My experience with getting glasses.

I’ve always wanted to wear glasses, the ones with just the frame. To me, they were a desirable aesthetic accessory. If only they had just stayed that way.

Around a year ago, I noticed that I could no longer see things in the distance as well as I was able to before. At first I shrugged it off as a “problem with the lighting.”

But even as moths passed, the “problem with the lighting” never corrected itself and I was progressively having a harder time seeing what was on the blackboard in the classroom.

And so, I gave up my very comfortable, very easy to sleep in back seat for a seat at the front of the classroom.

“Front” as in the middle of the first row.

I no longer had to squint as much and my eyes were at ease (although my book was always the first one checked and the teachers always seemed to prey on me).

However, I knew that I ought to get glasses and at the time, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

So I repeatedly told my father that I needed glasses and repeatedly got shot down. I only later found out that he had thought I was joking the whole time.

(I still find it difficult to understand his logic. Why would I joke about not being able to see?)

Even so, we went to get my eyes check (albeit only as we were already at the hospital-for my allergies).

I walked into the room ready. I knew my eyesight was worse than average but I was sure that it wasn’t that bad.

Since it was my first time, the doctor wanted to make sure she was prescribing the right power so she sent me to get eye drops (I suspect it was to force my pupils to dialate).

The experience was not one I would recommend. I had to have my eyes closed and frankly, that kind of terrified me a tad bit more than expected.

Despite my terror, the eye drops had done their job. My power had decreased by 0.5-as a side effect I couldn’t see close for the next three days (close as in my hand in front of my face seemed blurry).

After getting the prescription, we headed to an optical store to actually buy the glasses and the frame.

All I remember about this part of the journey was me being in a really bad mood. Theoretically, glasses didn’t seem like the worst. Practically, they were just extra work-a pain in the neck, if you will.

Only when I sat there staring at the different types of frames did the realisation set in.

“Ah, I’m going to have to wear glasses now.”

I realised that I would have to deal with my glasses fogging up while eating noodles or even just having a mask on. I would have to deal with my glasses getting wet in the rain.

When I didn’t actually need glasses, they seemed fine. Afterall, I wouldn’t need to wear them.

But it’s different now. Now, I am handicapped without glasses and must get used to the discomfort they bring and, in time, I’m sure I will.

That day, I learnt an important lesson that had always festered in the back of my mind but was never put into practice.

Be careful what you wish for.