When it comes to being visually impaired, I'm as blind as they come. Having to wear glasses has been something I'm more than used to. I've been wearing them since the second grade. With each new prescription, my vision gets worse and worse. I should be running around with a pair of binoculars by now. That's how bad my vision is. Thankfully, advancements in the technology that helps me see the world has allowed me to run around without coke bottle glasses and just really thick lenses. To give you an idea of how bad it is, when I used to use contacts, I had to pay an extra $30 an eye to have them specially made.
I like glasses, don't get me wrong. Like I said, I've gotten used to them. I don't recognize myself in pictures if they're of me without glasses. First thing I do in the morning is reach for my glasses. The last thing I do at night is take them off. Occasionally, I'll forget to take them off and jump in the shower with them. When I have contacts in, I do the whole "phantom limb" thing and try to push them up as if they were still there. They're a part of who I am.
There are advantages to wearing glasses. I don't have to worry about people poking me in the eyes. I can start fires using sunlight like you would with a magnifying glass. I can see reflections on the inside of the lenses which makes it impossible for people to sneak up on me from behind. Finally, I can make any situation 10-15 times more dramatic by pulling off my glasses and put on a very pensive look. Trust me *pulls off glasses* it works.
There are a few disadvantages to wearing glasses, the biggest being you're pretty much blind without them. I drove once without my glasses. They had broken and I had to get to the optometrist to get them repaired. One of my worst driving experiences ever. The biggest disadvantage for me personally, as an aspiring photographer, is that I will never have 20/20 vision. Even with glasses, my vision is still pretty crappy. When I take photos, I'm mostly just winging it. It's difficult for me to tell if things are in and out of focus because for me, everything is out of focus! When I get home after shooting some photos, it amazes me how great they turn out, if and when they do turn out great. This is what the world looks like through my eyes.
If there's one thing I've come to appreciate most in life, it's the amazing everyday sights most people take for granted. It's probably what's drawn me to photography. It's why I don't like to edit my photos at all. I try to get the shot to look as much as what I'm seeing with my own eyes as possible. There may come a day when I won't be able to make out a single thing at arms length. Hell, I probably won't be able to make out my own arm.
Appreciate the little things in life, people. There's a ton of stuff out in the world to see. It's the only thing that keeps me going.
Comments (30)
Speaking as a fellow blind-bat...RIGHT ON
I'm blind as hell as well. I've grown to love my glasses, they're like my signature. :D
My eyesight isn't as bad as yours, but it is deteriorating rapidly. In my house growing up, three people had to wear glasses: my mom, my grandpa, and my grandma (but hers were only reading glasses). Well, me being the curious one, I used to love to take them while they weren't looking and put them on. (My grandma's especially because they made the floor look more concave, and because she didn't have to wear them as often.) They always told me that I would make my vision bad, but as a four year old I didn't listen. The after effects are starting to hit me now. Since 7th grade I've been wearing glasses because I like them, but they're fake and don't have a prescription. However, now I can't see the board when I have to copy things down, and my teachers all put me in the back. The words are all a blur and I can never make out what they say. So I feel an inkling of your pain.
We as people in general,take so much for granted, it is refreshing to read "Appreciate the little things in life, people. There's a ton of stuff out
in the world to see. It's the only thing that keeps me going."
oh man... this post describes me and my ojos.. Your blurry vision is practically my blurry vision... I can't read the numbers on my calculator without my glasses... oye, it sucks... My contacts don't cost an extra 30 bucks yet, but I'm heading in that direction...
glasses ftw. in honor of your post, i'm posting a pic of me in glasses.
In the name of eugenics, please do not reproduce.
Just kidding, I'm vision impaired too, though not nearly on your scale. I remember putting glasses on for the first time in fifth grade and suddenly realizing the detail in the world around me. As you imply, it is quite a difficult thing to appreciate if one does not have a similar experience. The bark on trees I remember was particularly striking when I first saw it.
This made me really happy. Mostly because I can't see for shit, either.
your vision is beautiful. we should all appreciate those little things in life.
Now I'm gonna have to poke you in the eye. You issued a challenge, my friend. The gauntlet is thrown.
Also, first two pictures - I remember that place. =) How sweet is that?!
@elelkewljay - Ha! I like it.
@schallerbrandon - I remember being able to make out the emblems on the front of cars on the drive home.
@johnny_hopkins - I'm glad it made you happy.
@AmeSoeur - How could anyone forget a place like that? It's amazing! Also, poke me in the eye and I'll punch you in the face. Just sayin'. =D
I feel your pain! I've been wearing glasses since the 4th grade. Great post!
@Lithium98 - WORTH. IT.
We take hearing and sight so for granted...I think I'm going to die if I have to wear glasses to read small print...You are truly brave....keep up the great work!
Liked this post
I'm as blind as a bat as well. I sleep in my special contacts because otherwise I wouldn't be able to see the alarm clock in the morning unless I got like two inches away from it. Mine are worse than your blurry pictures. I drove for awhile with only one contact in, because the other one was lost and on order, and I agree, it was a horrible experience! Frightening. My eyes don't focus together so I don't have depth perception, either. And I also love photography - I SO appreciate what I am able to see!
Go ahead and have kids. Only one of my three needs glasses/contacts. You just never know!
I completely relate to this. I've worn glasses since I was 8 years old. I can't see anything more than 4 inches away from my face without them or my contacts.
really random, but are you on lithium? or is that just your screename? aha, if so, tengo una pregunta - and i tried googling it but got 203493 different answers so i'm not sure of the truth:
is it alright to drink on lithium? (assuming you keep well hydrated between/before/after drinking?)
if youre not, i hope this comment provides you with a hearty LOL
k, bye
First off, like a good majority of the previous commenters, my eyesight is also pretty crappy, so I can relate to this post as well! Do you think you'd ever consider getting laser vision correction in the future, though?
And by the way, your photos are always really amazing. Keep posting them (and playing guitar once in awhile)!
I loved - "I don't have to worry about people poking me in the eyes." :)
I'm actually a huge fan of glasses.. They just make people look classy!
My older brother has worn glasses for as long as I can remember so I have always been thankful for my 20/20 vision.
Hopefully this helps you out a bit. If you google mixing alcohol and lithium, you'll see everything I did. Buena suerte.
I have to wear glasses while driving and at the movies. Well, I suppose I don't HAVE to, but I can sure see a lot better when I do. HAHA
@Lithium98 - lol my last case of contacts was like 2 years ago... Still have a few left, so if I really have to I'll use them... haha, but I can tell that my prescription got worse between the two (glasses & contacts)... -_-
@musicmom60 - Both my parents and all my siblings need glasses. I'm pretty sure my kids are gonna need them too. At least by the time I have kids, which isn't any time soon, laser eye surgery will be pretty cheap and probably routine.
@ElusiveSoul - I've thought about getting laser eye surgery. I've never talked about it with an optometrist or anything to see how much better my vision would get and if it's worth it. Really, though, as soon as I get health insurance that covers it, I'd probably get it... I think.
Thanks for the compliment. While I was blurring some of the photos, noticed that they look pretty cool. Almost like a painting. I gotta mess around in photoshop more often.
@JesyCole - I think one of the first comments you left me was something about you liking guys with glasses. Fetish much???
@AnonymousBloggingGirl - Please tell me you wear them often while you're driving. If you don't, I think I need to start driving less.