For some time now, Mimi has been on me to go to the eye doctor and get my vision tested. You see, I haven't been to an eye Doctor for some 20 years or so. She kept telling me that I squinted too much when I was looking at something far away. I've always said that I see fine, and the squinting was just a habit and not because I didn't see well. I guess that I new that I should do something about getting my eyes checked, but it was never a priority. Well after a couple of years of pushing, I finally made an appointment and the day of reckoning arrived yesterday. I must admit that even though I have only had to increase the reading glasses a degree or two over the years, to a 1.75, and I haven't needed glasses for anything else, I was nervous as we went to the appointment. I sure didn't want to hear that I had some terrible eye problem, and needed to have surgery to keep a semblance of vision. The Doctor was very closed mouthed during the exam, I heard lots of ahaas, and Hmmms oks , and he kept making notes in the file. Finally after the exam was finished, and I couldn't see too well from all the drops , He leaned back in his chair, and gave me this stern look, and said" So it's been 20 years since you've seen an eye doctor? You know that a lot can change during 20 years, and you could catch a lot of things before they get to be serious problems." I was squirming uneasily in my seat as I was anticipating the worst. Well he said, and paused, you have 20/20 vision, and everything is fine. As a mater of fact, you need to get just a little stronger reading glasses, but you are still well below what most folks your age use. Now I can squint without feeling guilty. Not too bad for an old guy. Tom
That's great for you!! very reassuring, but not quite enough to get me to go. I got my first drivers license last year (after almost 30 years of driving) that doesn't say I need corrective lenses to drive. So does that mean my eyesight is getting better or did they lower the requirement? When I got home, DH looked at the license and said "oh my, who else is out there that can't see?"
Tom that is great news. Now Mimi can ride you about something else! You are very fortunate regarding your eyesight. No wonder the doctor was 'aah...hmmm, etc.
You did good, Tom. I always squint when focusing on something in the distance, and have done so all my life I think. My eyesight is fine.
Without my contact lenses I have to do a heck of a lot of squinting just to see my hand. Ok it's not that bad but you catch my drift Congrats Tom on the 20/20 confirmation.
Can I borrow your eyes to see what it like to have 20/20 vision please Tom? I've had dreadful eyesight since I was a young child. My parents were told I needed an op to correct my vision but that was over 50 years ago and they didn't want to put me through the surgery as it was a dangerous proceedure in those days. It's too late to have it done now. I have glasses that are so strong that when a friend tried looking through them she fainted!! Mustn't complain though 'cause I see just fine with them on - blind as a bat without them and couldn't even recognise you if you were standing right beside me.
great news on having 20/20. I only have to use those magnify glasses to read for now. I'm going every year to get my eyes checked.
Well, I don't squint to see things that are far away--yet. Apparently my arms have gotten shorter over the last few years because I do need glasses for reading and close work.
What good news!!!! My husband started wearing the dollar store magnifiers a month or so ago. I tried them last night as I read the paper and I'm off to buy my own pair today!! Our eyes are a precious gift and we shouldn't take them for granted!! I think we should all follow Tom's example and schedule an eye exam :-D
Great news. I've been buying the cheap magnifiers for awhile now, and have yet to go to an eye doctor (but probably should). I need reading glasses more and more every year.
Lucky you - 20/20 vision. I have to wear spectacles. I only make use of contact lenses when I absolutely have to - like when I go hiking. I prefer to wear my specs when running. (For those who follow athletics - I sometimes get reminded that I am imitating Tia Helebaut)
20/20 is perfect - you have nothing to worry about. I'm contiplating getting Lasik to fix my vision, but that's a hole different topic in itself.