I’ve taken my first step into a larger, more visible world. Today… was my contact lens fitting.
I’ve worn glasses from the age of 5. In pre-school, I had a patch on for about a year because of a lazy eye. Thankfully, my doctors say that’s healed right up nicely. Since then, off and on, I’ve worn glasses (depending on if I could afford them at the time). Not once, in 35 years, have I ever worn contact lenses.
Until today.
I’m going through a period of personal change, which happens every so often, where I feel the need to make a few changes to my person. Not sure why, but it just happens, y’know? So I put synthetic dreadlocks in and decided I wanted to ditch my inconvenient and yet very fashionable glasses. I really want sunglasses this summer. Big beautiful bug-eye sunglasses! But I digress…
I went in and saw the doctor, and he gave me the lowdown on everything. I explained to him that I have sensitive eyes, that tend to itch a lot. He had concerns about prescribing me contacts, in that he was worried my eyes wouldn’t adapt well to having something in them, if they were sensitive. He explained all the benefits and risks associated with them, and his concerns. I told him I’d like to at least try them out, and he thought a test run would be a good idea.
He pulled the lenses for me and had his associates teach me how to put them in. It took FIFTEEN MINUTES to get them in.
Me: “I have no idea how nine year olds can do this and I can’t!”
After getting them in and blinking a bit at the weirdness in my eye, it occurred to me that I CAN SEE! I have peripheral vision! I’m not wearing my glasses and I can see! So weird! So neat!
The doctor took me back inside the office and checked the fitting for bubbles or any kind of weirdness, and he said they fit perfectly. He checked my vision and all was good. I went back out to talk to the receptionist, order my lenses, pick up my cleanser and case, and pay for my visit. I got a year’s supply, one pair every two weeks, because it was the best deal my insurance offered. They should be here in a week. I’m going to set an alarm on my Google calendar to remind me when to switch lenses. I wore the lenses for six hours without much issue, except a little itchyness. Picked up some rewetting drops at the store that the receptionist recommended and those helped. It took me about two minutes to get them out. Progress!
All in all, I feel this was a good experience. The doctor suggests I wear them daily for a month, for my eyes to adjust to having them in, and to get in the practice of putting them in and taking them out. Not a terrible idea. It does mean I’ll have to wake up earlier, in order to get things situated in my eye. One downside I realized is napping. I’ll have to take them out if I decide to take a nap. Bummer.
My doctor mentioned after I got the lenses in and he looked at them, that he thinks I’m going to become a die-hard lens wearer. I’m not sure. I enjoyed the freedom of not having my glasses, but not having glasses on is taking an adjustment. With time, I’ll gain some proficiency in getting the lenses in, and it won’t be such an ordeal. With time.
Amphetamine Crash 