Glasses vs Contacts: Which is the Greener Choice?

In the debate between glasses and contact lenses, environmental considerations play a crucial role, especially given the growing concern over waste and sustainability. The choice between the two is not merely a matter of personal preference but also a question of which option is kinder to our planet.

Source: Trash is for Tossers/YouTube

Contact lens users contribute to environmental waste each time they replace their lenses, accumulating approximately one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of waste annually. This includes the lenses themselves, their packaging, and the bottles of saline solution. With an estimated 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide, the resulting waste is substantial. A study in the United States revealed that about 20% of contact lens wearers dispose of their lenses down the drain, leading to between 2 and 3 billion plastic lenses entering the wastewater system each year. These lenses, resilient through wastewater treatment, fragment into microplastics, posing a risk not only due to their plastic content but also because they may carry diseases or chemicals, further contaminating water sources.

Moreover, certain contact lenses have been found to contain high levels of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), raising concerns about soil and water contamination, as well as potential accumulation in the human body.

On the other hand, glasses present a different set of environmental challenges, primarily during their production phase. The manufacturing process, especially for the lenses and plastic frames, results in significant waste. Furthermore, the fast-fashion nature of eyewear means that many glasses are discarded before they even reach the consumer or are thrown away as trends change, contributing to landfill waste.

Recycling options for both contacts and glasses are limited and complex. Contacts, due to their small size and material composition, require specialty recycling programs and cannot be processed with standard plastic recycling. Glasses, while recyclable, often end up as low-grade materials that might still find their way to landfills. Efforts to introduce sustainable materials, such as bio-acetate for frames, face criticism for not sufficiently addressing the core issue of plastic use.

Consumers can make environmentally conscious choices by opting for reusable contacts, properly disposing of or recycling lenses and packaging, and choosing glasses with longevity in mind over fashion trends. Innovations in manufacturing and recycling can further reduce the environmental footprint of both glasses and contacts, making vision correction more sustainable for the future.

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

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• Company That Makes Sunglasses Out of Ocean Plastic is on a Mission to Clean Up the Seas

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