This is a celebratory reminder to all my other glasses-to-contacts transitioned friends out there! To those people who knew what it felt like to be the awkward kid in school wearing glasses. I was exactly that for most of my childhood. I obtained contacts during my junior year of high school, and I’ve never missed my glasses one bit! It’s freedom for my face. Nine years and counting!
If you can believe it, I actually wanted to have glasses when I was a kid. Probably because my older brother wore them, so I thought they were cool. Glasses were first attached to my face between first and second grade. I was, from that moment on, a four-eyes. Luckily no one seriously called me that. Only my best friend would joke about it. From that point, I had to deal with all the fun aspects that came from glasses-wearing (not).
For the most part I didn’t even notice I was wearing glasses since I became so used to them, but there were moments when it was especially annoying.
WATER: The water/fog issue.
This was the main problem I dealt with while wearing glasses. Whenever I’d be near any kind of steam, whether boiling a pot of water on the stove, or walking into a humid room, my glasses would fog up. In these situations, even if I wiped them off, they’d just fog back up again. I could hardly see when it rained and had to constantly wipe the lenses from rain spatters. I’d have to take them off and wipe them over and over, or try to shield them. Anytime I took a shower, I’d leave my glasses on the sink. I’d quickly grab the blurry bar of soap and shampoo to clean myself until I could step back out and see again.
My aunt had a pool in her backyard where my brother, my cousins, and I would go swimming a lot when we were kids. My brother and I would leave our glasses on a nearby table while we swam. That actually wasn’t too bad because we could still mostly see. But if anyone stopped by to say hi to us, we’d have to put on our glasses to see who it was. If we went to the beach, we’d leave our glasses on the towels with our parents. Even if we had worn our glasses in the ocean and tried to keep our heads out of the water, we’d end up getting splashed and have nothing to dry our glasses with. That wasn’t too bad either because we wouldn’t go to the beach that often. But if any sharks appeared near us, we probably wouldn’t have seen them!
The worst was high school gym class. I didn’t like gym class in general because whenever I got hit in the face (which was inevitable), my glasses would get pushed into my face, bent, or both. Swimming was the toughest because everything was blurry and I had to listen much harder. I’d complain to my mom about it, and she’d suggest that I ask the teacher if I could have someone with me to help me during swimming since I couldn’t see, but my teenage-self decided that would have been more embarrassing, so I continued to pretend I could see. At the end of each class I would eagerly grab for my glasses, which had been saving my towel on the nearby bench. I’d feel relieved no one had knocked them over or sat on them, giving me the ability to see again. I felt very vulnerable without them. Really any water activity didn’t work too well.
AIR: Remaining stationary.
Sometimes I had to worry about my glasses simply remaining on my face. My brother and I had to be careful on theme park rides, for anything that might turn us upside down, drop us suddenly, or throw a lot of wind in our faces. We had to be careful our gasses wouldn’t fly off. Luckily, I don’t think this ever happened, but it’s nice not having to even worry about it anymore!
EARTH: Dirt versus glass.
This one is straightforward. Whenever I’d play outside, I was basically always cleaning the dirt off of them. Whether I was climbing trees or playing on a playground, my glasses would get knocked into and spattered. Not to mention the dust that gathers there normally through regular wear. I don’t even want to know how many times I wiped my glasses off over the years. Life is so much easier not having to constantly clean the screen you see the world through.
FIRE: Of desire? I think not.
Let’s face it, glasses did not help my appearance at all. I was a scrawny, nerdy, silent kid and my glasses just added to that fact. I could never wear sunglasses because I was already wearing glasses, and I’d constantly have pink marks on my nose from the nose pieces. I thought I’d probably have permanent marks there when I got older. Luckily, I do not. Classmates would always want to try on my glasses to see how blind I was and it would always elicit the familiar “whoah!” Yes, I am blind.
It wasn’t until college, myself having been happily glasses-free for two years, when I learned of people actually wearing glasses for fun! My roommate wore glasses sometimes, and I was shocked to learn they had no prescriptions in them! She wore black frames because she liked them. I didn’t understand. Since then, I’ve seen most people with the rectangular or oversized black plastic frames. I suppose those have been the fashionable style of glasses lately, but I’m not going back!
