Page 5 - Edge: Issue 6

vs Contacts
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
Story by Hana Hunter
Approximately 75% of adults living in America use a vision correcting products. 64% of Americans wear glasses and the other 11% wear contacts. Additionally, the CDC says that 51.9% of teens aged 14-17 wear either glasses or contacts so, roughly half of all Edgewood students face the struggle of not having perfect vision.
“I couldn’t really see anything as crisp anymore from a far distance,” said Jessi Southern, 10. “I couldn’t see the board anymore so I had to do something.”
Although eyeglass designers try to help wearers look fashionable, wearing glasses all day, every day affects the lives of everyone that wears them. Whether it’s having to go to the doctor to get a prescription yearly, the expense of frames and lenses, glasses fogging up when you go outside, needing adaptive glasses to play sports or not being able to wear the 3D goggles on rides and at the movies, having glasses can be a pain!
As for contacts, some feel they are better for appearances and can be more convenient, but there are struggles to wearing contact lenses too. While contact wearers avoid having to wear magnifying glasses on their face 24/7, there are many disadvantages to wearing contacts everyday. Contacts dry out quickly in or out of the eye which may cause constant discomfort. Buying a constant supply of new contacts, contact lens solution and eye drops can be very expensive depending on the brand. Since contacts go directly into the eye, contact wearers need to spend time in the morning and evening to ensure they are following proper hygiene so they do not end up with a disease or infection of the eye.
Don’t want to wear glasses or contacts? Vision correction surgery is an option. There are many types of vision correction surgery, but the most common type is LASIK (Laser-Assisted Stromal In-situ Keratomileusis). This surgery can treat mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. To receive this surgery, the patient has to have an adequate corneal thickness since a flap in the eye is created. A different type of surgery (SMILE and PRK) would work better for patients who are predisposed to chronic dry eye symptoms. Although this procedure is extremely effective, safe, and a trusted option, there is one downside. It is more complex than its successor, the SMILE surgery, because it uses two lasers and creates a flap during surgery. This can lead to flap-related complications post-surgery. So whether you choose to wear glasses, contacts or get surgery to correct your vision, there will be some impact on your life.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to buy glasses from somewhere cheap and convenient, buying online is the best option. There are usually more frame options when buying and they are less expensive. However, there are risks to buying glasses online, especially if you have a strong or complicated prescription. When buying glasses, or contacts, online, it is better to use a specific company’s website instead of a commercial website with a plethora of products sold such as Amazon or Ebay. Chances are, the product is not reliable and most likely sold as an accessory. Although buying online is easy, it is notably safer to buy glasses in a store with professional ophthalmologists and optometrists. This reduces the risk of scamming, incorrect prescriptions, and frames that don’t fit. Although acquiring vision correction devices in a store can be more expensive and more time consuming, it is the safest option if you want professional help picking the correct product.
Having poor vision is a fact of life for a majority of students at Edgewood, but it does not have to be a curse. With a bit of research and help from parents and professionals, vision correction is possible and attainable. Whether you decide to wear funky glasses or go for stealth with contact lenses, you can rest assured that lots of other students are on the same journey
with you.
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Signs of Vision Impairment
Vision problems can be a result of genetics, age, injury or environment. There are various signs of vision loss besides blurry vision that indicate it may be time to visit your doctor. Some signs of vision loss include, but are not limited to: sudden eye pain, constant headaches, strain to the eyes, blurred or double vision, seeing flashes of light, sensitivity to light, seeing rainbows or halos around lights.