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Problems With Glasses vs. Contacts
Melanie wrote:
I have a high prescription (OD -8.00, OS - 7.75) and have worn contact lenses on a daily basis for several years. I have tried to go back to glasses several times, but each time I get a new pair of glasses, I find that I cannot see clearly in them as I do with my contact lenses. I understand that you cannot compare contact lenses with glasses, but the blurriness and difference for me is very apparent.
I assumed my glasses were poorly made or my frame choice was wrong. I also want to add that I am of Asian background and have a flat nose bridge and have felt it was hard to accommodate the right frame choice and therefore, the lens position would be affected. I have recently spoken with several optometrists and opticians they have said my glasses and frame choice were fine. I have also had my frames adjusted several times and added nose pads to several pairs of glasses to accommodate the lens position, but nothing has helped. After several prescriptions and several pairs of glasses later, I still am having difficulty seeing clearly in my glasses. I am perplexed as I have a brand new prescription, great contact lenses but glasses that don't provide me with clear vision. I am hesitant to visit another optometrist as I am not covered by a health plan and after buying new contacts and glasses, I am certainly on a budget. Please help!
Thank you so much for your time,
Melanie
Dr Joan Hansen's response:
Melanie,
Your high prescription does result in better clarity with contact lenses. Your glasses make all images smaller and thus they seem harder to see. The farther away from your eyes that the lens is positioned, the smaller the image. So contacts that sit right on your eye surface will give the largest (closest to real size) image. If you were to wear glasses only, you would adapt and it would all seem normal. One other possibility is some re-shaping of your cornea from the contacts, especially if you wear rigid gas permeable Contact lenses. In this case your cornea changes shape when you are wearing your glasses for extended periods of time, and the lens in your glasses may need a change.
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