Back to wearing glasses - ICK!

[pomtzu]

I guess this qualifies as a rant..........

After enjoying the last 4 or 5 years of being free of eyeglasses, except for readers (after cataract surgery), I have to start wearing them again. I'm not happy! It started out last Fall with things not as sharp and clear as they had been, and not being able to read some print while watching t.v., or some road signs while driving. It just got steadily worse, tho at my eye exam in December it wasn't bad enough to go back to glasses at that time. Then a couple of weeks ago I developed an eye infection and a pea sized knot in the middle of my upper eyelid and went back to the doctor. Meds cleared the infection, but the knot, which is a clogged gland, didn't go away in spite of hot compresses, meds, etc. Back to doc yesterday and they did a refraction and another exam, and the vision was even worse. It was 20/20 in both eyes after the cataracts were removed, but now it's deteriorated to 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other. No wonder everything is fuzzy and I see double in the bad eye. So I ended up ordering my new glasses and I'm now $300+ poorer (and that was with a 30% discount I get thru my supplemental insurance) than I was before yesterday - an expense I wasn't expecting, and sure didn't need. Well they say you can't take it with you, but it would be nice to have it while you're still here.
And if the knot doesn't break up in the next few weeks, they will have to incise it and drain it. Good grief - does the fun never end???

[happylabs]

I hate glasses! Been wearing them since the 4th grade. I did wear contacts for a few years but cannot wear them any longer.

Sorry you have to go back to them again. It would be such freedom without them.

[catnapper]

I love wearing glasses and have at least twenty pairs. I admit to having an eyeglass issue and match every outfit to my glasses ( right now I'm wearing a fuschia top with yellows and purples. My glasses? Fushia frames with purple and yellow temples.

I get them online for $20 or so per pair. Zennioptical.com or goggles4u.com. my friends, family, and coworkers all use those site now.

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm supposed to wear glasses, but I feel they are just a nuisance instead of helping me. I am also due for another exam, but I put it off when I was going through my stuff and then my surgery. And I'm still putting it off for no reason now.

I hope the knot goes away on its own so you don't have to have that procedure done. That doesn't sound fun.

[pomtzu]

Yeah - I started wearing glasses when I was 9, and wore them up until the cataract surgery, and now I'm back to them. I fought contacts for about a year, but my eyes are just too dry - and it wasn't worth all the effort. They were more trouble than they were worth.

I did check out Zinni Optical, but ruled them out. I realize you can get a general idea of what they will look like from the "try on" option, but you can't tell what they will feel like. If I got a nice looking pair but they were uncomfortable, I wouldn't wear them. Been there - done that. I thought about getting prescription sunglasses from Zinni, but what they have as sunglasses, is a regular frame and script, with the polarized clip on to fit them. I can get polarized clip ons anywhere here that sells sunglasses, since that's what I had when I wore glasses before. I inquired yesterday when I ordered my glasses, about the price of putting polarized lenses in my old frame that I already had. Sure - they would do that - to the tune of $140. Thanks, but no thanks.

[kaycountrygal]

Pom, I'm sorry to hear about your eye vision problems. I do hope the knot goes away on its own but if it doesnt I'm sure eye surgeon can do procedure without pain to you. I say this because over the years I've had eye problems with operations and procedures and even injections in one of my eyes and I did ok. Anyway back to you, I hope your vision can get better. You're in my thoughts for a positive outcome.

[Bonny]

Sorry to read about your predicament & hope things will get better on their own.

I just picked up my new pair of glasses today & was told I have the start of cataracts during my exam last week. I think this is the beginning of old age for me. Something an aspirin won't take care of.

[Karen]

At Zenni you can get any lenses tinted - that's how I got my prescription sunglasses, and it was pretty cheap, by comparison.

[pomtzu]

At Zenni you can get any lenses tinted - that's how I got my prescription sunglasses, and it was pretty cheap, by comparison.

There is a big difference between tinted lenses and polarized lenses. I could have gotten just tinted lenses from my eye doctor quite cheap, but that's not what I need. After cataract surgery, most people have a much heightened sensitivity to light, and therefore require a polarized lens. Even the darkest tint won't work for most - including me! Of course not - no cheap way out!

[Karen]

Oh, Pom, sorry you had to spend so much on your glasses, and all the trouble you've been having. In the future, there are glasses places you can order online for a fraction of that amount, but I understand you needed these immediately anyway!

I have worn glasses since I was 9, and basically cannot imagine NOT wearing them!

[mrspunkysmom]

Regular sunglasses don't get dark enough for those with lens implants. I wore those after-surgery shades for years over my glasses. I finally tried polarized lenses. Not as dark but cuts the glare significantly.

It's my astigmatism and diabetes that are the big problems for me. The doctor corrected the astigmatism 19 years back and it was great for a while. Now I have to have lenses for the astigmatism. What's odd is that my astigmatism is worse now that when I was a child yet I see much better even without glasses. And that's even when my blood sugar is messing with my vision. I believe that my original lenses were unclear and defective.

An irritating note: It was ten years after my surgery that a doctor finally admitted that the lens implants have a glare problem.

BTW, I wear half moon bifocals with no problem. Progressives would drive me nuts. I like my peripheral vision.

Pom, wishing you luck.