Precursors to glasses date to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, where polished crystals and quartz were used for magnification. Further refinements were made in ancient China, Greece, and Rome, with the lenses that resemble today's glasses developed in the 13th century for myopia and hyperopia (nearsightedness, and farsightedness, respectively).
Contact lenses don’t go quite as far back, with the conception going back as far as 1508 and soft lenses not being invented until 1972, but both glasses and contact lenses provide a vital service in helping us see. If you’re wearing contact lenses, you may not think having glasses around is necessary, but there are advantages to keeping a pair in the house, and here we explain why.
If you live in the Pelham Gardens area of the Bronx, New York and you need to be fitted with some glasses or contacts, the team of specialists at Bronx Eye Associates are here to help.
These are the thin round lenses that sit in the front of your eyes and correct a range of errors in your vision, such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), and astigmatism. They come in either soft lenses made of a flexible plastic or rigid gas permeable (RGP) made of silicone polymers, and over 45 million Americans wear them.
Other more specialized lenses are available to manage other eye problems, such as scleral, toric, hybrid, multifocal, and Orthokeratology (Ortho-K).
There is the obvious freedom that comes with not having something on your face to help you see, but since they also sit right in your eye, they move as you do when you're looking in different directions. Additionally, you never have to worry about inclement weather getting on contact lenses, so no fogging up and waiting for your glasses to clear up.
You can also choose your own replacement schedule, whether daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the type of lens.
Despite all of the benefits of contact lenses, the fact is they aren’t a long-term solution in the same way glasses are. Because you have such a limited window to wear them in (and doing so against instructions can lead to eye infections and other problems) a pair of glasses with an updated prescription is simply a smart choice when you can’t wear the contacts for need of cleaning or needing disposal. Glasses are also a good thing to have if your contacts become irritated if you wear them too often.
Both glasses and contacts have their uses, and if you love your contacts, they are certainly worth the effort. Just don’t forget to have a pair of glasses as backup.
If you’re looking for new eyewear, make an appointment with the team at Bronx Eye Associates today to find the right option for you.