Whenever I got my prescription updated, I would be so happy about seeing things more clearly, but inside I would tell myself that this probably wasn’t good news because it meant my vision was failing even more. If I’m without my glasses, I can only clearly see about five inches in front of my face. Sometimes I would put my fingers on the corners of my eyes and pull them outward while squinting, and I could usually make something out further away.
A few years ago I was worried that my eyes would get so bad that I wouldn’t be able to wear contacts anymore. I thought once I got to certain point they might not be able to up my prescription any further and I’d have to go back to glasses again. When I went to the eye doctor for a new supply of contacts I had to ask him this question. Luckily he said I’d be fine!
I’m seriously thankful for technology because without glasses and contacts, I’d be blind. So many people wear glasses and contacts now though… how did humans function before glasses were invented?
I had the four eyes during public school but once I got contacts in grade nine nobody saw the glasses again!
Yes, freedom!
I have the same problem in regards to when I am cooking or if it rains, having to wipe the rain off of my glasses.
At last, a fellow survivor!
I've been wearing glasses since the third grade, and asides from everything that involved water, this entire article is totally relatable (there wasn't exactly a large supply of water related activities in my town in Nigeria).
I've always wanted to get contacts, but I feel like I'll end up giving myself super pink eye or something, XD
Maybe I will one day though, until then I'll keep dealing with broken frames every 2 months -_-
I bought glasses like 2 years ago, which I still wear today. They cost a whopping $300 and within the first 2 months, they began to peel. I straight up look like a lazy slob whenever I walk around because my glasses look so dirty even though I clean them like 10 times a day.
So frustrating. Best part? optometrist refuses to give a refund/replace them.
So now, everyday I walk is like like walking through a fog...
Burn the Optometrist!!
@mbg11 That's so strange! Granted, I've only worn about three different pairs of glasses in my life, but luckily I hadn't ever had that happen before, nor have I ever heard of that happening. At least it sounds like you've gotten a lot of use out of them. :/
I'm doing the best I can with them. Basically, imagine you are running a mile with your glasses on. As you run the sweat gets on your glasses. Instead of wiping off the sweat, you just let it dry. The blurry stain that's left over is a lot like what I go through.
Sad... but true...
During sports games glasses can get in the way. They can cause injuries to the face when one falls. Without them athletes can't see correctly during activities that require fine focus. Now sports glasses fit the face well and are more resistant than they were a decade ago. Glasses have come a long way.
Most of the things making us have defective vision may be indirectly and somehow directly related to our present day civilization /technology. I think our forefathers may not have cause to battle for it.
I also wanted glasses growing up and used to throw mega tantrums if I don't get to have one. Hehehe
@greenrun Yeah, that's definitely a possibility! They might not have had as much trouble with it.
They ain't reading any thing for instance, no computer screen or phone glare associated problems. I envy them.
Hey glasses look good on you don't stress it lol
I use glasses to, they become a part of us, an essential part, merged in you...
Maybe all the screens, computers, smartphones, tv, tablets are making your vision worst..
@serggioc Glasses used to be a part of me, but no more! (Except on the way to the bathroom in the morning.)
Screens might be a contributing factor nowadays, although it didn't start with screens, as I first needed glasses at 6/7 years old.
Great post, I can relate.
"how did humans function before glasses were invented?" I think about this all the time! Now following.
@kp138 They probably had to have a family member lead them around by the hand? That's all I can think of.
OMG!!!!!!! I soooo relate to your post! I've wore glasses for as long as I can remember and this is so ME! I very much enjoyed reading your post! :)
@nanogivers Yas! Thank you so much! I also don't enjoy the laying-in-bed-with-my-head-on-my-pillow aspect trying to relax while scrolling through my phone (or any time I try to lay my head down) and my glasses are crushed into the side of my face, making it very uncomfortable!
good information
You look beautiful with your glasses baby. I agree, glasses looks good when your wearing its like you're genius type of guy but there are lots of challenges and I strongly agree with you.
Haha thanks @mitchelle, it's definitely a life experience to have!
I also have problems with the eyes
@anhkhoi Sadly, I feel like most people I meet these days wear glasses or contacts, so I definitely don't feel like I'm the only poor-visioned person out there!
Hey you look good in glasses. Dont be sad. But spare some time for eyes. Do some yoga and eat green vegetables. Early in the morning try to walk in the grass without any footwear.
