Hindsight is 20/20.

Until nine or ten years ago–right around the time I started blogging, in fact–I had 20/20 vision. Right around the time I turned 40 I started noticing just the slightest change in my vision when I was reading. Jim and I made appointments to see the eye doctor–who is also an old family friend, which is why we always go together–and I was presented with the idea that the lowest level of readers would be prudent.

“But make sure you stay with 1.00,” he said. “The longer we can keep you out of glasses, the better.”

Each year after that, Jim and I would go in for our eye exams and I just knew that I’d be leaving with a prescription. Excellent vision gone, glasses needed. Maybe bifocals. Nope.

It’s entirely possible that magical vision skills run in my family. My sister still has perfect vision, and both of my sons have had perfect vision so far (knock on wood). In fact, my older son used to claim that he didn’t need sunglasses because his eyes had a special sun-resistant coating on them already. Yes he was totally serious and no I don’t think he was just being stubborn about wearing sunglasses. Okay, maybe.

Adventures at the eye doctor

Lately I’ve started to notice a difference in my vision while driving: not enough to be a menace, mind you, but things just aren’t as crisp as they should be. I made a solo appointment for an eye exam since Jim wasn’t in town this week, and went in today.

Sidenote: it’s super great to have an eye doctor who’s an old family friend. His older two kids went to school from kindergarten through twelfth grade with our two boys. He and Jim used to be leaders in our Cub Scout Pack together, and I used to share elementary school room mom duties with his wife. Going in for an eye exam is a lot like visiting Doc Baker from “Little House on the Prairie”; there’s always a cozy catch-up session first. I love it.

When I walked in today I greeted him and said, “Oops, I can’t believe it’s been two years since I was here last.”
He replied, “Um, three.”

“SERIOUSLY?” I thought. “Where does the time go??? I’m definitely going to leave with bifocals.”

We played catch-up for about thirty minutes (don’t worry; he didn’t have another patient after me) and then proceeded with the eye exam. It turns out that my eyes are still basically fine. While I have the slightest need for a prescription in my right eye, he doesn’t recommend my filling it yet. “Stick with those readers for your close-up work,” he said. “Let’s try to wait until your distance vision declines enough to truly need assistance before we get you into glasses.”

I left his office empty-handed again, and I’m fine with that. The magic continues.

One Comment

  • Natasha

    So, when I was younger I used to want to wear glasses all of the time, until I realized that if I did, I’d have to wear them ALL. THE. TIME, and I lose things often. I still want the LOOK of glasses, but not the need for them.

    I also think that in my ripe old age, my eyesight is declining a bit because my husband sees things better than I do, and he’s as blind as a bat.

    Basically I just used your comment box as a therapy session. Thank you.