Last Saturday, I went to get a new pair of glasses. Sitting in the waiting room brought back memories of my first visit to the eye doctor, when I was six years old growing up in southern Indiana. I had no idea I needed glasses when I started first grade, but my teacher recommended a visit to the optometrist after I told her I had trouble reading what she had written on the chalk board.
The news that I needed to wear glasses hit me hard. My dad wore dark rimmed glasses with very thick lenses after damaging his eyes in a childhood accident. I thought because I was his daughter I would have to wear the same kind of glasses, and I dreaded the reaction this would bring from classmates, none of whom wore glasses.
I remember telling my mom I was fine without glasses. After all, I had no trouble watching television and, besides, I could always wear sunglasses if I needed to. When she explained that my glasses would be specially designed for children, and they would be nothing like my father’s glasses, I was elated. The next week we went to Dr. Eschbach’s office on Main Street and I got a pair of little girl glasses with bright pink frames. Over the years I’ve had a lot of fashionable frames. The pussycat style frames with curved temples in the late 60’s, wire “Annie Hall” glasses in the 70’s, and glasses with huge round lenses in the 80’s, which matched my “big hair” at the time.
I had a plaid pair once, and a pair from the Brigitte Bardot collection; I’m pretty sure that don’t even make those anymore. Lately though, I’ve been less concerned about the style of frames than the corrective lenses I could order. Are these scratch resistant? Do you have something that prevents night glare?
On this latest trip to the eye doctor, I was told I need bifocals. For a split second, I wanted to tell the doctor I really didn’t need them. After all, I can see the tv just perfectly without them. Then I smiled and told him I was fine with the news and was ready to pick out my new frames. Oddly enough, the heavy black frames my dad wore are considered trendy now. So I ordered a pair and can’t wait to wear them.
