[misc.handicap] glasses

David.Postler@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (David Postler) (10/24/90)

Index Number: 11256

Hi  Monica, I'm not a doctor but I am nearsighted and  have  worn 
glasses for quite some time and hopefully I can reassure you.  
 
> I've worn glasses for a year (since my 18th birthday), and it's
> gotten to the point where I feel kind of naked without them.
> They're part of my appearance now. 
 
As they are part of mine.  I've worn glasses since I was 12.   In 
some cases people have worn glasses since they were about 2.  For 
a nearsighted person I think you've starting a little late.  
 
> I found out that I needed glasses in a routine school eye exam, 
>  a year ago.  I was surprised as everything seemed ok to me.  I 
>  think that most people are surprised when they find  out  they 
>  need glasses.  How do most people find out they need  glasses?  
 
Like you I found out through an eye exam.  I noticed my sight was 
getting worse but thought that it was normal.  
 
> I remember thinking 'Wow, the world is amazingly detailed!
>  the  first  time I put on glasses; [ ... ]  Do  you  get  this 
> feeling everytime you get a new prescription?
 
Every Time.
 
> My sight has deteriorated fairly quickly.  I worry and wonder 
> how much further it would go? 
 
If  you are concerned see your family doctor for a medical  exam.  
There  are  some diseases where loss of sight is  a  symptom.   I 
believe diabetes is one although I'm not sure.  It's better to be 
checked out rather than worry.  
 
> I'm currently in  20/70. I started at 20/40. I feel that I'm 
> blind right now, I can not imagine becoming more nearsighted. 
> How often do a nearsighted person require a new prescription? 
> When does it stop getting worse?  
 
My  own  eyes are asymmetrical.  My left eye (the  good  one)  is 
20/75  with a slight astigmatism.  My right eye is  20/340,  this 
means  that I can barely recognize the E on the eye chart.  I  am 
in  no way considered blind!  My glasses correct me  to  slightly 
better  than 20/20.  To be considered blind your vision  must  be 
20/1000 or worse.  I understand your feelings about your  vision.  
I  suspect  that  you are like me in that you  like  razor  sharp 
vision.   I'm  quite particular and can be difficult to  fit  for 
glasses.    As  for  your  eyes  changing  expect  to  see   your 
prescription  change  every year until your mid 20's  (you  know, 
old)<grin>  after  that it will usually  stabilize.   I'm  thirty 
something and my changes are usually very minor.
Continued Next message

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!778!David.Postler
Internet: David.Postler@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org