Environmental Impact: Contact Lenses Vs Eyeglasses

Every time contact lens users switch to a new pair, they generate waste – the old lenses, packaging from the new pair, and saline solution bottles. On average, this adds up to about a kilogram (2.2 pounds) per year per wearer, with reusable contacts resulting in slightly less waste. With approximately 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide, the environmental impact becomes significant.

But eyeglasses pose their own set of challenges. With an estimated half of the global population projected to require spectacles by 2050, determining which option is more environmentally friendly carries profound implications.

Contact lenses contribute to microplastic pollution, with around 20% of users in the United States disposing of their lenses down the drain. According to Charles Rolsky, executive director of the Shaw Institute, between 2 and 3 billion plastic lenses end up in US wastewater annually. Rolsky’s research revealed that lenses survive the wastewater treatment process, becoming fragmented microplastics that can potentially carry contaminants.

Additionally, a study in 2023 found that at least 18 types of contact lenses sold in the US contain high levels of PFAS, known as forever chemicals, which can leach into the environment and pose health risks.

On the other hand, eyeglasses have a lower waste footprint once in the hands of consumers, apart from occasional cleaning wipes. The primary environmental impact occurs during manufacturing, where lenses are typically cut from large plastic pieces, resulting in significant waste. Frame production, predominantly from plastic, also contributes to waste generation.

However, manufacturing glasses faces challenges related to overproduction, as noted by Max Juraschek, a scientist at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. Many frames end up discarded due to long lead times and changing fashion trends, contributing to landfill waste.

Ultimately, both contact lenses and eyeglasses have environmental implications, highlighting the need for more sustainable practices across the eyewear industry.

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