Thanks for sharing .
@raist Luckily I no longer wear glasses (except to the bathroom sink in the morning, and again in the evening) so my past struggles are over! :) I love contacts!
Ohh thats good
I can relate with you,foggy glasses that need to be wipe often.
@cloudspyder Yes, I can only imagine the further struggles of someone with glasses living in a humid and rainy climate too! Yikes!
That's is my problem when get out the car, glasses get messy. Contact lens makes my eye irritated so I prefer the glasses instead.
OMG! I can 100% relate to this one. It's kinda funny how true is this :D Thanks for sharing. (upvoted and I followed you)
Thanks! Following you back :) Welcome to Steemit!
thnks for this info
Thank goodness for laser eye surgery.
I know right? My mom and brother have both had laser eye surgery. I'd say they both recommend it. I'm just too scared to get it, plus it's expensive!
I really need to get glasses... I don't legally need them to drive, so I haven't bothered with getting them as an adult. My parents got me glasses in 7th grade and I remember thinking that it was like seeing the world in high definition. This may sound strange, but I think I preferred the works have a softer, slightly hazier look! The glasses looked awful on me and after getting made fun of pretty bad, I conveniently "lost them". Not a proud moment for me, especially now that I know how expensive glasses are. I've been basically putting this off since then, but I just need to take the plunge and make an eye appointment! What brand of frames do you use... have you been happy with them?
@coruscate
Luckily there are a lot of options these days: contacts, laser eye surgery, and all different glasses. My last eye appointment went great! (and it was at Walmart!) She told me that my eyes were pink and healthy, and showed me this scan they took of the inside of my eyes. I think I just liked hearing that my eyes were healthy :p (even though I can't see(??))
Jeez I've had my glasses for at least seven years... I can't even remember the last time I got new ones, since I rarely wear them. I was just able to make out some faded text on the frame that says Safilo. And yeah, I've been pretty happy with them, no complaints!
I've heard enough stories of laser surgery that went wrong to be scared off it for life. I know it's a slim chance but impaired night vision seems to be a common problem. I want to always be able to see the night sky perfectly (even with glasses) and not distorted by defects. That said I have a friend who is a commercial airline pilot and they can get it for free - obviously airlines think it is safe enough to recommend to their most precious human resources.
Haha, I've definitely been guilty of asking to try on people's glasses. Thanks for sharing what it is like to wear glass, I've never had to and definitely didn't understand the full dilemma. What would freak me out is the concept of essentially NEEDING a physical object in order to get by.
Vapes for the 37,000th time today
Yes! It is a strange thought! That without this existing in the world, I'd be helpless!
Like Velma on Scooby-Doo, "I've lost my glasses!"
I thought the same thing with contacts. I thought I'd be having to carry extra contacts and solution with me everywhere I go in case something happened to them, and I lost the ability to see, but honestly, I've had contacts now for... about ten years, and haven't needed to carry anything extra with me!
But then I feel like so many people with health complications need a lot of things to help them get by, and that makes me even more grateful for my health! My eyes are the only physical handicap I have, no allergies or asthma, nothin' :)
I have pretty good overall health as well and thank God for it everyday. Cheers!
Glasses are actually cool. I wear glasses but people actually take mine to be just fashion until I tell them it's for better sight.
Interesting! Yeah you'd think people would automatically associate wearing glasses with the need to see better!
As a wearer of glasses since the 3rd grade, I feel your struggles! As difficult as it makes life, though, I've learned to love my glasses because they make me, me (and you too!)
You're right, they aren't the worst thing. They do have some good points too!
One day you won't need glasses. Advancements in technology will end poor vision.
I wear glasses for like 15 years now, didn't have many different types of them, but i did change a lot of lenses, those are the reason i rather keep what i have because of the price of new ones are crazy in Slovenia. Looking foward on buying sunglases with lenses i could see through. Thanks for sharing with us! have a nice day & #keepsteemin :)
Thanks @warrkin! Yeah my prescription hasn't really changed in the past few years, so I've been able to keep the same lenses! Good luck on your sunglasses-lenses!
I've worn glasses since my early teens, went with contacts for several years in my late twenties and somehow I just stopped and went back to glasses. Now I have a defective left eye (from an injury) that is always dilated so I would need to have sunglasses available all the time, even on normal days. So I just have transition lenses that get dark whenever it is light and don't have to think about putting sunglasses on and off which I actually found a pain when I had contacts.
