# People with horrible vision who wear glasses-- how do you do it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533 "2009-01-29T12:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/21 "2009-01-29T15:40:11Z")
I have extremely bad vision–the E on the chart doesn’t even come into it. I’ve been wearing glasses since kindergarten, so I guess I’m just used to it. Like **Solfy** , I dislike the smears and having them on my face more than the blurs around the edges. I wore contacts for years, and still wear them when I can, but that’s less than half the time. I had a severe allergic reaction to contacts a few years ago, had to leave them alone for a while, got a different kind, but my eyes get tired quickly and I can’t wear them for long periods of time. What I really hate is when I lose my glasses. I never misplace them, of course, but if they happen to fall down or get knocked away I’m in big trouble and have to call for help. I have hi-index lenses, which makes them much thinner, but I still get a fun prismatic effect at the edges. That’s kind of entertaining. Those very dark blue LEDs drive me crazy, though, they really move around a lot. A big advantage to being so near-sighted is being able to see right up close. When I get cataracts and get my vision fixed, I’ll probably go for a small correction (-3 diopters or so) to keep a bit of that. I’m not a candidate for LASIK or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/22 "2009-01-29T15:57:35Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > My eyes are really sensitive. You know that machine that puffs in your eye? I can barely do that. The idea of regularly putting something inside my eye is unthinkable. So, glasses. I have the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/23 "2009-01-29T15:59:11Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > My eyes are really sensitive. You know that machine that puffs in your eye? I can barely do that. The idea of regularly putting something inside my eye is unthinkable. So, glasses. Oh yes, me too. The puff thing I can just about cope with, but I hate eye drops. Contacts are out of the question. (Plus they’re expensive, and a palaver). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/24 "2009-01-29T16:44:47Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Chart? What chart? > Over there on the wall… > What wall? 😃 🆒[Mr. Magoo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Magoo) ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/25 "2009-01-29T16:45:11Z")
I rarely get smudges on my glasses; when I clean them it’s because of general dust being on them. I mean, I just… don’t touch the glass part. I’m completely used to glasses and don’t even notice I can’t see clearly peripherally; like others have said, I can still detect motion there, and that’s what’s important. Unless I absolutely had to, you couldn’t get me to switch to contacts. Glasses are an accessory (even if I have the same pair for a couple of years) and I have small, deep-set eyes. I feel I look much better with glasses than without. If I ever did have laser surgery, I’d get a fake pair of glasses to keep wearing. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/26 "2009-01-29T16:55:23Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > You know that machine that puffs in your eye? I can barely do that. That doesn’t bother me. The alternative though—which is that they hold something resembling a fat pencil a quarter inch from your eye and ask you not to blink (wait, you have to do that _twice_?)–freaks me out. Eye drops don’t bother me much, but there’s at least one kind (used for eye dilation) that gives me problems. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/27 "2009-01-29T17:01:59Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > That doesn’t bother me. The alternative though—which is that they hold something resembling a fat pencil a quarter inch from your eye and ask you not to blink (wait, you have to do that _twice_?)–freaks me out. > > Eye drops don’t bother me much, but there’s at least one kind (used for eye dilation) that gives me problems. We have an alternate method of eye pressure testing, but I’m not sure it’s an improvement for you. Numbing drop goes in the eye (it might be given in the sequence of dilation drops rather than specially just for this), then I grab a “fat pen”-resembling thing, hold your lids open so you don’t blink, then tap lightly on the front of your eye with the pen-thing (Tonopen). ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/28 "2009-01-29T17:06:51Z")
I’ve worn glasses for going on 14 years now. Usually do the contacts for special occasions or when going out. They tend to bother me a lot when at work and in front of a PC screen. So I wear my glasses most of the time when at home or at work. And I’m frankly tired of the whole thing. I’m saving up for laser surgery. And If I had more balls I’d sign up with one of those “one eye for free” places right this second. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/29 "2009-01-29T17:07:53Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > We have an alternate method of eye pressure testing, but I’m not sure it’s an improvement for you. Numbing drop goes in the eye (it might be given in the sequence of dilation drops rather than specially just for this), then I grab a “fat pen”-resembling thing, hold your lids open so you don’t blink, then tap lightly on the front of your eye with the pen-thing (Tonopen). Probably wouldn’t be. For one, it’s mainly having it that close to my eye that bothers me. Two, I wouldn’t be surprised if the drops that bother me (and when I say bother, I mean I feel like I’m about to pass out and/or puke) are being used. Just blow on my eyeball already. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/30 "2009-01-29T17:08:55Z")
