4 things you can’t do with glasses
When the modern version of eyeglasses was invented in the late 18th century, the event was hailed as a technological triumph. Now, poorly prescribed and fitted glasses can cause more trouble than they’re worth. In fact, laser vision correction procedures have advanced to the point where eyeglasses are now the low-tech option.
This also means that eyeglasses are not quite the smartest option for all activities and lifestyles. They can get in the way, slow you down and ruin your outfit. While glasses are still a popular choice for some, check out these four times when glasses just don’t cut the mustard.
1. Sports
Most people know the stereotype of the one nerdy kid in gym class with taped up glasses. The fact is, glasses and sports just don’t mix. Even non-contact sports like tennis or soccer have you moving so much that it’s hard to keep your regular pair of prescription glasses in place. It’s not an uncommon sight for a pair of glasses to fall off somebody’s face, only to be trampled on and broken seconds later.
You can buy specialized sport goggles, but they can reduce your peripheral vision or fog up. Plus, the look of these goggles probably won’t intimidate your opponent.
2. Amusement parks
If you’ve been trailing your kids around a theme park all day, the last thing you need to worry about is what to do with your glasses if you need to go on a ride. Most roller coasters have an area where riders can deposit small items like hats and park merchandise, but these are typically unguarded. If you wouldn’t leave your $500 iPhone in these receptacles, why would you leave your similarly priced glasses?
Ohio’s Cedar Point, one of the premier amusement parks in North America, requires all glasses worn on its roller coaster to be secured with an athletic strap, which you may not have planned on bringing along. You can always jam your several-hundred dollar frames into your pocket and risk scratching the lenses on a set of keys or snapping an arm off entirely as the ride makes its loops and turns at high-speeds.
3. Hats, headphones and hair accessories
Glasses and fashion haven’t always gotten along, and even now they’re not really on speaking terms. Whether it’s the thickness of the lenses, the shape of a person’s face or the color of the frames, some people just don’t look good in glasses.
Wearing a pair of frames on your head and face all day can also interfere with any other fashion statements you want to make. Interested in wearing your favorite over-ear headphones with your glasses? Make sure they don’t push your glasses all over your face. Want to wear that cute new headband you just bought? Don’t let the tips of the arms get caught, and you can forget about adjusting your hair as often.
4. Inexpensive sunglasses
Every mall has a kiosk or sports store with a wide selection of inexpensive sunglasses that will protect your eyes from 100% of UVA and UVB rays. If you need prescription glasses and live in an area that gets a lot of sun, you’ll probably end up buying two pairs – one for regular use and a set of sunglasses to boot. Don’t expect any buy-one-get-one discounts, either. CostHelper.com explained that a mid-range pair of prescription sunglasses will set you back anywhere between $150 and $500 dollars! This also means that you have one more expensive set of glasses to keep track of, clean and carry with you at all times.
Contact lenses solve some, but not all of these problems. If you’re looking to enjoy life without having to constantly worry about having the right eyewear on hand, vision correction procedures like LASIK can give you the clear vision you want without any of the hassles from glasses.