Home Page

Monday, August 04, 2008

I Got a Poke in the Eye - Oh Wait, That Was My Own Finger

I had an appointment with a new optometrist today - and the bad news is that my eyes have gotten a little worse, and I'm way more dependent on my glasses. The good news? I'm finally a candidate for contact lenses. I hadn't been for years because my eyes aren't all that bad, and I have astigmatisms, which they didn't have contact lenses for until the last few years. So she fitted me with contact lenses and said I had to watch a little video and do a little "coursework" with one of her staff in putting these things in, taking them out and caring for them.

This is the funny part... they really should have a hidden camera for this stuff. The video was painless, and I literally LOL when the narrator noted (very seriously) that it's impossible for contact lenses to get lost behind your eyes. Seriously? They need to tell us this stuff? So you watch this video and they make it look like total cake. After the video a lady comes and sits across the table, hands me the lense holder, some solution, and says "Ok, so take them out and get them back in three times, and you're free to go." Uhhhh, yeah. The the first round was absolutely painful. They kept sticking to my finger, not sticking to the eye or my eyes were closing as if to say "WTF, GET OUT!" It actually took me like 20 minutes to accomplish this simple task, but by the third round I was much, much better.

I left the doctor's office with red and somewhat angry eyes, but WOW, I could see! I've mentioned this before, but I wear sunglasses during the day, and they're not prescription lenses. So while I'm not blind as a bat, I can't read street signs and my distance judgement for curbs 'n such is a little, uh, off. These things are going to take some getting used to, though. I think I'm still going to replace the lenses in my current frames to have them to use as well. But freedom from using my glasses all the time? Priceless. I can't wait until I'm wearing these enough to still have them on for my nightly walks. Who knows what I might actually see?
Zemanta Pixie

8 comments:

Fred said...

I just can't get the darned things in and out of my eyes. Just watching me try qualifies as a sitcom.

I'm stuck with glasses.

Alissa said...

I'm with Fred. Had them for a while and they just didn't work out.
I'm still trying to get the courage to do Lasik.

New White Keds said...

I love my contacts except for the fact that I cannot nap in them and they make my eyes dry. Other than that, they rock.

Personally, I have found that with all the processed air in Vegas, they are just tough to keep in for an entire day and when I do, I look like I am asleep with my eyes open.

In any case, I think it is different for everyone -- enjoy the adventure of wearing them. Can't wait to read about what you can see!

Bar L. said...

You are going to LOVE your contacts! I promise! I started wearing contacts back in the frigging 80's when they were HARD and HURT like HELL but it was still worth it. Now I can put them in and take them out without a mirror....

Seriously, you will dig having peripheral vision and never having smudged up glasses, etc. Yay for you!

JoeinVegas said...

I wore thick glasses, tried contacts but just could not stick my finger in my eye. Ended up with Lasic a few years ago - how nice to be able to see!

Sheena said...

Oh man! Thanks for the laugh. I could just see you trying to get them in. I don't think I would ever be able to use contacts. My hubby used to wear them, got good at using them, but hated having to do it, so he went back to glasses. Good luck with yours! =)

Nik said...

I always get a kick out of watching people put contacts in. I know, I shouldn't laugh, as I've never had to deal with it, but it's just funny watching someone do it. It's also quite a feat to accomplish, so I give contact wearers mad love.

Here's hoping all goes well with your new eyes. With those spiders you talk about, do you really wanna see what else could be out there on your walks? ;)

Martin said...

I remember fighting with my contacts when I used to wear them. I first would worry if they were inside out, if my eyes were too dry or if one folded on me. Really used to stink when I went drinking as it would sometimes fold up and hide in the inner corner of my eye. I stopped wearing them except for special occasions. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about those or glasses anymore. Welcome to clarity.