Would you wear glasses for protection, not correction?

[mia1181]

I just thought I''d put it out there and see....

I am "legally blind" in one eye, due to amblyopia that wasn''t treated as a child (although I wore glasses from age 2!

). I haven''t been to the eye doctor in a while because the vision in my good eye is atleast 20/15 and glasses won''t help the vision in my bad eye. Anyway the last time I was there, the Dr. mentioned that I should be wearing glasses anyway, but only to protect my good eye. Obviously if anything ever happened to it, I''d be done. That seemed so silly to me at the time, but I''ve been thinking about it more and more. Especially as I get angrier that it''s too late for my bad eye.

Would you do it?

If I spend the money on the glasses, I worry that I won''t stick to it because it isn''t necessary. I don''t think I''d do it all the time either, but maybe a little protection some of the time is better than none.

 

[Steel]

I am sorry.

Could you please explain how wearing specs would protect your good eye?

 

[mia1181]

ha ha I guess in the off-chance that an object were to be hurled at my face!

While they wouldn''t be as protective as safety glasses that you would wear in a lab, they''d be better than nothing if a rock hit my good eye. I know it sounds weird but my eye doctor really wanted me to protect my good eye. I did meet a person who said her sister wears them for protection only (different eye issue, but also blind in one eye). I just don''t know it would be worth the trouble or even the cost because I don''t "need" them. I don''t know if I have that kind of discipline. But it is a really scary thought, since I did have a really bad eye injury a few years back (luckily to my bad eye). I ran into a foosball table rod (not the handle end either!). I got a lecture in the ER about not wearing protective glasses then too. I just find it so hard to believe anyone actually does this.

 

[iheartscience]

Yeah, I think I would do it. I can see why it seems a little over the top, but when I think about being totally blind it makes more sense!

 

[Miranda]

Date: 1/26/2009 7:50:30 PM
Author: thing2of2
Yeah, I think I would do it. I can see why it seems a little over the top, but when I think about being totally blind it makes more sense!

Ditto this. I tend to err on the side of caution, though.

 

[katamari]

Yes, for the safety reason, I think it would be a good idea. I just think about the "what if" scenarios, and I would be forever angry if I felt like I could have prevented an accident with such severe consequences (much like I am fuming about your amblyopia

).

That said, I am a glasses wearer--I love the fashion element of them and just cannot get enough! I buy several pairs a year. They are my one accessory that I just cannot live without and would not want to. I do not even own contacts anymore, because I love my glasses and never would wear my contacts. I think if you start to see it as a way to highlight your face and features, hopefully it can give you another reason beyond protection to see them as something other than useless. I recommend going to try on some frames and seeing if you like any. They may be just what your face is waiting for

 

[JulieN]

probably I''d wear them while driving?

 

[tlh]

I have a girlfriend that just wears them to look "smart" when she goes on dates. She says it works... guys like the pretty smart girls! She says she gets hit on when she wears them all the time... and they are FAKE! Seriously, she can see just fine. Now, I HAD to wear glasses (Lasik, so no more) and I was like YOU ARE CRAZY! But she liked it... used them as an accessory.
So you could get some cheapy ones... and use it to pick up dates!

Plus, if a guy gets too.... frisky, they can be your protection!

 

[Haven]

I think I would wear them for safety, too, as long as they''re not the science lab kind with the strap and the side barriers.

tlh--I occasionally wear my glasses on the weekends, and you know what, your friend is SO RIGHT! I get hit on all the time when I wear my glasses, and I definitely get more free drinks at the bar. I don''t get it, because I certainly think I look far better without them. (I LOVE your signature quote, by the way. Big Elf fan, here. My sister and I have been buying each other the best Elf swag since it came out. I''m winning, so far, because I got her the life-size cutout of Buddy. He''s awesome.)

 

[Miranda]

Date: 1/26/2009 8:21:49 PM
Author: tlh
I have a girlfriend that just wears them to look ''smart'' when she goes on dates. She says it works... guys like the pretty smart girls! She says she gets hit on when she wears them all the time... and they are FAKE! Seriously, she can see just fine. Now, I HAD to wear glasses (Lasik, so no more) and I was like YOU ARE CRAZY! But she liked it... used them as an accessory.
So you could get some cheapy ones... and use it to pick up dates!

Plus, if a guy gets too.... frisky, they can be your protection!

Oooooolala! Mia, look on the bright side, you could rock the sexy librarian look!

 

[somethingshiny]

I would absolutely protect the good eye!! You only get two. I''ve worked with many amblyopic patients who chose to wear glasses for protection. Often, they would choose to put a cheapo lens on the "bad" side, but an actual "safety" lens on the "good" side. I never heard any of them regretting that decision.

I''ve had older people wearing them (playing with grandchildren especially)
young guys (playing pool, darts, excessive gaming)
moms (again with the kids)
children (playground injuries)

eye injuries are very common, and it would only take ONE for you to be blind.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 1/26/2009 7:54:37 PM
Author: Miranda

Date: 1/26/2009 7:50:30 PM
Author: thing2of2
Yeah, I think I would do it. I can see why it seems a little over the top, but when I think about being totally blind it makes more sense!

Ditto this. I tend to err on the side of caution, though.

Me too!!

 

[mia1181]

Thanks people! I think you are pushing me in the right direction! It seems so weird to wear glasses everyday if my vision is fine, but what if something did happen? Would I ever forgive myself if I lost my vision? I think I''ll make an appointment to discuss it with my eye doctor.

Date: 1/26/2009 8:04:25 PM
Author: katamari
Yes, for the safety reason, I think it would be a good idea. I just think about the ''what if'' scenarios, and I would be forever angry if I felt like I could have prevented an accident with such severe consequences (much like I am fuming about your amblyopia

).

