Contact lenses or glasses?

Discover the right choice for you

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Considering Contacts?
Contact Lenses or Glasses

See the difference

A rainy and busy day in the city.
A rainy and busy day in the city blurred to simulate vision with fogged over glasses lenses.

When trying to decide between glasses or contacts, remember, there are great reasons to have both. But contact lenses can give you more freedom in your day to day in a number of ways. Use the slider to see an example of how the two might respond to a rainy, humid day.

Top six reasons people prefer contacts vs. glasses

Full field of vision

Since contacts move with your eyes, there are no blind spots.

More than sight

UV protection#, antioxidant infusion, and more—you can fit your contacts to your lifestyle.

No fogging up

Your vision won't be impaired by rainy days or when you go from hot to cold.

Freedom of movement

Run, jump, even do headstands. It's why athletes and people with active lifestyles love them.

Replacement costs

Glasses tend to require less upkeep, but they can be costly to replace.

Tailored to your eyes

Contacts can correct a variety of issues, including astigmatism, and in certain cases of eye disease may even provide better vision than glasses.
FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What are contact lenses made of?

These days, contact lenses are usually made of different types of plastic, but two of the most common you may hear of are soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are typically either made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, which are soft and flexible. RGP contacts are more rigid than soft contact lenses and mostly worn by people with specific eye issues, like severe astigmatism.

Are contacts or glasses more expensive?

Contact lenses can be more expensive than glasses to start out, but they also may be a lot cheaper to replace than a broken pair of eyeglasses. Contacts also are often wholly or partially covered by most vision insurance plans, which can reduce or even eliminate a patient's upfront costs for contact lenses once they've had an eye exam. If you're interested in contact lenses, it can be a good idea to check your vision insurance plan and see if contacts are covered.

What to do with old glasses?

Instead of throwing them away, see if a local business near you collects them to donate—they may help provide your old glasses to someone who does not have regular access to vision care or affordable glasses. Some organizations collect them in person, while other organizations accept them via mail. Note that some organizations collect new and used glasses, and others only accept ones that are new.

Can contact lenses get lost behind my eye?

It's impossible for a contact lens to get behind your eye. You might be worried it could happen when a lens slips off the center of your eye, but your eye has what's called the conjunctiva—a membrane that covers the white of your eye and connects with the inside of your eyelids. Because of that, there's no way for a contact lens to get behind your eye.

Can contact lenses get stuck to my eye?

It's really common for first-time contact lens wearers to be afraid of getting their contact lenses stuck on their eye. Usually, removing it is as simple as following the instructions given to you by your eye doctor. Remember, practice makes perfect. Although it is highly unlikely for a contact lens to get stuck on your eye, contact your eye doctor if you do run into this issue.

How do allergies affect contact lenses?

Allergens can accumulate on contact lenses, so if you already struggle with allergies, wearing contacts can exacerbate regular symptoms and cause additional irritation. Wearing daily disposable lenses can help reduce the potential for allergen build up.

The basics of eye health

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Find ACUVUE lenses that fit your lifestyle

Discover lenses that meet the needs of your eyes and your life. Answer a few questions to see which ACUVUE contact lenses would be the best fit for you.

Try contacts designed to help meet the demands of today

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ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1-Day contact lenses are intentionally designed with innovative technologies to help with today’s digitally intense lifestyle.

Get started with ACUVUE® contact lenses

Try ACUVUE® for FREE*

Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a FREE* trial pair.

Find an eye doctor

Use our locator tool to find a doctor who can fit you with ACUVUE® contact lenses.

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Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. J&J does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

†Filtering of HEV light by contact lenses has not been demonstrated to confer any health benefit to the user, including but not limited to retinal protection, protection from cataract progression, reduced eye strain, improved contrast, improved acuity, reduced glare, improved low light vision, or improved circadian rhythm/sleep cycle. The Eye Care Professional should be consulted for more information.

^Available on up to two opened boxes of contacts. Copy of purchase and fitting fee receipt required. Refund by mail within 4 to 6 weeks. Cannot be combined with rebate. For additional terms and conditions and for complete instructions download the claim form. Offer valid until December 31, 2024.

§Survey among 1,002 Eye Care Professionals from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, China, France, and Germany conducted 10/2022 to 11/2022.

*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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