Poll Eyeglasses

[Spot's Meow]

Yesterday was my 30th birthday, and the day I got my first pair of glasses. Happy birthday to me!

A week and a half ago, the vision in my left eye was suddenly blurrier than normal, and it was affecting my overall vision quite negatively. I could still see, but it felt like something was stuck in my eye and no matter how much I rubbed it wouldn't come out. It really drove me crazy for a couple of days and then really started to worry me. I was also getting headaches every day from the distorted vision and strain. I went to an optometrist and he said I just have a slight astigmatism that most people wouldn't even notice and that glasses would fix it. (He also told me "I can tell you have an A type personality, you notice very small details." )

Due to the very sudden nature of the change I was referred to an opthalmologist, who did tests and determined pretty much the same thing - it is just a very slight near-sightedness and astigmatism in my left eye. I am relieved that it is just needing glasses instead of something more serious (don't go researching sudden blurry vision on the internet, you will have nightmares), but what baffles me is the suddenness of it. I really feel like my vision was perfectly fine two weeks ago, maybe slightly blurrier than with the glasses, but I certainly wasn't getting headaches or noticing distorted vision. The doctor said that my body is just really sensitive to slight changes and that a change in perception that others wouldn't notice had a big impact on me...oh joy. What a great superpower to have.

So, who else here wears glasses? How did you come to find out that you needed them? How old were you? Did it happen suddenly, like it did for me, or gradually over time (which it sounds like is the norm)? And there's a poll, because why not?

 

[John Clark]

First found out in Primary School squinting to see the blackboard so it's been a while.

I'm quite used to wearing them now and don't plan on any surgery unless it becomes necessary.

 

[auntiehill]

I've had reading glasses for a few years now. I need them for using the computer, reading, anything that involves close-up, detailed worked. My distance-vision is great but up close, I can't see SHIT.

My eye doctor said she'd never had a patient who was so decidedly far-sighted. Um....yay me?

But, as I'm getting older and I"m falling apart faster than an '87 Ford Tempo, I will probably end up wearing glasses full time.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Wore glasses or contacts full-time from age ten. Had cataract surgery in 2015, so I now have lens implants and wear glasses for reading and other close-up stuff.

 

[kirk55555]

I've been wearing glasses most of the time for months, but I've needed them for several years. I'm near sighted, so I can still read without them if its about a foot from my face, but besides that its all pretty blurry (although not so much that I'm practically blind or anything, just nothing readable from more than a foot or so away without glasses).

 

[Owain Taggart]

I've worn glasses for as long as I can remember. My parents figured out that I needed glasses when I kept bumping into walls at the age of 4. So, I've had to wear them ever since. Without them, my vision is quite weak. I actually just got a new pair recently, and found out something interesting in the process. My prescription is a strong one and it used to be until recently, that the lenses had to be rather thick. Due to the lovely advances in technology, this isn't really the case anymore. Although when choosing a pair, I learned that the thickness of the glass varies a lot depending on the type of glasses you get. For example, I had chosen a bottomless rim, but because they had to thicken the lens in order for the lens to stay better in place, it presented a problem of weight, where the glasses would push down too much on my nose, an unforeseen circumstance that I couldn't foresee while picking them out since all trial pairs use plastic lenses that almost weigh nothing . Someone should really invent a way to slot different weights in to simulate varying prescriptions. Had to pick out a different pair in the end.

 

[MacLeod]

I only need them for driving but it's a very fine perscription. And it's only in the last few years that I've needed them. So I suspect it's partially and age thing plus my father wore glasses as does one of my younger brothers so might be some genetics at work as well.

 

[RoJoHen]

No, but I should wear them...for certain tasks.

My glasses broke over a year ago, and I never bothered getting new ones. The prescription is about 15 years old, so I'm WAY overdue for a checkup.

I only really wear them when I'm playing video games, so it hasn't been a urgent need.

 

[urbandefault]

Wore glasses or contacts full-time from age ten. Had cataract surgery in 2015, so I now have lens implants and wear glasses for reading and other close-up stuff.

