Why Contact Lens Wearers Still Need Backup Glasses

If a contact lens tears at work, you still need to read your screen, finish your shift, and get home safely. That’s why we recommend that our Waco patients carry backup glasses with a current prescription. Having them in your bag makes it easier to take a lens out when you need to.

When to Reach for Your Glasses

Even comfortable, well-fitting contacts have a wearing schedule. A pair of prescription glasses comes in handy in a few everyday situations.

• A lens tears or goes missing. If you don’t have a fresh pair with you, switch to glasses. Never put a torn lens back in your eye.

• You’re heading to the pool. Take your contacts out before swimming or showering. Keep your glasses in a case with your towel so you can find them when you get out.

• You’re down to your last pair. Wear your glasses while you wait for a refill so you can replace your contacts on schedule.

• You like to read in bed. Switch to glasses before you settle in for the night so you can put your book down without dozing off in daily-wear contacts.

When Discomfort Needs a Closer Look

If a contact suddenly feels scratchy, wash and dry your hands, remove your lenses, and switch to glasses. Call us right away if you have eye pain, unusual redness, sensitivity to light, or sudden blurry vision. These can be signs of a corneal infection. Leave your contacts out until an eye doctor says you can wear them again.

Does Your Backup Pair Still Work for You?

An older pair may still serve you well. Try it on before you need it. Can you read your computer screen comfortably? Are street signs clear? Contacts sit directly on your eyes, while glasses sit a short distance away, so the lens power you need can differ.

Bring your glasses to your next eye exam. We can check the lenses against your current prescription and see whether a frame adjustment would help if the glasses slip or pinch.

If your backup glasses leave you squinting or you need your first pair, call Crystal Clear Eye Care in Waco, TX, at (254) 399-9979 to schedule an eye exam.