Ten years ago I had LASIK so that I would no longer have to wear glasses to correct my horrible nearsightedness. It was not a decision I made lightly, given that I am an avid reader and one of my biggest fears is losing my eyesight altogether.
While doing the tests to see if I would be a good candidate for the surgery, my eye surgeon explained that LASIK does not stop the eye from aging, and that I would notice a loss of my close vision in my early forties.
I'd have to wear cheaters.
Sure enough, it happened. At first, I only needed them in dark restaurants or when I was tired. It was hard to find cheap reading glasses with minimal magnification. Now, though, I find I need them almost all the time, even when I'm chopping vegetables for dinner. I think I might need to invest in good reading glasses that are bifocals - no prescription on top and magnification on the bottom.
I've taken to wearing my cheaters on a string around my neck because I was constantly setting them down and forgetting where I left them. I take them off and put them on over and over again all day. I'm resisting getting a good pair because gosh darn it... I paid a lot of money to not have to wear glasses all the time!
I know I can't stop the march of time when it comes to aging. And really, I am proud of the wisdom I've earned over the years. I feel more confident and sure of myself at 47 than I ever did when I was younger. I've built a good life with my husband and have two kids who amaze and delight me (most of the time).
In the grand scheme of things, reading glasses are really NBD.
Right?
I sure can relate to putting down my reading glasses and forgetting where I put them. I finally have bought a number of cheap ones...one for beside the bed, one by my computer, one by my seat in the living room and a couple various purses. But,at 65....I,like you, feel in the grand scheme of things, reading glasses are not that bad. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI sure can relate to putting down my reading glasses and forgetting where I put them. I finally have bought a number of cheap ones...one for beside the bed, one by my computer, one by my seat in the living room and a couple various purses. But,at 65....I,like you, feel in the grand scheme of things, reading glasses are not that bad. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteUnlike you, I had perfect vision my entire life until my mid-40s, and then I began to need reading glasses. Like you, I kept taking them on and off, on and off. Then my eyes "aged" as your doctor would say to the point that I needed them on more than off. I decided to stop fighting it and just get good glasses and wear them all the time.
ReplyDeleteLife is so much easier now!
However, I would still love to have the look of 'no glasses.' Good luck wrapping your head around what your decision will be ;)
You are right, reading glasses might seem like NBD, however you went through LASIK, made that scary decision and got to say goodbye to glasses! Now they are back? I'm with you- that's annoying! But you're right, on the grand scheme of things, it's NBD.
ReplyDeleteI am 47 too and have tried no line bifocals. I still had to hold the book close. I was wondering if I should save up for Lasik. But with the first kid leaving for college this fall, I guess the point is moot. ;-)
ReplyDeleteRight.
ReplyDeleteI bet you look fabulous in them. It could be worse - you could need a walker. Lol.
You know, I contemplated LASIK but realized I would probably need cheaters anyway. I switched from contacts and cheaters because I couldn't read with my contacts to just wearing my glasses all the time. Glasses really are NBD! I also hear that eventually, if you develop cataracts, the lens replacement surgery is like getting a whole new pair of eyes, something to look forward to maybe???
ReplyDelete