Thursday 16 June 2011

A Sight for Sore Eyes!

I haven't done any writing today! I can't tell you how frustrating this feels.

I feel very much like the old barn on the right. A bit of a wreck. I'll explain why...

Today I went to the opticians for the first eye-test I've had in nearly 25 years. I've noticed I've become more and more short-sighted in recent years to the extent that I'm squinting at the TV and road signs. I struggle to recognise even family members at a distance. The other day I was peering at the TV text, trying to work out what the time was, when my son handed me his prescription glasses. I put them on and Bingo! The world suddenly became much clearer. I could see properly! I didn't realise I'd been going around looking at everything as if through a thin film. The trouble is, my son is severely short-sighted. So bad, in fact, that a few years ago, he could only see the large letter A at the top of the optician's sight-test board ('And even that's blurry,' he said).

It turns out that my eye sight isn't quite as bad as my son's, but not far off. I need glasses to be legal to drive, it seems. However, the worst piece of news was that I have a cataract in my right eye. The optician said I was one of the youngest people he'd seen with this condition. I am worried, I must admit! However, I have been reassured by several people now that should this get any worse and I do need an operation, it's all straightforward and those who've had it done can see perfectly well afterwards without wearing glasses.

Apparently, because I do so much reading, my close up vision is fine and my eyes have compensated. However, I have purchased some reading glasses to give my eyes a little bit of help. I will shortly be in possession of three pairs of prescription glasses: a pair to wear all the time (yikes!); a pair for reading; and a pair of prescription sunglasses to protect that right eye from UV rays to prevent the cataract getting any worse.

The only time I won't need to wear glasses is when I'm using the computer i.e. most of the time!!

I spent a long time choosing frames, particularly for the glasses I'll be wearing most of the time and, me being me, had to choose the most expensive pair in the shop! I chose a classy pair of rimless frames. Very delicate and pretty. The prescription tinted glasses are another matter! I will feel a little like Roy Orbison when I go out on sunny days! Although he didn't have a little sparkly bits on the arms of his, did he?

I felt a little wobbly when I got home. I didn't think I'd have to wear glasses all the time. The phrase: Boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses! kept coming into my head, which is silly, because I'm a married woman and shouldn't have to worry about such things! The other strong feeling is of getting old! Body parts are obviously deteriorating (remember all the trouble I had with my teeth?). I just keep imagining myself as a little toothless old lady who's virtually blind and can't read books anymore. Remember those games we used to play when we were younger: Which faculty would you rather lose? Your sight or your hearing? Aargh!!! Neither!

I'll get over it! It's just another life change. A fairly small one in the scheme of things, but a bit of a landmark day.

6 comments:

John Ravenscroft said...

Don't care how many pairs of glasses you wear - I shall still make a pass at you next time we meet!

Joanna said...

Your glasses sound amazing! My eyesight is as bad as your son's and has been since I was five. I wear contact lenses all the time, but now need reading glasses over the top of those! Age is creeping up on me!
My Mum (85) has been very pleased with her two cataract operations. They seem to have cure her short-sightedness and she doesn't need glasses now!

CharmedLassie said...

Sparkly specs?! You'll be fine with those - I'm pretty sure boys *do* make passes at girls with sparkly bits on their glasses!

JO said...

Just think of all the wonderful things you'll be able to see when the specs arrive!

Jo said...

Thank you, John! I'll look forward to it!

Looking forward to receiving my glasses and being able to see the world so much more clearly. Thank you, Joanna, CharmedLassie and Jo!

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Hi Jo
You've been given the Stylish Blogger award. Can you stop by my blog to collect when you've time?
Thanks
Pat