Glasses? (All the better to see with...)

I've been wearing glasses since the 2nd grade...so I guess for 21 years!! I'm near-sighted (that's where you can't see far away right?) but I wear them all the time. When I was a kid I wouldn't take my glasses off to do my reading at school; which I didn't need them for. That made my vision worse to the point where now I have to wear my glasses all the time! I was just commenting to DH that I can tell the prescription for my left eye needs adjusting. The glasses that I am wearing now are about 4 years old or so.

I used to wear contacts a lot. Then in the summer of 2007 I got an infection in the cornea of my right eye due to "over-wear" of my contacts. My vision was blurry in that eye for a whole month!! I was at the eye doctors every few days; I had MRI's and other neurological tests just to be sure it wasn't something else. It wasn't really painful unless I tried to use the computer; mostly it was tiring; but it was SOOO scary! Ever since contacts haven't been as comfortable. I can wear them; but not all day. My vision hasn't really changed much so I haven't bothered with new glasses. Because of my script I always go for the featherweight lenses and I'm so picky about my frames. So it always ends up expensive! But I get my wear out of em!

When you are pregnant they won't do a real eye exam unless you are having a problem. I didn't know this till I was about 35 weeks pregnant and drove over icy, unplowed roads to get to my eye exam to be told they wouldn't see me because I wasn't having a problem. Did I mention I nearly got stuck in the frozen junk all over the road in the middle of downtown traffic? Yeah....they nearly had an angry, very pregnant lady blow up on em.... hehe.... Since it takes a full year for some things to "go back to normal" I didn't want to bother making an appt. So I need to now.

I've always done wire frames (since elementary school anyway...) and usually in a dark brown color. Because I have dark brown hair it seems to blend better. If I am dressed up I prefer to wear contacts; but otherwise I don't mind my glasses so much. Except when my child won't leave them alone... lol It's nice when you want to lay down for a nap and also you can just fall into bed instead of cleaning your contacts! I wish I could do cool, trendy frames; but it's just not me. (There...did I answer all your questions... hehehe)

Contacts and glasses here. My vision has needed help since the 3rd grade, or was it 2nd? I cannot go without something on my eyes, as I can't see things in detail unless they are right in my face. Always contacts for many years, but I have been wearing glasses for months straight now.

When I was in elementary school and early middle school I used to think eyeglasses were so cute, and I was mad I didn't need them.
So I'm chiming in to say I own a pair of glasses I use to thread needles and such sometimes, but I don't really need.

I am nearsighted, and have astigmatism. I've worn glasses since first grade. I am blind without them. I can see clearly for only 6 - 8 inches without them.

I get my glasses from zennioptical.com. They're $7 a pair, plus 5 for shipping. Frames and lenses. I have plastic frames (lots of them).

My siblings and I got our dad's eyes... My mom has had to wear glasses since she was in her 20's, but my dad never needed them until he was close to 60 - and that was only for reading. He was very reluctant about wearing reading glasses, too... I'm almost 40, and I do notice that my vision is not what it used to be, but I still don't have to wear glasses or contacts. Yet...

Just like you, I went without glasses for many years, mostly because of the cost. My eyes got so bad that I could no longer read paperbacks, because the type was too small, and I sometimes couldn't recognize people on TV, because the images were doubled and blurry.

Then one night while driving, I turned onto a highway access road and accelerated to go up the ramp -- and at the last possible moment, I realized that what I was looking at was not a ramp, but a 30-foot-high retaining wall.

So last year, I finally broke down and got glasses again. It was miraculous! Being able to see clearly is such a joy! And even though they're trifocals, I was able to get them at Sears for about $200... half the price I'd paid years before at Lenscrafters.

They're cheap frames, in plain dark red plastic, but I like them fine. And y'know, I think I actually look better with them!

I was about 43 when i first started wearing them. I had to go when my arms couldn't get any longer to read with

I'm 52 now and had them tested again last year and there was no real change, so for my age it's not bad at all!