It's my hope that one day we'll all wear glasses - with enhanced imaging features like zoom and night vision, plus overlay of our mobile device screen as needed.
One thing you missed as a huge pain with glasses - so expensive. They are, like women's shoes, one of those ridiculously overpriced items that should probably cost under $100 for the materials and labor involved and yet you can easily end up paying $500 or even $1000 these days.
Yeah people in the comments seem to be in consensus with the expensive price! I wouldn't put it past technology for those fancy glasses in movies to become a reality!
I remember lying to the optician about not seeing the letters when I was examined... just to have glasses | then I realised.. glasses odnt suit me :(
After you got glasses, and wore them for a while, could you go back to not wearing glasses, or were your eyes messed up by that all?
Nice post, beautifully presented and explained. detail oriented with nice pics. thank you for sharing this with us, Upvoted
Thanks! :)
I feel the pain so much Haha! Hated glasses my whole youth especially because I was playing competitive soccer and got them broken a couple times 😂😂😭 and ya I agree it's a pain in the ass lol can't even wear sunglasses on top lol! But now I got contact lenses which is a better easier alternative! Are you eligible for the laser eye surgery? 💙 Keep it up cutie💫 Xoxo
@steemityourway I was not much of a sporty person, but even just being active, there's no way you're NOT going to get your glasses smashed into your face at some point! I agree, contacts are so much better! I could probably do laser eye surgery if I saved up enough money, but I'm too much of a chicken, plus I have no issues with contacts for now!
Haha you're too funny😂😂 agreed for sure! Awww I thought insurance could pay a big part of it. But that's great. I have had issues with them for years aha but now it's getting a bit better! Maybe my makeup was getting in it or something! The clean and care cleanser works magic (if you ever needed a new one😏😘)
I didn't need glasses until college, and they've never really bothered me. Or at least, I didn't think they did. Then I took my five-year-old son for a routine eye appointment and found out that -- surprise -- he needed glasses. And suddenly all the crappy parts of needing glasses hit me -- not being able to wear cute, regular sunglasses; when it's hot out and the bridge of your nose sweats; being on edge about my natural clumsiness and tendency to break things. Turns out he's inherited that last one -- and has destroyed four pairs of glasses in his first year! Which reminds me of the final crappy thing -- $$$$.
Oh jeez, four pairs of glasses! That $ would add up! I don't know if I ever broke mine, but I remember bending them up pretty bad.
haha, I started wearing contacts a couple years after I got glasses when I was around 10. I think i started wearing contacts when i was 12 or something like that. I never wear glasses anymore unless I have to.....also, I also wanted to wear glasses when i was young.
Thank God that i have never been in a group of wearing glasses .otherwise i could not manage i think
You'd learn to manage!
Wow that is young! So glad contacts were invented! :)
Amen, girlfriend! I'm so blind that I hardly recognize my dad or now my husband when they come to pick me up from the eye doctor. It's awful. I've had glasses since second grade and let me tell you, I love sunglasses! It was heart breaking that I had to give them up for so long before I got contacts.
Haha @bubblejellybean that is definitely blurry! I'd probably be the same way unless the person was right in my face! Glad you were able to get contacts so you could wear sunglasses again!
oooppss### about to start using one real soon... still find it hard to believe its real each time I have a tot of it... i wish i had an option.
I work as a sushi chef, when ever I have to go into the walk-in refrigerator or freezer it's game over. When I walk back out my glasses completely fog up and I can see anything and usually my hands are full so I can't wipe them lol
Really a beautiful story, you have explained something very important in your life. I'm glad you tell us this and I hope the all kids take the lead. Thank you for sharing this @theawkwardcat
Nice post, I've been growing with glasses for my whole life as well, well since I was 9 years old so I know how it feels. It was still the era when not that many people wore glasses, so I was pretty often being called in unpleasant way by my peers, but other than that I had no problem with that. Now I've done LASIK and I'm free of all this.
I was never called four-eyes, but I hated my glasses. I know now they made me look fine, not like a bug-eyed freak, but that's what I thought. I hated them and begged my mom for contacts every day. Now thatI'm older I wear them sometimes because they're just easier than contacts and no longer worry about how they look.