My mom is taking me to the eye doctor tomorrow. I probably will have to have glasses. What are glasses like?

Question

Any experince, pros and cons.
Thanks in advance.

Thanks for all your answers, the were all so helpful. I am going in less then 2 hours and feel a lot better.
It was so hard to pick a best answer. AutmnLily and Paul B were nearly tied. I liked AutmnLily's answer because it described (in detail) what glasses were like. I also liked Paul B's answer because it told of a glasses sucess story that didn't make me feel as bad and it described glasses as well. Great job to Paul B and AutmnLily!
Thanks to all and wish me luck!

Answer 1

Once, a fairly long time ago, an eye doctor flew into the San Blas Islands north of Panama. He went to do a little clinic and look for and treat, if possible, any eye disease.

A young lady, about 9 years of age, was brought into the little hut/room. She sat down and was too shy to speak. The uncle told the doctor that she had had difficulty seeing ever since she was born. He was also told that she'd never seen an eye doctor, but the regular doctor had told them that she'd never be able to see as she had something wrong with the back of her eyes.

The eye doctor looked into the eyes of the little lady, and finding nothing really all that 'wrong', tried to refract, or determine the power of the glasses he suspected she might need.

The uncle held up the lens holder (called a PHOROPTER) which is the funny large machine like thing with all the lenses that optometrists and ophthalmologists use to refine one's prescription. The doctor had hoped that there'd be a stand to hang it on, but there wasn't anything that would work. As he didn't have lenses such as in a trial lens kit, which is the little suitcase with lots and lots of lenses of lots and lots of different powers, both +lenses and -lenses and cylindrical lenses for astigmatism, someone or someones needed to hold this machine like thing up. It's the thing that he uses, says "which is better...one... or two, or A or B, or A or C?" as he flips the lens from one power to another.

The doctor used a small flashlight like instrument called a RETINOSCOPE, which shines a light into the eye. As the light comes back out, he looks at how it is focused and changes the lenses in the phoropter till the refraction of the eye, or the prescription of the eye is determined. Then he does the A or B thing to get it right or more precise according to the patient.

As the uncle held up the phoropter, the doctor found that the girl had a prescription of -18.00 or close to -18.00 as there wasn't a lot of time. Found the same in both eyes. This means that the little lady could see anything that was 1/18 of a meter in front of her eye. 1/10 of a meter would be -10.00 which would be about 4 inches or so. It takes 2.525 cm to make an inch so she was seeing or focused at about 2 inches, and beyond that, EVERYTHING was a big blurr.

They had a box of glasses that was filled with lots of different glasses and frames of various powers that had been donated, and he looked through the box and actually found one that had a prescription of -18.00. They were cat-like looking glasses they used to wear in the 50's.

He put them on the little girl.

Her eyes opened. Opened about as big as they could be opened.

She looked at her mother, and saw her for the first time.

She looked at her uncle, and saw him for the first time.

She looked out of the door and saw a palm tree,
a dog,
the ocean,
the beach...
all of it..
for the first time.

As tears rolled down her face, she looked at the doctor. She couldn't speak. The uncle couldn't speak. The mother just cried. No one could speak.

The doctor looked through the box of glasses again, and found a smaller pair, one made for someone about her age. As he reached to change the glasses for the one's that might fit better, the little girl held onto the ones she was wearing with both hands on the sides, and ran out of the door.

The doctor gave the smaller glasses to the mother and explained that these would be better.

You may or may not need glasses. It'll depend on whether or not you are near sighted (can see close ok, but not far very well). Or you'll be far sighted, meaning your eyes are 'weaker' than normal and you have to focus them just to see far away. That takes work, and the eyes do get tired. If you have to read on top of that, your eyes will work even harder to see up close. They'll have to work to see far away, and then more to see closer. People like this get headaches, get tired when reading and get sleepy, or just don't "like" to read, cuz it's hard to.
You may have astigmatism which the doctor will find and that'll be 'fixed' with the prescription for the glasses he recommends for you.

If you do need glasses, to see better with, it'll most likely not be as serious as that of the little girl. Get frames you like, for YOU. Not your friends. Get ones that are comfortable and allow you to see clearly. Just wear them so you can see better. Use them to read. Read a lot.

The story about the little girl? It's true.

Answer 2

When I first got glasses it took me about a week to adjust to them. My depth perception was off, however, I have a little strabismus (wall-eye vision) which could have been agrivating that.

I was first surprised to see all the detail I had been missing (there are supposed to be individual blades of grass and the ceiling has texture!) ;-) I have an astigmatism which is where the cornea lengthens and rotates so that light hits it at a funny angle causing one to see blury. (This has nothing to do with nearsightedness or farsightedness which most people have.)

My complaints about glasses... My nose pads get loose and my glasses will slide down my nose. Also, because of vanity, I chose small frames which can be annoying as when I look up or down without moving my head, I no longer can see. So, I have to bend my head entirely to read. Basically, there is no peripheral (all around) vision with glasses. You have to turn your head to see.

Everyone gets used to it though. I don't even think about them any more.

My suggestion... Glasses are expensive and you will have to wear them probably for a few years before uprgading to a new pair. So, take your time before selecting a pair. Go to losts of stores and look around. Don't be pressured into buying a pair at the doc's office (usually they try you to buy one of their selections)

I spent forever looking for frames (an entire week of shopping) but, I am happy with my frames and have had them three years now.

Also, choosing the type of lense you get is important. There is your basic plastic, anti-reflective, transition lenses, etc. Some can get pretty pricey. If you are under 18, they usually make you get an impact-resistant lense. Your doc should go over all of this with you.

Glasses can be fashionable. I think they make a statement about ones character. I knew a guy who loved bold frames and picked ones that were abosolutely outrageous. Me personally, I like the classic, business look. Choose frames that suit YOU and your personality, look nice on your face, and are COMFORTABLE. Some can pinch your ears and such.

Good luck tomorrow!

Answer 3

will I know a little about glasses seeing as I'm legally blind and have been wearing them sence the age of 4. personily I have not had problems with things like nose pads of the hoockes behind the ears. but I have had problems with the lenses. in the begaining you'll feel weird. some people even get headache when they get there first pair because there not used to looking through them. but after about 2 days this will go away and you'll get so used to them that when there off you'll feel like somethings missing. good luck I hope they help!

Answer 4

Glasses are a fashion statement these days. Glasses can sometimes be a nuisance but usually I don't even notice I am wearing them. Get some really cute frames, take your time and find the right ones. Have you considered contact lenses. I wear focus Day and Nights. I sleep in them and only have to change them once a month.

Answer 5

well there is a chance that youll have headaches because it is a change for yout eyes, also i didnt like my glasses because u dotn have periferal vision anymore but their ok u gotsta be real careful with them i broke my a couple times by steppin on them lol dont do that=)

Answer 6

Pros: They help you see.
Some styles look really good.
They can make you wear your makeup more dramatic ;)

Cons: They can get in the way.
When you first get them, they're kind of annoying.
You won't want to wear them all the time.

Answer 7

when you first get them after a little the top of your nose were they rets feels tiggly or numb -- but they feel liek sunglasses that help you see lol =]] good luck

Answer 8

very good friends when you get to know them ,Good luck