I have glasses, I've had them since I was about 15 but over the years my eyesight has changed considerably (both me and my brother gained my dad's eyesight as we got older).
I used to be 'interesting' and have one long sighted and one short sighted eye, just me being awkward I guess but now it's evened out to being short sighted. It's amazing what a difference glasses make, a few years ago I went for a while without them and then when I put them back on I realised what I had been missing and also that I felt less dizzy so now they live on my nose and bug me when I change temperature or fall off when I sneeze (I also gained that from my dad *ACHOOOOOO!*).
I have never encountered anything exciting whilst not wearing them but have managed to get me and my partner lost and stuck on roundabouts as I've frantically squinted at the roadsigns

I have glasses for reading that I have had different prescriptions for since elementary school, but I very rarely wear them. I just usually forget truthfully.

I've worn glasses since I was 3 years old. Mom has pictures of me, a wee little girl with curly black hair, a big smile, and little glasses with blue frames.

Used to wear contacts years ago, but now I can't. I had these gorgeous bright green contacts! With my auburn hair and the green contacts, it all fit beautifully. I even had people stop in the middle of a conversation with me, look at me, and say, "You have gorgeous eyes!" I loved those contacts. They were so comfortable, I'd forget I even had them in. Between the astigmatism and the fact that I now use bifocals, it's virtually impossible.

I probably wear my sunglasses (also prescription) more than my regular glasses because I always wear them to walk and when I'm driving. I need glasses to drive and like my sunglasses more than my regular glasses.

I'm finding that it's starting to become difficult to read the fine print of many books now.

I've been wearing glasses since I've been about 10 yrs old. I have an unusual astigmatism that prevents me from having 20/20 vision with contacts and once you have been wearing glasses to see clearly and seitch to contacts with 20/25 vision at best-well thats not an option. Also because I'm so near sighted vision corection surgery can not be guaranteed to give me 20/20 vision either so why after paying that amount of $$ would I still want to wear glasses?

I currently am due for a eye exam! Must schedule. A couple of years ago when I had my last one got a couple new pairs. One just plain no line bi-focal which I didn't have to much difficulty getting used to from wearing the lined bi-focal for over 20 years.
The second pair was also no line bi-focal with the transition lenses. The cost was cost a bit for these lenses.

I think though I would not get another pair of transition lenses again. I had just a pair of prescription sunglasses before and I think I will go back to them. The transition lense glasses I have are more indoor frames so when I'm outside with these I would rather have a larger eye coverage if that makes sense. I like the frames though I think I'll just get new lenses in them.

I started going nearsighted in my 20s. I hated wearing glasses, and still hate it, but wear them!

I also have an astigmatism.

When I hit my 40s my close up vision started to suffer. I resisted for a long time, fearful bifocals would make me sea sick. Finally about 3 years ago I went. Instead of bifocals I got Progressive lenses. I LOVE them. I adjusted to them immediately and they are wonderful.

I worried so about adjusting to them that I delayed picking the new lenses up for months.

I'd heard so many horror stories about Progressives . But I guess a lot depends on the quality of the lenses. The place I go to uses top of the line.

My prescription is $450. This does not include frames, I have not bought new frames in 10 years. $450 includes the prescription progressive lenses, anti glare and anti scratch. It's worth it.

I've worn glasses since I was 15. I cannot wear contacts because they just bother me too much. My glasses are now bi-focals and of course with the invisible ones my glasses cost me around $450 a pair and I don't choose expensive frames so most of the cost is for the lenses.

I wear glasses all the time now. I wore contact lenses at first. I got glasses when I was in high school, and there was no way I was going to go to school wearing glasses. I drove my mother so nuts, that she made sure I got contact lenses right away. Now I don't really care. Later on I did have problems with contacts lenses with my allergies, that's another reason I don't really wear them. I did find I see better with the contacts lenses, than I do with glasses.

