The Jennifer Blogs

I've had glasses for almost two months now. It's not the first time I've had specs, but it's been about ten years since I've worn them, so I had forgotten what it was like. The first couple of days I was so glad to have them. It was nice to see again! But now I can tell you I remember quite well why I was so ecstatic after my LASIK eye surgery. I am so sick of wearing glasses already!

Don't get me wrong, I'm appreciative the technology exists to be able to make the nearly-blind see again. But most people with sight issues have the option of wearing contacts. That option does not exist for me. Therefore, I have to put up with the downside of wearing glasses and living on the equator. Namely, it's humid 365 days a year and the sweat causes my glasses to slide down my face. If I'm wearing make-up and it runs, it often gets all over my glasses. Aside from those issues, sometimes your ears start to hurt or your nose hurts from the nose pads.

The upside of wearing glasses, or apparently in my case, is that they make me look smart. The first time the kids saw me in my glasses, both remarked, "Mom, you look so smart!" I'm not sure, but that feels kind of like a back-handed compliment. Are they saying I looked stupid before?

The first glasses I ordered when I was told I'd be going back to four eyes were a pair of red Baby Phat frames. It took them a while to come in, so I went to a one-hour optical and ordered some purple Ralph Lauren frames to wear while I was waiting for the red ones to come in. These back-up frames have now become my favorite ones. Red and purple are great, but I'm thinking I also need green and black and white and silver and gold and ...

I mean, c'mon, if I'm going to be forced to wear glasses, I may as well use them as a fashion statement, right? I get to change my clothes every day. Why not my glasses too?

So, why don't I just wear contacts? Yes, most people who wear glasses also have the option to wear contacts, but not me. I was so blind when I had my LASIK done that they had to shave the maximum off my cornea. That means I have very little cornea left, and what I do have isn't in great shape, from what my eye doctor tells me. So another LASIK surgery is not advisable nor are contacts. So I am definitely going to be wearing glasses the rest of my life. Lucky me.

Fortunately for me, they've come a long way in eyewear. The first glasses I had were large, round chipmunk-looking things. Of course, that was also the style in the 80s. Don't judge. But I've seen some really hideous frames from days gone by and I'm just so grateful I live in a time when I can actually have four eyes and look cool.