Contacts or Glasses [Which is cheaper?]

**frugalfriend** · 03-31-2008, 12:03 PM

Couldn't edit.

Wanted to add: I wear them until they wear out, ie: tear or get a hole, then throw away. They usually last several months.

**lgw** · 03-31-2008, 04:47 PM

Glasses are much cheaper, especially if you're eyes are not changing.

**kaykwilts** · 03-31-2008, 05:35 PM

I gather you are over 40 since you already having problems seeing closeup?

I believe that the eye appointment is more expensive for the contact lens than for the glasses. I have both contacts and glasses. Sometimes I can't wear the contacts because of allergies and a lot of time I'm in too much of a hurry to put them in. My glasses are bifocal with the no lines in them. There are many options for the contact lens. There is currently bifocal contact lens are the market but my eye doctor prescribed mono vision for me. For the right eye I wear a contact lens to correct the distance vision and for the left eye I wear a contact to correct the closeup (reading). So far it has worked for me. My contacts are the disposable ones. You take it out every day and you are supposed to change them once a month but I go about two months on a pair instead of one month.

As for the solution I have gotten it free with Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS deals. Last month CVS had where you can earn ecbs with my particular solution that I use. I purchased two bottles which will last a while.

**Clutterbug Jen** · 04-02-2008, 12:07 AM

Thank you all for being so helpful, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

~*Jen*~

**Jellybeanz** · 04-02-2008, 09:48 AM

I LOVE my contacts... I wear soft contacts- the kind that can be slept with them in. I don't sleep in them normally though, just occasionally if I have a late night and don't feel like taking them out.

I used to wear only glasses up till about 14 years ago. I would absolutely hate to go back to just glasses now. Contacts take a week or two to get used to wearing, but I don't have to worry about going out in the rain , or stuff getting on glasses, or them fogging up. That used to annoy me to no end. I do wear my glasses at night sometimes to read and keep them with me. You absolutely need to keep a pair of glasses on hand if you do wear contacts. There will be times your eyes may bother you due to allergies, dry eye or whatever that you will need to give the contacts a break.

But yea.. contacts are worth every penny to me. They may be unfrugal but I'll pay for them as long as I can ! LOL

**prairiewife** · 04-02-2008, 01:37 PM

I wear contacts during the day. I have very poor vision, my right eye is a -8.50 and the left a -7.50 I also have an astigmatism in both eyes. I have to wear toric lenses by Bausch & Lomb that cost $85 a box for each eye for three months. I also have a pair of glasses, progressive lenses so you don't see the bifocal line, these cost $600 but I have had them for more than two years now. They are very thick because of my poor eyesite and so because of my ego I don't wear them during the day. It would be cheaper to wear the glasses.

If you do a lot of night driving you might want to consider glasses. I have a lot of problems with glare at night with my contacts that I don't have if I choose to wear the glasses.

**PplAmanda** · 04-09-2008, 08:06 AM

Jen - I only wear a contact in one eye because my vision is so poor in the other eye that it wouldn't help any and would be horrible trying to get a contact into an eye that can't see it coming

Makes for interesting depth perception when playing racquetball too

**Momto2Boyz** · 04-09-2008, 10:01 AM

Dh and I (we both wear glasses and contacts) recently tried America's Best and they were great! If you have one near you, I would totally recommend them.

They advertise 2 pairs of glasses for 69.95. I figured there was a catch, but there wasn't. We had to pay tax...but for $70.64, we each got 2 pairs of glasses and a free eye exam. They were better, faster and nicer than my old eye dr's office too. They have contacts too, but I think they are a bit more expensive! I would definately check them out if you have the option!

**FrugalWitch** · 04-09-2008, 04:22 PM

I just ordered 2 pairs from Zenni Optical. I got both with the nonglare coating and one with the 80% grey sunglass tint. Total with shipping and handling was $34.80. They should arrive in 2-3 weeks. I'll let you know how they turn out, but I couldn't find a better price anywhere.

I went to America's Best for the eye exam....just the eye exam is only $39.00, best local price I found. I had the additional tests run for the extra $15.00, so the total was $54.00, still about half price compared to four other places I called to price-check.

**FrugalWitch** · 04-09-2008, 04:30 PM

Forget to add:

I always used America's Best in the past with no problems. However, they charged $35.00 for sunglass tint and they also charged me $15.00 per pair for scratch-resistant coating. So 2 pairs at Zenni costs me less than just one sunglass tint at America's Best!

But even without purchase of glasses America's Best had the best priced eye exams, the exam is free if you purchase your glasses from them.

**Clutterbug Jen** · 04-12-2008, 09:55 AM

America's Best sounds like it'd be great but unfortunately, there are none in my area.

Also, I'm limited as to where I can buy which basically means that I pretty much have to buy from a Dr.'s office due to my living in such a small town and no bigger stores here like America's Best or Pearle Vision, etc.

Oh, and no car to get to one either. *Sigh*

I do appreciate all of the input though, thank you!

~*Jen*~

**tbs727** · 04-12-2008, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by FrugalWitch

I just ordered 2 pairs from Zenni Optical. I got both with the nonglare coating and one with the 80% grey sunglass tint. Total with shipping and handling was $34.80. They should arrive in 2-3 weeks. I'll let you know how they turn out, but I couldn't find a better price anywhere.

I made an order from Zenni about a month ago and I LOVE my glasses! They are great quality, the prescription is just right (with astigmatism) and the price was better than great! I also got my new glasses about a 1 1/2 weeks after ordering which I thought was super fast. I recommend them to anyone.

**Dancing Lotus** · 04-12-2008, 10:03 AM

glasses are cheaper because they are a one time expense and you can wear them as long as you want really.

**YankeeMom** · 04-12-2008, 10:08 AM

Have you ever had contacts before?

You may not be able to wear them for one reason or another. Dh cannot wear them because of the shape of his eyes (or something like that). I cannot wear them because I literally cannot keep my eyes open with them in. They make my eyes VERY tired and VERY sensitive to light and FORGET driving at night or in the rain. I'm glad my mom was the one to foot the bill for my first sets of contacts, because they were a complete waste of $$ as I couldn't wear them. I went back to my glasses after a couple of months.

I do have a question about ordering glasses online because I'd like to order my kids' online (should they need new ones this year, I'm hoping not).

How do you get them fitted??

**Marie78** · 04-12-2008, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Have you ever had contacts before?

You may not be able to wear them for one reason or another. Dh cannot wear them because of the shape of his eyes (or something like that). I cannot wear them because I literally cannot keep my eyes open with them in. They make my eyes VERY tired and VERY sensitive to light and FORGET driving at night or in the rain. I'm glad my mom was the one to foot the bill for my first sets of contacts, because they were a complete waste of $$ as I couldn't wear them. I went back to my glasses after a couple of months.

I do have a question about ordering glasses online because I'd like to order my kids' online (should they need new ones this year, I'm hoping not).

How do you get them fitted??

I was wondering how you would get your glasses fitted too? I go back to Empire Vision, where I bought mine a year ago, because every few months I like to have them adjusted and fitted back to my face properly. I only wear mine on weekends, evenings, and before bed. The rest of the day I wear my contacts.