I just recently had to go to the eye doctor so I could get new contacts. As I was waiting for the doctor after the first couple tests and I couldn’t see much, since I forgot to bring glasses! I realized that for most of my life I have had to have glasses or contacts. I got my first pair of glasses at age 8 and by 11 I was wearing contacts daily.
You know for those of us that need glasses or contacts, there are a few things that are part of our day that people with good eyesight just don’t understand.
If you have good Eyesight You Don’t Understand:
#1 Not Being Able to See
Ok, let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. People without eyesight problems are lucky and simply don’t understand what it’s like to not be able to see clearly.
#2 The Frustration of Temperature Change
If you have never worn glasses you don’t understand how horrible it is to walk into a warm building after being out in the cold and having your glasses get foggy. Or opening the dishwasher to grab something and not being able to see anything but steamed glass.
#3 Yes, We can tell when you’re holding up 2 fingers
I can’t tell you how many times I was asked growing up if I could see how many fingers someone was holding up without my glasses on. Though it’s blurry if we are standing in normal conversation distance I can tell how many fingers you are holding up. (For those with good eyesight this question gets really annoying to those of us who wear glasses.)
#4 Touching Your Eye isn’t that big of a deal
One of my brothers hates having to touch anywhere near his eye. Since I have been wearing contacts for most of my life I find it hilarious when someone won’t touch their eye.
#5 Sleeping in your contacts is the worst
Waking up with your contacts in (if you don’t have the overnight contacts) causes one of two reactions. You wake up and are so excited you can see, somehow your eyes were healed overnight, haha. Or you try to pry your eyes open they are so dry and gritty from having the contacts in for way too long.
#6 The Feeling of Wearing a Ripped Contact
When you put in a contact and then your eye starts watering like crazy and you can’t get it to open so you can take out the contact you know one of two things has happened. Your eyes are really dry and tired or your contact has a rip.
#7 That Puff of Air at the Eye Doctor
If you where contacts part of your eye exam will be a puff of air going into your eye. This isn’t painful but no matter how many times I have it done it always makes me jump!
#8 How Appealing Yet Terrifying Lasik Surgery is
Lasik eye surgery is something I that is so appealing to me, it would be so awesome to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and see. But the thought of going through this surgery being awake kinda freaks me out. Also the idea that if something goes wrong I could be blind that is Terrifying. (Yes I know the odds of that happening are small.)
#9 How Expensive Contacts and Glasses Are
If you have good eyesight you have no idea how much money you are saving.
A pair of glasses is going to typically cost $150 or more. If your eyes are as bad as mine it’s going to be more like $300 on the low end, you might be able to find some really thick-lensed glasses for less than that. But who wants to wear glasses with super thick lenses?
Contacts cost about $200 a year. (See my comparison of Costco vs 1-800 contacts here)
All of these costs don’t even include eye doctors appointments or any special prescriptions or complications.
#10 Carrots won’t Make Your Eyesight Better
I can’t even tell you how many times as an adult I have had people tell me that I must not have eaten enough carrots when I was growing up. Just an FYI before you say something like this, eating a lot of carrots will not make your eyesight better. You can read more about the myth of carrots improving eyesight here.