I am quite near-sighted. I also have astigmatism. I tried contacts for nearly a year, they just didn’t work out for me. Half the time when I would put them in, my eyes would flare up into horrible watery itchy redness. They were just more trouble than they were worth. I might think about laser surgery at some point, but I’ve heard an awful lot of horror stories. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/31 "2009-01-29T17:10:07Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > Don’t buy glasses with too-small or rounded lenses. I wear glasses all the time, and I don’t have a problem with peripheral vision. I think this is the problem, too. People go in so much for fashion that they wear these tiny little glasses. Well of course you can’t see anything. I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy stylish looking glasses, but you should try a happy medium. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/32 "2009-01-29T17:17:45Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > My vision is terrible, although not quite as bad as some people I know. When I’m asked to read the eye chart, I say “E.” Then when asked to read the next line down, I have to tell them that I’m joking and can’t even read the E, it’s just the letter that’s always on top. When I wear my glasses, I’m essentially blind in my periphery. It makes me disoriented to have my vision angle cut by so drastic a margin. I don’t know what I’d do without my contacts. > > If contacts don’t work for you for some physical reason I can understand; glasses are the best you can do. But if you just prefer them, why do you do it? Doesn’t not being able to see to either side of you drive you crazy?? I have no idea what you’re talking about. I have quite bad vision and I’ve worn glasses since I was 11. I don’t notice not being able to see out the sides of my head. How far do your eyes rotate to the side? Are you wearing teeny-tiny glasses? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/33 "2009-01-29T17:28:42Z")
well, I’m glad I read this thread, because I was genuinely curious about why anybody would wear glasses ever. I got my first pair of glasses in sixth grade, and then my first pair of contacts in 9th grade. I switched over to contacts because I have very sensitive skin, and the glasses were were causing really ugly sores on my cheeks and behind my ears, where the glasses rested. I didn’t have a pair of glasses for years because I had to choose between buying contacts and updating my lenses in my frames. Now I recently got a new pair of glasses to have as back-up (and contacts I can wear a week at a time! WOO!) and I _hate_ the things. I hate how dirty they get even though nothing is touching them. I hate how I can only see through what seems like tiny little squares (though the glasses aren’t that tiny). I hate the way they irritate my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/34 "2009-01-29T18:09:11Z")
I’ve had glasses for about 50 years, and have never had problems with them. Judging from my ability to avoid idiots on the freeway, my peripheral vision is pretty good also. I briefly considered contacts when I was 20 or so, but every girlfriend I had with them seemed to spend an inordinate time cleaning them and fussing with them. Now I have progressive lenses. My wife need them also, and her contacts were good for closeup in one eye and distance in the other. It was claimed that this works, but I’m dubious. At this point my glasses are part of me, and you’d have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/35 "2009-01-29T18:13:31Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > Probably wouldn’t be. For one, it’s mainly having it that close to my eye that bothers me. Two, I wouldn’t be surprised if the drops that bother me (and when I say bother, I mean I feel like I’m about to pass out and/or puke) are being used. Just blow on my eyeball already. Out of curiosity, do you know which drop it is? I’ve never seen a patient react like that to drops, but I don’t see as many patients as the doctors do. I know where I work, we use proparacaine, then tropicamide, then phenylephrine; the first is a ‘numbing’ drop, and the other two are dilation drops. Edit: It wouldn’t have been a drop that has a yellow tint to it, would it? (You’d notice if you wiped with a tissue and there was a yellow tinge left behind.) ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/36 "2009-01-29T18:14:45Z")
Chalk me up as another who can’t see the “E”. I’ve worn glasses for 35 years. I never notice the edges are out of focus. Peripheral vision isn’t clear for anyone - you never see somebody reading a book _over there_. It just detects motion and my uncorrected vision is good enough to catch somebody walking up at my side. As to “why not contacts”? I just can’t see doing that - poking myself in the eye daily. My glasses have never floated around the back of my eyeball. My glasses have never done any of the crap that I see contact wearers suffering from (although there is the very rare “lens popping out” problem). Vision surgery isn’t an option, either. Back when RK was the rage, I met a guy that it went wrong on. He had to wear coke bottle glasses that distorted his whole face just to correct for that bad procedure. These are the only eyes I have and I just can’t see risking them in this way. Besides, every pair of glasses I get are stronger than the previous pair. If I was made perfect by the laser, I’d need glasses in a couple years just to correct for my usual “drift”. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/37 "2009-01-29T18:18:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Edit: It wouldn’t have been a drop that has a yellow tint to it, would it? (You’d notice if you wiped with a tissue and there was a yellow tinge left behind.) Yup, it was. I don’t know which drop it is (Mom tried to pry the information out of the doctor’s office–they wouldn’t give it) but it’s happened twice. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/38 "2009-01-29T18:24:39Z")
I like glasses because they’re inexpensive relative to contacts, they’re easy to clean (just get the dirt off, no sterilization required), and it’s really easy to remember to remove them when I go to bed. Glasses also help mitigate my otherwise slack-jawed-yokel appearance. I’m farsighted with astigmatism, but my peripheral vision is adequate without correction. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/39 "2009-01-29T18:25:49Z")
I have tiny glasses, because otherwise my lenses get really thick. I don’t notice the blurred areas to the sides. If you move fast enough all danger comes at you from the front. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533/40 "2009-01-29T18:30:31Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > Mom tried to pry the information out of the doctor’s office–they wouldn’t give it :eek: They put something in your eye then wouldn’t tell you what it was?! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-horrible-vision-who-wear-glasses-how-do-you-do-it/483533.md?page=3)