also ride motorcycles so I have a pair of sunglasses that keep the wind out of my eyes, this is a necessity.

I have monovision contacts too. Er, contact that is. I just wear one for corrected distance and astigmatism, the other eye allows close up chores.

[badart]

One of my coworkers had Lasik surgery and was back wearing glasses within two years. She won't opt for the surgery again.

I use both, they both have their pro's and con's and by having both I can use them for each occasion on it's own merits.

[R22]

well now that i have a "real job" with vision insurance.. i will look into the lasik thingy.. that is the way i'd like to go if i can afford it. the thing about always having to grab my readers for up close stuff irks me to no end!! and then dropping them and looking for them etc etc!!

i haven't been to motivated to do anything because of finances and i could get by with the $1.00/pair at "dollar tree"..

but lately, i've noticed that i must be closer and closer to street signs and highways signs as i drive.. that is worriesome..

because the motorcycle mainly, i am leaning towards the contacts route..

thank you for all the information

[Jamski]

Fortyitis...meet fiftyitis.

I started needing reading glasses probably five to seven years ago. One day at work I had them on and discovered to my amazement (and dismay) that I could see my work so much better that I've been wearing them at work ever since. Otherwise I can still more-or-less do without.

But I could never do contacts. Ever. Anyone who's ever been through an 80's-era FAA flight physical with the glaucoma check will understand.

[R22]

ouuuuuuuuuuu maybe not lasik.. taken from sightlines post above and linky:

>>>Will LASIK surgery be any good for me because I am over 50?

Laser LASIK corrective surgery work effectively to correct the general focus of eyes, no matter what your age. However, the fine focusing lens inside your eye firms with maturity and no longer provides the capability of clear reading vision past 50 years of age. This means that even if you have surgery, you will still need reading glasses to see clearly up close from about age 50 or 55 years of age. Laser surgery may be able to give you clear vision for all the other focal distances, without regular glasses, for the rest of your life. You may also wish to consider monovision.

If you are over 60 years of age, and have any degree of cataracts, you may benefit from waiting to have your vision corrected at the time of your cataract surgery. The lens placed in your eye at the time of cataract surgery can correct your nearsightedness or farsightedness. Most people develop cataracts sometime between 60 and 85 years of age. Arrangements can sometimes be made to have your cataract surgery early, even before you develop a noticeable cataract, for the sake of enhanced focusing benefits. However, health care plans will not cover any expense unless a significant cataract has developed. The earliest signs of cataracts are increasing glare such as with night driving, reading, and driving into sunset or in inclement weather. A careful eye examination will reveal the best option for your particular circumstance.<<<


well then i don't want lasik.. if i have to wear readers, i may as well just wear glasses/contacts all the time.. oh well

[Frank Capua]

This going two pages... I did not see that coming. Maybe if I had been wearing my glasses??

Wore contacts until I was around 50 and had to start wearing reading glasses to read when I had them in. Now I wear glasses and lift them up or hook them on my collar when I want to read.

[HopHead]

I'm 45 and just had PRK. I was not a candidate for Lasik due to thinner than average corneas but the results are identical even though recovery for PRK can be a little bit longer. They only did one eye so I now have monovision. I use my corrected eye for distance and my uncorrected eye for up close. That way I don't need the cheaters. For the first time since I was in the 4th grade, I can get up in the morning and see without having to put on glasses or contacts.

I just had my one month followup yesterday and the corrected eye is now 20/15 when it was about 20/150 before the PRK. I'm still getting used to the monovision but I'm happy with my choice to only do one eye so far. The added benefit of only doing one eye is that it was half the cost of doing both. Plus my wife had some money in a health savings account that her employer adds to every month so they out-of-pocket cost for me was zero.

[Jim Wilke]

Except I've been told lasix could fix my long distant vision, but then I'd still likely need glasses for reading.

That's me - but - you're probably going to need reading glasses eventually, anyway or go to bifocals.

That's what tipped me over; I was in my early 40s and started having trouble reading, especially on planes when you're stuck for 3 hours. I was closing one eye and reading with the other. I went to me eye doctor, got bifocals and hated them. I was 20/600 in one eye, 20/750 in the other and now I couldn't read. I hated glasses - always fogged up or wet, got scratched or dirty, slipped off my face, wore big red patches in my nose. HATED GLASSES! Never tried contacts, too much trouble and I have an aversion to sticking stuff in my eyes, have trouble with even taking drops.

I had Lasik about 15 years ago, never looked back. I am 20/15 in my right eye, 20/30 in my left, wear cheap glasses to read. Changed my life.

I would do Lasik again today.

[NoviVespa]

About glasses, I would recommend a solid plastic frame. I mean glasses without those two little nobby things extended from a metal frame. Yeh, Aviator glasses are cool, but, those nobby things dig into your nose and leave indentations eventually.

[PatAz]

I've worn contacts for 48 years now. Still like them, never have had any trouble with them.

[Jim Wilke]

About glasses, I would recommend a solid plastic frame. I mean glasses without those two little nobby things extended from a metal frame. Yeh, Aviator glasses are cool, but, those nobby things dig into your nose and leave indentations eventually.

You can get metal frames with a rubber or plastic nose piece molded in, much better than the little plastic oval feet. Take an elbow in the face or go over the bars and land on your nose and you'll know why.

[RS2]

I've worn contacts for 48 years now. Still like them, never have had any trouble with them.

I guess that you do not live where it gets cold.

[R22]

went with glasses and bifocals.. dr. said i would still need readers with contacts.. get them next week.. wow it was kewl getting to see through those lenses in the exam machine, i could read all the way across the room!!

but now i will have a restriction on my driver's license

[Supernova]

Lasik until ones' eyes start to worsen after 10 years. Hard to wear contact lenses once Lasik is done since the corneas are flat. Have Lasik again or wear glasses.

[R22]

YAY YAY YAY YAY... WOW WOW WOW WOW i can SEE!!!! unbelievable how much detail i was missing!! i got my new glasses yesterday and just was totally amazed at things i had not been seeing!! leaves on trees, block numbers on street signs, street names on street signs a block away!! license plate numbers, just all kinds of detail we all take for granted..

BUT THEN THERE WAS............ DRUM ROLL..............

HDTV!!!!!!!!!!!!! holy cow!!! and WOW WOW WOW again!!! i bought my hdtv after holding out forever thinking i wouldn't be able to SEE the difference in the picture.. but when i did get it, 3 years ago, i thought wow this is better..

HOLY COW!!! now i can SEE it is REALLY REALLY REALLY better!! omg and wow!! i watched the ranger/angel game last night and could actually read the sleeve patches on the uniform jerseys!! i could really see the lady on the third row with the big headlights!!

this was just the best thing to happen to me since i got my denures!!! LOL.. to be able to eat and SEE!!! i am truly blessed!!

WOW WOW WOW..

[Mindervillain]

I'll have what he's having.

[Indy-hp]

I remember feeling EXACTLY the same way. I was in the 4th grade at the time.

Seeing individual leaves on trees and individual strands of hair on people are the two things I noticed immediately.

Congratulations on being able to see clearly.

[Jim Wilke]

I remember the first time I got glasses, I was 6. I walked out of the hospital and was amazed the roof on the church next door was made of individual green shingles, I thought it was a solid green roof.