A few weekends ago Michele and I took a one-day course at UCLA Extension entitled “Finding and Working with the Right Literary Agent for you.” Since the total amount of novel-writing I’ve done in the past three months approaches zero, I looked at this primarily as a reason to get together with Michele and think about writing some. I didn’t expect to learn anything.
One of my nervous tics during a class like this is to observe other people in the class and do character sketches of them, describing their persons and personas. I always focus on the Loudmouths, the ones who believe they’re in a seminar of one and try to hog the teacher’s attention. And the prime Hog this time was a character all right—at one point, while the Hog was going on and on about something in her nasal, grating voice, I leaned over to Michele and said, “Do you know the character Pat from Saturday Night Live?” (Sadly, she doesn’t.)
Anyhow, as I was attempting to observe “Pat” surreptitiously to write down her description, I realized that I couldn’t see her very clearly. The only way to see clearly enough was to squint, and there’s no such thing as surreptitious squinting—go ahead, give it a try, I dare you.
I guess moving has been good for me. I’ve woken up and smelled the espresso about needing to get back into shape, and that day I got a wake-up call about my eyesight.
Which was disappointing to say the least, given that six years ago I had LASIK surgery. Now, it was something of a medical miracle that my eyesight could be corrected in the first place, because I went from -12 diopters with astigmatism (which is the technical term for “blind as a bat”) to 20/20. Well, 20/25, but close enough for government work.
I went to the optometrist (where I haven’t been since 1998, it seems) and got my eyes checked: they’re at -1.25. I got myself a new pair of glasses yesterday and yup, I was in serious denial about how bad my eyesight had gotten. I must have been straining my eyes really hard to see clearly. I could read signs a block and a half away, whereas before I had stopped trying to read them.
All of my old psychological wounds about wearing glasses have resurfaced—I got called “Four Eyes” more than a few times. I suppose I can get contacts again, even disposable ones this time, which I certainly couldn’t get with a -12 prescription. My inner moppet is screaming, “NO! They said no more glasses and no more contacts and I don’ wanna!” I look at Fia and Simon and wonder if I’ve cursed them with my eyesight. If in a few years they’re going to have to start braving the Four Eyes label.
Evidently Apple covers LASIK now, but do I really want to have that procedure again, if my eyes are just going to keep changing? Is this just vanity on my part? Or should I just get the contacts and be done with it?
I haven’t braved the whole LASIK thing yet. I wear the acuvu 2 contact lenses and find they are incredibly comfortable (I usually completely forget they’re there) and convenient (disposable after two weeks). If my eyes got much worse (mine are about where yours are), I might consider the LASIK; I’ve had glasses since I was 2, surgery when I was 5, and even though the eyesight improved dramatically all during my childhood, I still wore glasses. And dealt with the whole 4-eyes thing.
A lot of kids now LOVE glasses. It seems like the teenagers are looking for excuses to buy them — they’re the style now. (I know two who bought some with no correction just because they were in fashion.) So maybe things aren’t as bad for the kids. Of course, as soon as I say that, it’ll go back out of style again.
I have serious astigmatism, too, so I’ve been using hard, gas-permeable lenses. But lately I’ve had to wear my glasses and, frankly, they don’t bother me much. I started wearing contacts because my optician told me I’d need new lenses less often, and they do have their advantages. (At least if you want to wear make-up, you can see it!) But I kinda like the glasses, too. You get used to it. And in adulthood, no one seriously insults you by calling you “Four-eyes”. Remember, most people wear glasses….
My opto-whatsit one time told me that weight gain can change your eyes, which made me seriously paranoid. I have no idea how true that is; I’m hoping he just meant growth in the generic teenager sense.
The squareish black frames are totally what hipsters are wearing these days, sometimes even when they don’t really need glasses. I have some tiny oval frameless which are lovely, save for the lack of peripheral, but at -1.25, that shouldn’t bother you so much. Frameless ones have gotten a bit cheaper overall, and while I’m a bit paranoid about them coming apart, they’re really nice and subtle on the face. My mother has some very flexible tiny wires which are also nice, and probably better suited to life with little grabbing ones.
My brother has perfect eyesight, by the by, despite poor odds from my parents, so who knows?
I’ve worn my glasses everyday for the past year.I’m 16 now. To be honest I could get contacts at this age but I’m not sure I’ll bother. I like wearing my glasses- I feel much more confident with them than without them. I like to think that by wearing them I’m breaking down the stereotype that all glasses wearing people are nerds. I do wonder why it’s usually smart people who need them though. Maybe they’re just smart enough to know vision is better than vanity.
I’ve worn my glasses everyday for the past year.I’m 16 now. To be honest I could get contacts at this age but I’m not sure I’ll bother. I like wearing my glasses- I feel much more confident with them than without them. I like to think that by wearing them I’m breaking down the stereotype that all glasses wearing people are nerds. I do wonder why it’s usually smart people who need them though. Maybe they’re just smart enough to know vision is better than vanity.
Hey,
I am 13 right now. I have had glasses since I was in 3rd grade. I used to love them, but now I’ve realized that I look sooo much better with out them. If it wasn’t for peer-pressure, I would probably still want them. But of course, for all age-groups the trend is to look “your best”. So I pretty much have to have contacts.
I really want them, but I am afraid that the doctors will soon find out at the end that actually they were really bad for you eyes. I am undecided on what to do. Should I stick with glasses Or go to contacts?
I look wonderful w/out glasses that I just don’t want to waste the look by the end of my life. You know what I mean???
Plz email me and help!
blackpower666@my.kitone.com