After 12 or 13 years I finally got new glasses. I wear contacts almost exclusively, because of my Keratoconus, but need something as a backup for when I can't wear them (like in the mornings). My old glasses are okay for that job, but my eyes have changed quite a bit and I can't see distance as well, and I certainly can't read in them. However, I can see the computer screen quite well with them, so up to this point they have done the job.
I went in Monday to look at frames and order glasses. Looking at frames is a mis-nomer, whatever seemed to fit well off the shelf is good enough. The lady helping me asked if I wanted Progressives. I said I had no clue what Progressives were. She took that to mean I just wanted the basic prescription and not the bi-focal part. No, I assured her, the main reason I want to get new glasses so I can read if I need to (something about having whatever it is I'm trying to read jammed up to within 2" of my eyeball just doesn't work too well). I explained that I wore contacts to help correct a condition, and the glasses are only for when I can't wear contacts. So once I got that straightened out (by the way, she never actually explained Progressives, I just assumed by her reaction that means bi-focal type lenses) she went on to a few more questions.
"Do you want the special anti-glare coating?" she asked. "No."
"But it will keep you from getting halos while driving at night," she she said in her best you really need this voice. "No, I don't drive at night with my glasses because I get halos, stars, ghosts, smears and waterfalls. It is way to dangerous for me to try with all that going on - that is what my contacts help correct."
Yesterday I picked the new glasses up, and I wore my old glasses in, just so I could tell if I could see out of the new ones. The lady said that this would be quite the change in looks for me, and was quite taken aback when I said that I would only be wearing them when I can't wear my contacts. "Oh, like at night?" she inquired.
"Uh, no, like in the morning before I put in my contacts." [does she think I just wake up and pop in the contacts before doing anything else? After all, it is quite evident from my perscription and from the thickness of the lenses that I can't see anything further than a couple of inches without correction.]
She wanted to adjust them behind my ears because they are "loose". Everytime someone has done that, they end up sending shooting pains into my skull, so I declined. They really aren't loose and stay in place fine when I look down, so there isn't any issue there.
Then she wanted to put my old glasses in the case so I could wear my new glasses home. Um, no, I'm putting in my contacts, but thanks anyway. And I sat right there and put in my contacts (obviously, I had brought everything I needed with me). I think I also flabberghasted her because I never once looked in the mirror to see how they looked.
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