I just stared wearing glasses 2 yrs ago when one of my friends pointed out to me that what I see is not what's really there

I wear contacts and glasses, usually contacts in the summer so I can do sunglasses and prescription glasses in the winter...
I don't like how glasses look on me, I just feel like my eyes are hidden under them...But, I can't go without wearing them, I am near sighted and I have astigmatism, and I will not risk getting premature wrinkles from squinting all the time! That's the same reason why I will always wear sunglasses in the summer... Contacts are just not very comfortable to me, I only wear them because prescription sunglasses are too expensive, and sometimes if I'm going out or have an event where I want to look nicer I will wear them.
But for some reason, even though I've started wearing contacts since I was in high school, they always bother my eyes just a tiny bit, but i focus on it and I can't forget they're there...

I have had vision problems my whole life, but didn't have to start wearing glasses until I was in 7th grade. I started off wearing them just for reading, but eventually ended up wearing them all the time since I liked seeing clearly! I currently wear contacts most of the time, but my allergies have been so bad recently that I've not been able to wear my contacts as much as I would like.

Last year, when I went for my annual exam, the doctor told me that my vision had shifted and had improved dramatically. She attributed it to my hormones changing since I'm in my 40s. She encouraged me to come back in 6 mos to have my eyes rechecked. I think I'm going to go because I've noticed I'm not seeing clearly again.

My myopia was going on for a while before I finally did something about it. I remember right after I finally got glasses going for a hike with my mother. As we drove to the state park I kept saying "Wow, look at that! Hey mom, look at that!" She said she'd ahd no idea how bad my vision had gotten, since I'd been missing all those things before.

it was a rreal revelation, getting glasses. And here I am 25 years later and I still hate wearing them.

The hardest part is when I need new frames. I am clinging to these, though they are 10 years old, because I can't find anything new I like. And trying new ones on, I can't really see what they look like, can I. If I could find another pair of these frames, I would buy them.

I wear both. I look so much different with glasses than without, and not in a good way.

For those who can't afford glasses, if you have Facebook and friend Coastal Contacts, they often have awesome specials. Frequently they give away 10,000 pairs for the shipping cost only. Other times they have frames and lenses for $38.00 plus shipping. The frames are nice ones, not the icky $38.00 frames that Wal-Mart has. I just got some really cute Guess frames for $50.00 including shipping.

I've had glasses since I was in grade 6. Like someone else, I can't see anymore than about 6 inches infront of me without them. In the beginning I was only supposed to wear them to see the board at school, read, etc but I wore them all the time and ended up being dependent on them.

I have used contacts before, but I like my glasses much better. Plus, I guess my glasses are like a safety blanket for me, I'm not nearly as comfortable without them on.

I have Ray Ban Wayfarer style glasses. I've loved them for a long time, but I didn't want to get them because they were the in thing and all the hipsters wear them, lol. My mom finally convinced me to just get them and I couldn't be happier. The lenses are so big that I can see so much more than I could with regular glasses and they're very comfortable.

For anyone not familiar with the style, this is it (although mine are red inside, black outside):



I have another pair of smaller framed glasses that are transitions. They're nice, but I'm a photographer and it's sometimes hard to see with them on and get the correct exposure.

I don't have prescription sunglasses, I just use Solar Shades, lol. My boyfriend makes fun of me, but I love them and they're pretty cheap so if I break them I can afford to replace them.

For anyone not familiar with solar shades:

I've worn glasses I think since...4th grade? And then in 6th grade I switched to contact lenses. These days I mostly wear contacts, but wear glasses at home or on lazy days. I also have astigmatism in my left eye, and while they finally do make soft lenses for that, I still see better with my glasses. So I guess there are pros and cons to each.

I used to hate how I looked in glasses (I had kind of dorky little round frames that were really beat up after so many years) but I finally got a pair a year ago that I like. They're slim gold rectangular frames. So now I feel like I can go out with glasses and look "classy" in a smart, geek chic sort of way, instead of a "I was too lazy to look nice today" sort of way.

I don't think I'll ever get laser surgery. I work as an artist so I am too paranoid about something going wrong and making my vision worse! I can live with my glasses or contacts. They do a sufficient job.

You mean, so you buy the frames from them, and then have your regular optical place put the prescription in?

