this morning i went to the eye doctor.
i try to go every 2 years, whether or not i'm noticing a change in my vision. sadly, the driving force behind this particular visit was a dinged pair of glasses... my blue metal frames have a chip in them, which results in a big patch of silver appearing where a lovely shade of blue should be. (i attempted to remedy this with a sharpie, but, shockingly, i'm not thrilled with the results.)
anyway, since i've been thinking that i need to replace the frames, i figured i might as well get my eyes checked, too.
it turns out that my prescription has changed a bit. nothing to jump up & down about, but enough to warrant a new pair of lenses. (and frames, too :-)
i've been wearing glasses all my life.
that's no exaggeration. i was born cross-eyed, and had 3 corrective eye operations before i turned 3. i've worn glasses ever since. thirty-plus years. it's really become part of who i am, and how i define myself. "christa wears glasses," people say, without thinking twice. glasses have become a simple fact of my life... practically part of my facial structure.
but since my hair makeover, i've been considering whether contacts might be an option for me. notice in this photo that i'm not wearing specs at all. i was surprised at how good i looked. (of course, a lot of that is the hair and makeup!) i think i appear more approachable... more open... more friendly, somehow. maybe i should stop wearing glasses altogether and consider contacts.
this is actually quite a big decision for me. i talked a long time with my doctor about it this morning. he understands, i think. he didn't push me towards contacts, and in fact commented that i'd never see quite as crisply with contacts as i would with glasses. ("though your peripheral vision would improve, of course.")
i'm also quite woogity about the idea of putting my finger in my eye, but i realize i'd get over that fear quickly.
anyway, the crux of the matter is that i'm unsure whether this is something i really want to do... i see this as a potential identity change.
Posted by xta at September 1, 2004 01:27 AM | TrackBackYou can always switch back and forth - I did for several years, before I decided to just wear glasses full time. I do think it makes you more approachable, not to have anything on your face.
Posted by: pinky at September 1, 2004 08:54 AMi haven't been wearing glasses quite as long, but almost-- since second grade, so i understand.
i wanted contacts really badly all through high school and was told i couldn't get them by my eye doctor.
later, when i was able to, i did, and i did wear them a lot for a while, but eventually lost interest in all the maintenance. i'll still break them out for certain situations, but mostly glasses are easier.
Posted by: lisa at September 1, 2004 09:20 AMI was going to say what Pinky said....switch bad and forth. That's what my husband does. Most days he's regular no-glasses-guy....but ever so often he likes looking like acedemic/ artsy guy so he wears his glasses.
Posted by: lainey at September 1, 2004 11:04 AMy'all may think this is crazy but I always wanted glasses when I was in grade school and high school. I used to read in semi-darkness because I thought it would make my eyes go bad and then I could get glasses. Didn't work, though I still think glasses are a cool fashion accessory.
Back to Christa, I also think you could try both for a while. You might decide you prefer one way or the other, or you might keep using both depending on the circumstance. You do look great in that makeover photo, but you look great with your glasses too!
Posted by: Sarah at September 1, 2004 11:18 AMI am the opposite of Lisa, I actually am more comfortable in contacts (although I do not sleep in them). If I wear my glasses for long periods of time I get headaches - the perscription is new and right - I am just now so much more used to contacts. I have had contacts since 7th grade and glasses since 2nd.
I think it is worth trying. You can always ease into it - back and forth. And when it is really hot out or if you are exercising or playing sports, contacts are so much better.
Posted by: Shayne at September 1, 2004 03:34 PMWhy would you want to be *more* approachable? ;-)
Adding to the chorus: I tried swapping back and forth for a while, before deciding that I preferred the glasses for better vision (I have astigmatism that cheap contacts can't fix) and physical protection (I tend to walk into tree branches and such, and glasses keep my eyes from harm -- something I could have used back in 5th grade or so when I got hospitalized for a week after an eye injury.)
Christa -- your *smile* makes you approachable, regardless of what's over your eyes.
Posted by: Phil at September 7, 2004 09:40 PM