Between contact lenses and laser eye surgery, it's fair to say that the amount of money spent every year by people who don't want to wear glasses is huge. It's understandable in some cases that people don't want to wear them, of course. But a lot of the time, stopping and thinking could save people from spending a lot of money - or worse.

Look, we know there are some good reasons for wanting an alternative to glasses. If you need to wear them, you're left in a spot if you lose or forget them. They can make it hard to lie down and watch TV. Sometimes, they seem to need cleaning every five minutes. That's frustrating. But if you have vision problems, they still may be your best option.

1. Contacts Are No More Convenient

If you are sick of waking up every morning and trying to find your glasses, then an alternative begins to look attractive. But contact lenses aren't that alternative. Finding your glasses when you're short-sighted and half asleep? Not fun. Finding something smaller and more fragile? That's even less fun. Not to mention that your eyes may not react too well to them.

Plus there's the inconvenience of cleaning them and putting them in your eye. And don't get me started on what it's like if one falls out and you need to look for it where people are walking!

2. Laser Surgery Is No Walk In The Park

When laser eye surgery started to be offered as a solution to vision problems, it was seen as a big step forward. All the problems mentioned above with glasses and contacts could be a thing of the past. But as time has gone on, there have been people reporting imperfect results. People still needing glasses. In some cases, people have been hiring lawyers for laser eye surgery claims.

Because there is big money in laser surgery, it has become a growth market. Some of the doctors involved are not as trained as they need to be - meaning that the wrong approach was taken to some surgeries. That's not a risk you should take.

3. Glasses Aren't Just For Sight Correction

Although most glasses are prescribed because the wearer needs sight correction, they can do more than that. Tinted lenses have been shown to have a positive effect for people suffering from stress, too. They may also have a beneficial effect for people with autism. This is harder to achieve with contacts and impossible with laser surgery.

4. Is It A Vanity Issue? Stop Worrying; Geek Chic Is In

It's bizarre to think that some people still think wearing glasses makes you look ugly or uncool. For anyone who still believes that, just look at the style icons who are unashamed glasses wearers. Zoe Saldana, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys? Try telling them that glasses make them look unattractive. Better yet, try telling their legions of fans.

It may be the case that you don't like the way your glasses look - but there are plenty of other options out there. Have a look at them before you go a different way - you just might be glad you did.