Is it vain to wear contact lenses? Are people who wear them trying to improve their appearance or their vision? This is a question that comes up quite often when a teenager first thinks about switching from glasses to contact lenses.
In one sense, this is a very stupid question. Nobody was born with glasses. Glasses are an unnatural means of correcting a problem with vision. Though it is better to wear glasses than not to be able to see well, there are many disadvantages. Glasses are heavy. They leave marks on the side of your nose, tiny little injuries to your skin that are bearable, but by no means healthy. Glasses fog up. They fall off during athletic events and are hard to keep on when upside down. They get dirty and require constant cleaning. They allow only a limited field of vision and offer no correction for peripheral vision. And the list goes on.
Despite all this, when someone is considering switching from glasses to contact lenses, one of the first things acquaintances will mention are the change to the appearance, image and identity of the user. In fact, people often question their own motives for wanting contact lenses, wondering: “Is it vain to wear contacts?” The Daria episode entitled “Through a Glass Darkly” explores this issue in detail.
Because wearing glasses is sometimes associated with being intelligent, studious or square, the social significance of wearing glasses has become more prominent in most people’s minds than the functional significance.
“Is it vain to wear contact lenses?” No. Not if it helps your vision and makes your life easier. On the other hand, if wearing contacts is difficult for you because of allergies or other irritants, then wearing them only for cosmetic reasons would not be a good idea.
In order to decide what is right for you, you should weigh the costs and the benefits. Contact lenses, when fitted properly, can improve your vision while making you more mobile and less weighed down. Contact lenses can be more expensive than glasses, but you can also purchase them online at a reduced price. If you have allergies or unusual sensitivity, then contact lenses may not be right for you.
It is always a good idea to consult with your opthamologist before making the final decision. But whatever you decide should be based on the impact on your life, and not on the the preconceived notions that other people may have about the symbolic meaning of glasses.
I understand a lot of people think I would look better with contact lenses, which I have always dismissed. People should wear these if they want to, but I never wanted to because I am happy with the same pair of glasses I have worn for four years now. Years ago I was fitted for contact lenses, and I discovered I hated to touch or put things near my eye, so wearing contact lenses would not work for me. When people tell me I would look better with contacts, I tell them I like the way I look with glasses. I have always been perceived as slightly the nerdy type anyway, and now that I am older I embrace it.
Sweetbearies, thanks for sharing your experiences. I wear the same pair of glasses I’ve had for several years now, so I certainly understand your choice. However, when I was younger, I did sometimes wear contact lenses when I was able, and it was a very freeing experience. The important thing is for each person to do what makes them feel best at the time.
I’m extremely near-sighted and have been wearing contact lenses for years. Glasses do nothing for my looks and wearing them feels like having some ugly contraption sitting on my face. Wearing glasses years ago resulted in broken capillaries on my nose which I had removed by laser treatment — a costly process.
Contact lenses are so cheap and comfortable nowadays, I really can’t understand why anyone wants to wear glasses.
Camlo, nice to hear from you on this! I’ve always felt that heavy glasses can damage the nose, and it’s useful to hear your evidence that this is in fact the case, though, of course, I’m sorry to learn that it happened to you. In one sense you are lucky: you don’t have any allergic reactions to long term contact use. Under those circumstances, wearing contacts is the logical choice. Where there are allergies involved, there are some countervailing considerations. That’s why it has to ultimately be a personal choice.