Since a couple of years ago that my vision is fading. From the time I could read very small print and a traffic sign from a couple of blocks distance away, to now needing glasses for short and long distance.
At first I tried those cheap glasses from Walmart to help compensate. With just 1.00 being enough to read my computer screen (15 inches) I could get started in the journey of prescription glasses collection.
Later, as my vision continued to deteriorate, I went to 1.25, to 1.50, to 1.75, and so on. Becoming even worst when I switched to a more portable computer and went to my first Notebook with a screen just 11 inches across.
After a couple of years needing this “supplement” for my eyes, and since at the job I had at that time they required safety glasses, and the company paid for prescription safety glasses, I went to an eye doctor and got bifocals for the safety glasses for work. It didn’t work!! They gave me that bull eye’s vision, or were inconsistent in the augmentation, or something else, but never worked like those cheap glasses from Walmart!!
Now that I don’t have that job anymore and I don’t need safety glasses, I just keep going with the cheap ones from Walmart, without going to an eye doctor anymore. I just try a new pair with a different number when my eyes seem to need more help, and so the collection continues.
A couple of days ago, while working on my bench, I realized how many “sizes” I’ve been through while looking at the glasses hanging from the side. I have all of them in line, so they are at easy reach for me, to see whatever I need to see.
What happens is that I always try to use the least number possible, so not to get my eyes used to the glasses. For this reason I have what I can use for normal reading and working (2.00), but also have those for computer work (2.50), and even added a couple of bigger sizes for when working in very small things, like fixing a small switch (3.00 and 3.50).
All this makes me have small collection of glasses that go from 1.00 (the originals, and only used for long distance now) to 3.50, as you can see in the picture.
Perhaps the funny thing is that with these cheap glasses I can see better than with a prescription from a doctor, and throughout the years, with all the glasses I’ve bought from Walmart, I still haven’t spend what just the appointment with an eye doctor costs!! (left alone the frames and glasses themselves!!)
I guess I can’t feel a young man anymore with the reminder my small collection of prescription glasses gives me every time I need to reach for any of them!! I never thought I would be collecting prescription glasses one day, especially when remembering, as a child with curiosity inspecting my grand mother’s glasses, and trying to imagine what it must be.
Now I know.
Raul
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