How to Transition
from Contact Lenses
to Prescription Glasses How to Transition from Contact Lenses to Prescription Glasses

Before you ditch your contact lenses, it helps to know why you’re doing it. Having a clear reason will help your commit to the change. Are you ready to give your eyes a break from poking, prodding, and the panic of a misplaced lens? Maybe you’re eyeing glasses as an essential addition to your personal style. Or perhaps it’s all about convenience, because you’re far too busy to bother with the precise process of putting your contacts in every morning.

Beyond aesthetics, making the switch from contact lenses to prescription glasses has its perks. Less risk of eye infections? Check. Zero need for contact lens solution or those teeny-tiny cases you keep losing? Double-check. And let’s not forget the financial bonus of no more repeat purchases of disposable lenses.

Here’s the thing about glasses: they’re more than just a tool for seeing better. They give you the creative freedom contacts never could. They’re an accessory, a statement, a mood. You don’t just “wear” glasses: you own them. 

Ready to find the frame that takes your look to the next level? Start by exploring styles that reflect your personality. Are you the bold type? Think thick frames, attention-grabbing patterns, and bright colors. More of a minimalist? Slim, metallic frames in classic shapes and timeless colors may be more your jam. Depends on the day? Fill up your cart with frames that speak to you – we won’t stop you from picking a pair for every outfit.

Switching to glasses is your chance to experiment with looks you’ve never tried before. It’s like building a wardrobe for your face, and trust us – your good looks deserve the VIP treatment.

If you’ve never shopped for glasses before, we’ll walk you through some things to keep in mind. Finding your ideal eyewear is part art, part science, and a whole lot of trial and error.

What to Look For:

Face Shape: Certain frame shapes complement specific face shapes. If you have an oval face, consider yourself lucky – pretty much anything goes. For everyone else, here are some general guidelines to start with: those with more angular faces should opt for round or oval frames to soften their sharp features. If you have a rounder face, square, rectangular, or geometric frames will add structure.

Color Theory: Stick to hues that match your skin tone, or throw caution to the wind and simply pick a shade that makes you smile.

Lifestyle Compatibility: Your glasses should be the easiest part of your daily routine. To make sure they gel with your day-to-day, consider your needs: if you’re constantly on the move, lightweight, durable frames are your BFFs. If you’re often in-and-out of doors, transition lenses can make the switch with you. And if you’re always in front of a screen, adding a blue light coating to your lenses may help you scroll in comfort and style. 

When it comes to finding your new style, it can help to try on frames (or turn to one of our retail locations – they come with built-in fashion-forward friends). Honest feedback is the key to finding your frame soulmate: you may need someone to tell you “No, that shape doesn’t quite suit you,” or, “Yes, you look amazing in tortoiseshell.” 

Pro tip: if you're feeling lost in a sea of specs, think of our Style Quiz as your frame matchmaker. It'll help you zero in on frames that will make you look and feel fabulous faster than you can say "goodbye, contacts.

No bones about it: making the switch from contact lenses to glasses might feel a bit weird at first. It’s like trading heels or Oxfords for sneakers – when you’re accustomed to one, the other is going to take some getting used to.

Be patient. Glasses change how you see the world (literally). With glasses, the distance between the lens and your eye (called the vertex distance) can slightly change how things look. It’s normal to notice some magnification effect or even feel a little off-balance at first. You also might notice slight distortions at the edges of your lenses or feel extra aware of the frames on your face. Fear not: this is perfectly normal, and your eyes are amazing at adapting. Your brain just needs a minute (or a few days) to catch up.

Give yourself some grace and remember it’s perfectly okay to ease into the change. If the adjustment feels at all overwhelming, wear your glasses for short periods before wearing your new frames full-time. You can alternate between glasses and contacts to make the shift feel less jarring while you get used to your new specs. Think of it like breaking in new shoes – small steps lead to big strides.

But if you’re more of a “rip-the-Band-Aid-off” kind of person, go ahead and make the leap. Build glasses-wearing habits into your routine by putting them on first thing in the morning and taking them off last thing at night. The sooner you embrace the change, the sooner your new glasses will feel as seamless as your contacts did.

Pro Tip: If things feel too wonky, check in with your eye care provider. Your prescription might need a minor tweak to get things just right.

Now that you’ve got your dream glasses, it’s time to show them some love and learn how to effectively care for them. For top eyewear-care marks, clean them daily with a gentle solution and a microfiber cloth, store them in a protective case, and generally treat them like the rockstars they are.

Pro Tip: We know it’s tempting, but avoid wiping your lenses with your shirt, which can cause micro-abrasions that build up into larger bumps and bruises over time. Instead, invest in a proper cleaning cloth to keep them pristine.

Here’s the best part about switching to prescription glasses: the transformation. Glasses aren’t just a functional tool or a new way of seeing – they’re a style upgrade, a confidence boost, a way to show the world who you are. 

Own it. Flaunt it. And don’t be surprised when the first thing people ask when they see you is, “Where did you get your glasses?” The reality is, glasses don’t just help you see better. They help the world see you.