I got glasses in the second grade. It is one of my most vivid memories of grade school.
We lived in Urbana, Missouri and my Momma and I went to Springfield. I do not believe it was just the two of us, I recall other people, but do not recall them specifically. We went to Pearl Vision Center in the mall. What stands out the most is the drive home. For the first time ever, I saw road signs, billboards, speed limit signs and the scenery! I had no idea how badly I could not see until I could see.
I wore glasses from second grade, seven years old, until I was 16 years old. I remember showing up to our summer drivers education program without my glasses. That felt like freedom! I could see so much more. I could wear sunglasses.
Having a child, you just know that genetics is stacked against them. It was never a matter of if The Boy would need corrective eye wear but a matter of when. Three years ago we got our first hint. The Boy's eye sight started to change. Not drastic. Just a dip. Enough that I purchased him a pair of glasses, "just in case". But they quickly developed dust on the case because he never needed to wear them.
That is, until this past school year. He came home saying he could not see at school. We dug out the "just in case" pair of glasses and they helped a lot. Then he forgot to wear them to his sports physical and he failed the eye test. So, we knew it was time. Off to the eye doctor we went.
Today, tradition repeated itself a bit. The eye doctor had a cancellation and they asked us to come in. The Boy immediately became nervous. I pre-warned him about the little puff of air and then I find out 1) you do not have to do a puff of air until you are 21 years old. (really, it feels like I have always done the puff of air!) 2) they no longer us a puff of air. (That was GREAT news for me because I go back for my appointment on Thursday. I have something to look forward to!)
Without correct eye wear they asked The Boy to repeat the smallest line he could on the eye chart. I had to stifle a few chuckles because for the first time, he could not identify them. He is still arguing that the K was not in fact an A! In the end, the Doctor said maybe he could have been squinting a 20/30 out but realistically he is at a 20/40. Not bad, but enough to struggle and time for corrective eye wear on a regular basis.
we opted to fit The Boy for contact lenses. He allowed the Doctor to put the first pair in. Then he went into an education class. He, of course, is struggling with putting them in and taking them out. Oh! how I recall those days. Thankfully, my next door neighbor growing up wore contacts and she helped me figure it all out. It is even harder for him right now because of his broken wrist. He can't really use his left hand to help him. So, for the love of a child, I am finding myself holding his eyes open until he can get the hang of putting them in and taking them out.
It is a whole new world! Of course, he could still see the billboards and the signs. But that did not stop him from looking at himself in the mirror a few hundred times today. I think he muttered "WOW" a few hundred times on the way home. I just laughed to myself. Remembering that trip home from Springfield MO to Urbana.
We lived in Urbana, Missouri and my Momma and I went to Springfield. I do not believe it was just the two of us, I recall other people, but do not recall them specifically. We went to Pearl Vision Center in the mall. What stands out the most is the drive home. For the first time ever, I saw road signs, billboards, speed limit signs and the scenery! I had no idea how badly I could not see until I could see.
I wore glasses from second grade, seven years old, until I was 16 years old. I remember showing up to our summer drivers education program without my glasses. That felt like freedom! I could see so much more. I could wear sunglasses.
Having a child, you just know that genetics is stacked against them. It was never a matter of if The Boy would need corrective eye wear but a matter of when. Three years ago we got our first hint. The Boy's eye sight started to change. Not drastic. Just a dip. Enough that I purchased him a pair of glasses, "just in case". But they quickly developed dust on the case because he never needed to wear them.
That is, until this past school year. He came home saying he could not see at school. We dug out the "just in case" pair of glasses and they helped a lot. Then he forgot to wear them to his sports physical and he failed the eye test. So, we knew it was time. Off to the eye doctor we went.
Today, tradition repeated itself a bit. The eye doctor had a cancellation and they asked us to come in. The Boy immediately became nervous. I pre-warned him about the little puff of air and then I find out 1) you do not have to do a puff of air until you are 21 years old. (really, it feels like I have always done the puff of air!) 2) they no longer us a puff of air. (That was GREAT news for me because I go back for my appointment on Thursday. I have something to look forward to!)
Without correct eye wear they asked The Boy to repeat the smallest line he could on the eye chart. I had to stifle a few chuckles because for the first time, he could not identify them. He is still arguing that the K was not in fact an A! In the end, the Doctor said maybe he could have been squinting a 20/30 out but realistically he is at a 20/40. Not bad, but enough to struggle and time for corrective eye wear on a regular basis.
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| His eye appointment. |
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| The Doctor putting in his first contacts. He did well. Now he just has to get use to doing it for himself. |
Oh, Pam, de ja vu! My Lindsay got glasses when she was about 14 and I felt so GUILTY for not knowing (somehow) that she couldn't see! Same outcome, on the way home she was stunned by what she could see out the window. "Wow! Those little blue signs have the street names!"
ReplyDeleteYou know, with a mended wrist & eyewear, his batting average is about to soar!
deb t.
Your story made me smile in rememberance. My experience was almost the same as yours although I did not get glasses until I was almost 16. I should have had them many years sooner. Trees became more than just green blobs as I could see individual limbs and leaves. I spent many hours just looking. Tell your son that getting glasses also raised my batting average. :)
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