That's pretty much my story, but I keep my readers on for everything but driving.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I chose that I wear glasses all the time in the poll, but it's really too early to tell. I do think that's where I'm headed, as I now notice a big difference and strain when I take them off. But for now, I can't wear them while walking or driving, or really any activity that involves moving around too much, as it makes me a bit nauseous. Has anyone else had that experience? I'm told I'll get used to it.

 

[urbandefault]

I chose that I wear glasses all the time in the poll, but it's really too early to tell. I do think that's where I'm headed, as I now notice a big difference and strain when I take them off. But for now, I can't wear them while walking or driving, or really any activity that involves moving around too much, as it makes me a bit nauseous. Has anyone else had that experience? I'm told I'll get used to it.

Yes, you get used to it. I started wearing glasses about 45 years ago, and every new prescription would require that transiiton period.

Even now, new readers take a bit of adjustment.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I have been wearing glasses for 22 years. I have tried contacts on and off over the past decade, but during the spring and summer my allergies act up and I can't handle the pain/irritation.
Its very frustrating.
I needed glasses after I started puberty. Apparently abnormally quick growth can strain the optic nerves... or something. However, since then I my prescription has gotten only marginally stronger.
It takes time to adjust @Spot's Meow but it is worth the effort. I would suggest you look into lens that darken when exposed to too much light (some call them Photo-Grey) as that might help you in transitioning from inside to outside while wearing glasses.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yes, you get used to it. I started wearing glasses about 45 years ago, and every new prescription would require that transiiton period.

Even now, new readers take a bit of adjustment.

Yeah, you'll get used to it. There's an adjustment period, anytime one gets new glasses. It shouldn't take more than a week, but it might different with everyone. Your eyes are essentially getting used to having new lenses in front of them and they soon won't have to work so hard, and I think you'll see a vast improvement.

 

[scotpens]

I started needing glasses when I was eight years old. I've worn contacts since I was 18 and now I use drugstore reading glasses for close work, like using the computer.

I needed glasses after I started puberty.

Sorry, but I can't help thinking of several dirty jokes.

 

[Searider Falcon]

I've worn glasses since I was 4, when my parents realized that when they told me to do something (like pick up a toy) and I didn't, it wasn't because I was ignoring them but because I honestly couldn't see it. The doctor said I probably should've been wearing glasses a couple years sooner, though. Considering how hideous the styles where back in the late 80s, I'm kinda glad I had a few years to look cute in pictures before big chunky frames took over my face. I still cringe looking at most pictures from back then and my Kindergarten picture remains the worst out of all my school pics (okay, the two missing front teeth and the perm didn't help either...WHY MOM WHY). I'm not sure how bad I started out, but I can certainly remember that by the second half of elementary school, any classmate who tried on my glasses was gobsmacked by how thick the lenses were and the strength of my prescription.

I got contacts in sixth grade and have alternated between those and glasses ever since (with a few years here and there where I primarily wore just glasses because contacts were outside my budget). I'm 32 now and without glasses/contacts, I can't see the lines on my hand if it's more than about five inches away from my face. My world is a blur without them.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Got glasses around fourth grade. Never worn contacts. Recently got bifocals

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Dime store non-prescription reading glasses here.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I'm not sure how bad I started out, but I can certainly remember that by the second half of elementary school, any classmate who tried on my glasses was gobsmacked by how thick the lenses were and the strength of my prescription.

That sounds a lot like me. I've had friends try mine on and they all left with the same impression. Thankfully thinner lenses with the same prescription are now possible, although it does make me wonder if it was more due to the type of frames available back then.

 

[DimesDan]

Wore glasses or contacts full-time from age ten. Had cataract surgery in 2015, so I now have lens implants and wear glasses for reading and other close-up stuff.

I was born with some, very small ones mind and only had one operated on back when I was 16 in 2000. I've worn glasses on and off since I was six or seven, but since that operation, one eye is long, the other short and they've adapted over the years, I can't really see anything in great detail beyond 100 metres or so when I'm not wearing any though.

 

[John Clark]

People have mentioned contacts. I've never tried them and I know a lot of people use them everyday, but the idea of actually putting them in just makes me feel a little queasy