Katamari- Thanks for fuming with me about my amblyopia!

My parents noticed I was having vision troubles when I was walking into things at age two. The doctors missed it. They just gave me presciption glasses and I wore them for several years. When I was 12 my mother brought me to a different eye doctor who diagnosed me and told me that it was too late to patch. I stopped wearing glasses not long after that because I could see fine without them. Then I found out I was legally blind in my left eye in college. I have cried a lot over this. I am angry that it is too late, that something could have been done and wasn''t. It''s so depressing. The other night I was doing a little research and I read that people with Amblyopia can''t see those "magic eye" pictures. I bawled for a while after that because I think about how many times I tried to see them throughout my childhood and never could

. It sucks!

 

[mia1181]

Date: 1/26/2009 9:05:47 PM
Author: Miranda

Date: 1/26/2009 8:21:49 PM
Author: tlh
I have a girlfriend that just wears them to look ''smart'' when she goes on dates. She says it works... guys like the pretty smart girls! She says she gets hit on when she wears them all the time... and they are FAKE! Seriously, she can see just fine. Now, I HAD to wear glasses (Lasik, so no more) and I was like YOU ARE CRAZY! But she liked it... used them as an accessory.
So you could get some cheapy ones... and use it to pick up dates!

Plus, if a guy gets too.... frisky, they can be your protection!

Oooooolala! Mia, look on the bright side, you could rock the sexy librarian look!

SHHH! Don''t tell DH!

 

[mia1181]

Date: 1/26/2009 10:29:20 PM
Author: somethingshiny
I would absolutely protect the good eye!! You only get two. I''ve worked with many amblyopic patients who chose to wear glasses for protection. Often, they would choose to put a cheapo lens on the ''bad'' side, but an actual ''safety'' lens on the ''good'' side. I never heard any of them regretting that decision.

I''ve had older people wearing them (playing with grandchildren especially)
young guys (playing pool, darts, excessive gaming)
moms (again with the kids)
children (playground injuries)

eye injuries are very common, and it would only take ONE for you to be blind.

SomethingShiny- Thanks for the tip on two different lenses. I''m sure the safety lenses will be much more expensive. I''m a nanny too so that is a good point about working with children, you never know what could happen.

 

[somethingshiny]

Actually a safety grade polycarbonate lens is not much more than regular old plastic, and they are the thinnest lenses available too!! There is a higher safety grade lens, that''s z-87 ANSI certified, that would be a bit thicker but also comparable on price.

Good luck!

 

[mia1181]

oh thanks! Glad they are thin, I was worried about what type of lenses they would tell me I''d have to get. Am I going to need special frames also?

 

[:)]

Yes!!!!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/27/2009 12:30:56 AM
Author: mia1181
oh thanks! Glad they are thin, I was worried about what type of lenses they would tell me I''d have to get. Am I going to need special frames also?

I doubt it, but it would be worth asking. I would certainly wear them for safety especially if you work with kids, you never know what they are going to do.

FWIW, I also get hit on when I wear my glasses! I get told all the time (well especially before I was wearing a ring on my finger!) that men loved my sexy librarian look. So it isn''t all bad. I love my glasses! Just think of them as another accessory.

 

[tlh]

Date: 1/26/2009 8:33:02 PM
Author: Haven
I think I would wear them for safety, too, as long as they''re not the science lab kind with the strap and the side barriers.

tlh--I occasionally wear my glasses on the weekends, and you know what, your friend is SO RIGHT! I get hit on all the time when I wear my glasses, and I definitely get more free drinks at the bar. I don''t get it, because I certainly think I look far better without them. (I LOVE your signature quote, by the way. Big Elf fan, here. My sister and I have been buying each other the best Elf swag since it came out. I''m winning, so far, because I got her the life-size cutout of Buddy. He''s awesome.)

OKay, I won''t tell your DH... but see, YOU CAN GET FREE DRINKS... and I''m sure he''ll appreciate that! WINK!

and yes, Haven, I love your ELf Quote too! I''m also partial to...."I''m buddy the Elf, what''s your favorite color?"

 

[InLuv101]

I would wear them! If you''ve only got one good eye, I''d protect it at all costs really. I wear contacts and sometimes I take them out just to wear my glasses because it''s a fun look. I even have frames without prescription lenses in them so I can wear when I''m wearing my contacts! I love various kinds of frames and there are some really cute ones out there.

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 1/27/2009 12:30:56 AM
Author: mia1181
oh thanks! Glad they are thin, I was worried about what type of lenses they would tell me I''d have to get. Am I going to need special frames also?

To have a the most safety, YES, you would need safety frames. They have a set of criteria they have to meet before they can be considered and sold as safety. Even if you''re wearing a safety lens, the frame could still break and take your eye with it. So, obviously a safety frame is the most reliable. BUT, IMO, the safety lens in a regular frame would be good. Of my patients, only the people in at-risk situations would get the safety frame, everyone else just got regular frames. And, safety frames are fairly heavy so you''d probably be less likely to wear them. The most consistent protection is the best protection.

 

[gemgirl]

I would definitely wear them for protection. I would safeguard that good eye at all costs.

Every single Spring, no matter how old I get, when the weather starts to become nice and you can smell that sweet Spring scent in the air, I sit on my front porch steps and watch the birds hop in and out of my flower boxes or I sit on the steps of my deck out back and watch my dogs play and I thank God for my sight and the ability to watch nature and see beautiful things. My Dad was a stickler for good eye care and he instilled in us the thought that our vision is a beautiful gift. I can hear his words in my head every time I see something that makes my breath stop for a second. I would protect that eye if I were you.