Wearing Contacts Often? 5 Reasons to Keep Backup Glasses
Are you wearing contacts often? If so, are you wondering if you really need to buy a pair of backup glasses? The answer is a resounding yes!
We can hear you groaning about why you need a pair of glasses when you wear your contacts all the time. You are not alone in this thought. But as a regular contact lens wearer, you should always have at least one backup pair of glasses. Read on for all the reasons that you need a spare set of glasses!
1. When Wearing Contact Lenses Isn’t an Option
The first and foremost reason for having backup glasses is that there may be times you can’t wear contacts. This often happens due to a medical condition. Typically this is something you didn’t plan for.
This can happen when:
- You have pink eye or another kind of eye infection
- Allergies affect your eyes, making them dry or runny
- You scratch your cornea
- Some irritant got into your eye (like from household cleaning products)
- The medicated eye drops are not compatible with contact lenses
If any of these things happen, then you will not be able to wear your contact lenses. You will have to give your eyes time to heal with nothing intruding on them.
Imagine waking up one morning to pink eye and not having a backup pair of glasses. What would you do? How would you function?
A spare set of glasses allows you to continue living life when your eyes can’t handle your contacts.
2. You Lose Your Contacts
If you’ve been wearing contact lenses for some time, you know that contacts can easily get lost.
Imagine losing your last contact lenses. How would you cope with daily life?
It wouldn’t be a good situation. Imagine not being able to drive, work, or conduct your daily activities. Whether you realize it or not, you are completely dependent on your vision. Even something as simple as watching TV will require good vision.
That’s one reason you should have spare glasses if you wear contact lenses. Because life happens. And the rest of your life needs to go on even if adverse events happen.
Remember, these backup glasses should not be old. Your prescription changes regularly. If you had to use your glasses, one with a 10 years old prescription would be quite useless. So make sure that all your vision correction aids are current and accessible.
3. You Just Don’t Feel Like Wearing Contacts Today
Yes, there will be times when you will prefer not to wear contacts. Don’t believe us? Then consider the following scenarios:
- You had a long night, and your eyes feel tired
- It’s a bad allergy day, so you don’t want to wear contacts with your eyes so runny
- Your eyes feel unusually dry and scratchy
- There is a lot of dust or smoke in the air
On days like these, wouldn’t it be nice to put on your pair of spare glasses? Of course, it would!
4. You Forgot to Order Your Contact Lenses
If you’ve been wearing contacts for any length of time, then you know it’s easy to run out of lenses. Even the most organized person can find themselves without a spare pair of lenses. For instance:
- You had enough pairs but tore a few. Now you have too many contacts - for only one eye!
- When you put in your daily disposable lenses in the morning, and you realize they’re the last pair. Plus it will take some days for the new batch to ship to you.
- You tried to order new contacts but your prescription has expired. Now you have to wait for your optometrist appointment to roll around.
Once again, if you need contact lenses to see, then you will want to have backup glasses. This will allow you to keep up with all your to-do lists until your new contact lenses arrive.
5. You Want to Make a Fashion Statement
Glasses are so much cooler than they were years ago. Wearing glasses used to be seen as nerdy. Nowadays, we have designer glasses that are legit fashion accessories. Plus, because of the new technologies available, even strong prescriptions don’t need to have thick lenses.
So, if you have a stylish outfit or a particular air that you’re going for, break out the glasses! In these cases, we’re sure that you might prefer to leave your contact lenses at home. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of fashion and style once in a while?
Buying Your Spare Glasses
When you’re buying a pair of specs, start by looking at the frames displayed in the optical store. Here are some things you should do while you’re there:
- Look at the various styles: Try on as many frames as you like. Examine yourself in the mirror to determine what makes you look your best. Although it’s okay to listen to someone else’s suggestions, remember that the final decision is yours. Go with the frames that make you the happiest!
- Listen to the optician: Sometimes, a frame style will not work well with your prescription. For instance, large frames and strong prescriptions don’t always go well together. Allow them to give you their knowledgeable opinion about your choices.
- Understand the various lens choices: Frames are not the only choice you will make. You also need to pick your lenses. Will they be plain or have a coating? Which coatings do you need? Do you want polycarbonate lenses to make the lenses thinner, but durable? Each choice you make will increase the cost. However, be sure to pay the price to get glasses that you’ll actually want to wear. There is no point in buying a pair of glasses that repulses you every time you want to wear it!
So, Do You Have Your Backup Glasses Yet?
Even if you wear contact lenses often, buy a pair of backup glasses! You should always have a pair of glasses for those times when wearing contacts isn’t possible, practical, or desirable. If you don’t have any current spare frames, talk to your optometrist to get an updated prescription for them. Make sure that all your bases are covered, all the time!