Good question - I like reading all the other eyesight stories!
I am very nearsighted, and have been since I was about seven. At first I refused to wear glasses, but soon I realized that my sight was far, far better with them
Now, I wear both glasses and contacts, and both are fine with me. Usually, I wear contacts when I go out and glasses indoors (mainly because of the sunglasses problem, which I think somebody mentioned before). Glasses are more comfortable for reading and computer/television.
To be honest, I think glasses can be cute when they are the right frames. I hate the way small, thin, neutral-coloured frames look on me, but the bolder, black frames look quite cute. One also has to consider hair/hairstyles when choosing glasses frames...something I didn't think of until recently.
Still, I feel most confident when I wear contacts. I just think it looks best and most natural, and of course my eyes are more visible

I don't even remember when I first needed and wore glasses. I think it was in my mid 30's to early 40's. For the past 5 or 6 years I have been wearing bi-focals and I wear them all the time. I only take them off to sleep and shower of course I also wear prescription sun glasses when I need them.

The frame is black and it is the narrow frame and very pretty. I look better with them on than without. It gives my face more color. My last eye exam was almost a year ago. I don't go every year as I should but when I have trouble reading I know I probably need new lenses.

No, that is frames and lenses. All you do is enter in the prescription and how far apart the eyepiece should be.

These are the ones I have ordered recently:

http://www.coastalcontacts.com/glass...prod26171.html

http://www.coastalcontacts.com/glass...prod27006.html

And these...they are no longer offered and are my favorite

I got glasses when I was 15, probably should have gotten them when I was 13 and telling my parents I was having problems seeing the board at school (mostly only a problem in math classes) but my dad didn't want to spend the money until the school started complaining to them.

My myopia is mostly self inflicted. I'm a book addict and had been since I was 2.

I now have an astigmatism in my right eye, possibly from neck issues. I don't wear my glasses when I'm in my home since I know where everything is. It makes reading menus on the tvs difficult, but not enough that I can't still read them (unless I've been sitting on the couch reading, surfing on my phone, sewing, beadwork, etc to mess up my focus). My optometrist says that actually helps a little since it forces my eyes to work and not get lazy and rely on the lenses to do the work. The last time I had my eyes checked (I'm due again for a exam) my vision had actually improved aside from the astigmatism.
Has anyone had that happen?

I rarely wear contacts.. pretty much only at concerts where wearing glasses a) makes it hard to headbang (I go to metal concerts ) and b) can be ripped off your face from someone elses hair.
Otherwise there's something weird about my eyes. They're too curved/far out and my upper eye lids cover them in such a way that they push the contacts down on nearly every other blink. If I tighten my lids a little I can actually scoop a contact right off my eye entirely. My optometrist has never heard/seen that before. This also means that the contacts constantly rub my upper lids so are not very comfortable.

Plus I have dry eye and odd bouts of eye muscle pain. So for the most part I'm comfortable in glasses. I prefer wire frames and have a pair that are a dark brushed gold/bronze color that go well with my hair color. I don't think they cover up too much of my face and have no hang ups about wearing them... A person looks far more ridiculous squinting at everything.

I was 12 when I first got glasses - thanks to the Lion's club because we couldn't afford them. I'm nearsighted, but I guess maybe a little farsighted too. I can't see beans without my glasses, except fairly close up. Like, I can take them off to read, but everything else around me is blurry. I've never tried contacts, just not interested in that.

I got glasses when I was 40, though I knew my eyes had started getting bad at around 36.
Currently only single vision, but I've already been warned by my optometrist that I'll need bifocals on my next pair.
I wear titanium wire frames currently, expensive, but nearly indestructible.

I'll probably go for Nike-Flexon frames (greatest invention since the wheel) for my next pair as long as I can find a style that will support transitional lenses.

I am nearsighted. Everyone else in my family has worn glasses since they were quite young, so I feel lucky.

Just wanted to let everyone who needs glasses....Coastal Contacts is having another giveway on the 7th of April starting at noon.

I am in no way affiliated with them but I think they are doing a great service...allowing people to get nice looking frames and lenses for next to no cost.

I was skeptical the first time I ordered from them but I have been so pleased with what I have received. I have ordered numerous pairs when they have their $38.00 specials.