I need glasses!

[RachelEllen]

(Where's the tiny little violin smiley )

Aside from feeling completely old, how the heck do you pick? I tried looking at one of those 'face shape' articles, but I have no idea what shape my face is. There are about a gazzilion choices at the shop. Plus, no glare? scratch resistant? Spring sided frames? Gack!!!


(Oh yeah, no contacts for me......hyperopia + astigmatism. I only need them for close work.)

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Stinks getting old huh??? I just recently realized that my headaches from work were from straining to read the computer screens all day. I wont go to the doctor though. So I am stubborn I know. I bought a pair of reading glasses that I keep there at work and thats it. They do help...but I dont want to have to go to the eye doctor

 

[EthansMom]

Do you have a friend or family member who can go with you and give their opinion about which frames look best on you? I always go and help DH pick out his frames.

Also, I highly recommend the scratch resistant coating. And, since you'll be taking your glasses on and off a lot, it would be wise to get the frames that are "bendable" or have a "shape memory" so that they are more resistant to damage. (I haven't had too much problem with damaged frames, lately, but I wear mine all day long. DH wears his only for distance and his frames were constantly getting damaged until we paid a little extra for bendable frames last time.)

Also, get a copy or two of your prescription so that you can easily get new glasses if your old ones get lost or damaged.

 

[golfgal]

Why do you think glasses make you "old"? I have had glasses since high school, my DS got his in 2nd grade. Glasses don't make you look old unless you buy frumpy ones.

Spend the extra on the scratch coating, it is WELL worth the price. The spring hinges are nice but most adults don't "need' them. One tip I have with glasses is to not fold in the bows if possible. That looses the screws and you won't have to get them adjusted as much. I have had my current glasses for 2 years and have never had to tighten the bows or get them adjusted where as before I stopped folding in the bows I was having to get them tightened and adjusted frequently.

 

[RachelEllen]

Why do you think glasses make you "old"? I have had glasses since high school, my DS got his in 2nd grade. Glasses don't make you look old unless you buy frumpy ones.

Spend the extra on the scratch coating, it is WELL worth the price. The spring hinges are nice but most adults don't "need' them. One tip I have with glasses is to not fold in the bows if possible. That looses the screws and you won't have to get them adjusted as much. I have had my current glasses for 2 years and have never had to tighten the bows or get them adjusted where as before I stopped folding in the bows I was having to get them tightened and adjusted frequently.

The eye doctor told me that many people with hyperopia can compensate really well while they are young. Once you hit 30 or so, you can't compensate as well, and you start getting symptoms. She said once my eyes get used to the glasses, my presciption may chage rapidly, and I might end up in bifocals within 10 years. So...I felt a little old

Thanks for the advice. Bf and I are heading to LensCrafter's this afternoon.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Welcome to the Golden Years!!!!

 

[heart4pooh]

A week before I turned 40, last year, I noticed it was getting harder to read, especially signs while I was driving. Ten months later I finally went to the eye doctor and he told me I only had a mild vision problem in my left eye. I told him I find it hard to believe I only have a minor problem! Anyhow, a few tests later, he tells me I have cataracts in both eyes!! That explains it, he said. Lucky me. Only lens implants will help!

 

[ohiominnie]

I've had glasses since I was in 5th grade. Switched to contacts for many years, but just recently went back to glasses.

This time though, picking out glasses was different. Instead of going to one of the "glasses in an hour" kinda places I went to the optical shop that was attached to the doctor where dh, dd and ds go for their glaucoma. It was a TOTALLY different experience. The lady there sized up my face and then brought me about 15 pairs of glasses.

I'd try one on and she'd say something like "no, those aren't good, your eyes aren't centered."
Another pair "no, too big"
Another pair "those are nice"
Another pair "nope, wrong shape for your face"

This continued on until she narrowed it down to about 4 pairs (also the same 4 that dh had said looked good) Then it was just a matter of color choices and what *I* thought looked good.

Never before have I gone to someone so knowledgable and willing to say "no, those don't look good on you." Usually they just hand me glasses then say "do you like those?"

It did cost more, but I am VERY pleased with how they look. And now, trying on my old glasses I shudder how WRONG they are for my face. Luckily, I wore contacts most of the time when I had those.

HTH

 

[olena]

Welcome to my world......

(Point of view of a 33 y/o lady who's been legally blind since the age of 7 from juvenile-onset macular degeneration, which has no cure, treatment or correction, and is often told she's "too young" to have bad vision.)

 

[golfgal]

I've had glasses since I was in 5th grade. Switched to contacts for many years, but just recently went back to glasses.

This time though, picking out glasses was different. Instead of going to one of the "glasses in an hour" kinda places I went to the optical shop that was attached to the doctor where dh, dd and ds go for their glaucoma. It was a TOTALLY different experience. The lady there sized up my face and then brought me about 15 pairs of glasses.

I'd try one on and she'd say something like "no, those aren't good, your eyes aren't centered."
Another pair "no, too big"
Another pair "those are nice"
Another pair "nope, wrong shape for your face"

This continued on until she narrowed it down to about 4 pairs (also the same 4 that dh had said looked good) Then it was just a matter of color choices and what *I* thought looked good.

Never before have I gone to someone so knowledgable and willing to say "no, those don't look good on you." Usually they just hand me glasses then say "do you like those?"

It did cost more, but I am VERY pleased with how they look. And now, trying on my old glasses I shudder how WRONG they are for my face. Luckily, I wore contacts most of the time when I had those.

HTH

Our old eye dr was like this. His wife was his assistant and when it came time to "pick out" frames she pretty much handed you one or two frames and said these would work for you and they always did. They retired and now I have to pick out my own frames.