Contact Lenses vs. Glasses: Which Is Right for Your Lifestyle?

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Your optometrist in Elkridge, MD can give you a prescription for eyeglasses, contact lenses or both. In the vast majority of cases, it’s up to you to decide which you want to wear most of the time. Of course, some people choose to get both contact lenses and glasses, while others prefer using glasses exclusively to correct their vision. If you’re new to corrective eyewear, you’ve got a decision to make!

What About Glasses?

By all accounts, glasses are easy to use and require less maintenance. They’re ideal for people who want a simple, no-fuss solution for vision correction. Glasses also reduce the risk of eye infections and can offer added protection from wind, dust, and debris. For those who spend long hours in front of screens, blue light filtering lenses can help ease eye strain. However, they may be less practical during physical activities or in wet weather. Glasses were the standard in corrective eyewear for many, many years, and they remain a popular choice, despite their drawbacks. Also, if you enjoy sports like snorkeling, skiing, swimming and more, you can get prescription lenses for your specialty goggles, so you really never have to wear contact lenses if you don’t want to.

What About Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses, on the other hand, offer a full field of vision with no frames blocking your view. They’re a great choice for athletes or anyone with an active lifestyle. Contacts won’t fog up in the cold or slip during exercise. They also allow more flexibility with fashion, since you can wear any type of sunglasses or go without visible eyewear. That said, most contact lenses require daily cleaning—with the exception of daily disposables—and technically can increase the risk of irritation or infection if not handled properly, although that is rare if you practice safe contact lens handling and cleaning.

At the end of the day, your decision might come down to personal preference—or a combination of both. Both glasses and contact lenses in Elkridge, MD are effective solutions—it’s just a matter of choosing what makes you feel most comfortable, confident, and supported in your day-to-day life.

How Much Oxygen Does Your Eye Need?

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The vast majority of your body gets oxygen from your blood vessels, but the eye is one of the major exceptions. The cornea relies on tears and air to get the nutrients it needs to function. If you’re wondering how much oxygen the eye needs, especially if you’re a chronic contact-wearer, we’ll look at what you should know. 

Measuring Oxygen Levels 

There’s no official unit of oxygen that can be applied to everyone, which may make your adjustments a bit of an inexact science. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to improve oxygen delivery to the eyes, including artificial tears and seeing your eye doctor in Elkridge, MD, regularly. 

If you’re wearing contacts, here are a few factors to keep in mind:

  • Permeability: Lenses that are silicone hydrogel (sometimes labeled as Dk/t) are designed to allow more oxygen to move through the lens to the cornea. 
  • Schedule: It’s easy to forget that you’re wearing contacts or be too tired to take them out. However, failing to stick to a schedule can damage your eyes if you’re not careful. Following your doctor’s instructions and staying consistent is incredibly important to protecting your vision. 
  • Cleaning: If your lenses are dirty, this can impact the flow of oxygen. Keep in mind that debris may not cause you any pain or problems with your vision, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Make sure you’re properly cleaning and storing your lenses with the right solution. 
  • Breaks: Giving your eyes a rest during the day can make a big difference in your oxygen levels. Even if you’re not sleeping in your contact lenses in Elkridge, MD (which you should be avoiding anyway), wearing your glasses at night or in the morning can help your eyes ‘breathe’ more freely. 

Visit Your Eye Doctor in Elkridge, MD

A lack of oxygen to the eyes can result in corneal swelling and an eventual intolerance to contact lenses. It can also result in new blood vessels in the cornea, ones that can eventually leak and lead to vision loss. If you’re concerned about oxygen levels in your eye, contact Dr. Jan Eye Care to learn more about what you can do to avoid larger problems down the line. 

Do I Need a Costco Card to Visit the Independent Costco Optometrist?

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Costco is a popular way to shop for bulk items, and it’s frequented by plenty of families who are ready to stock up. Of course, not everyone will benefit from having a membership card, whether it’s because they’re shopping for one or because they don’t have the space.

If you don’t happen to have a membership, this can be a shame when you need to see an optometrist in Eldridge, MD, because the prices at Costco can be more palatable than those at other offices. We’ll look at what you’ll need a membership card for and why you might consider getting one.

Do You Need a Membership Card to Make an Eye Exam Appointment?

No, you won’t need to be a member of Costco to schedule an eye exam in Elkridge, MD. The independent optometrist partners with Costco and negotiates the final prices, but they are not controlled by the organization. If you want to make Costco your regular optometrist, you may be able to save some money compared to other services in your area — without compromising on quality.

There is a bit of a catch to this question, though. Just because you can get your eye exam from the optometrist, doesn’t mean you can purchase anything from the optical department of Costco. So if you need glasses, contact lenses, or any other optical accessories, you won’t be able to access them without a membership card. This means that you won’t get the savings on anything other than the services directly through the independent optometrist.

How to Save at the Costco Optical Department in Elkridge

If you’re considering visiting the Costco department for an eye exam, it might be time to run the numbers. The savings for contact lenses and eyeglasses can be considerable, meaning it would be worth getting a membership card in the long run so you could buy these supplies at a discount. The bonus is that you might find other products at Costco that would make the membership even more worthwhile. If you’re looking for a doctor that help you see better for less, the staff of Dr. Jan Eye Care can provide you with the services and advice you need!