What If You Don’t Know You Need Glasses?

Most people assume they would know if they needed glasses.

But that is not always true.

If the world has always looked a certain way to you, how would you know it is supposed to look any different?

That question reminds us of two patients who came into An Optical Galleria many years ago.

They were twin sisters. Both were about 70 years old.

For most of their lives, neither sister had owned a proper pair of prescription glasses. Instead, they had shared an old pair of their mother’s glasses.

Think about that for a moment.

For nearly 70 years, they had simply accepted the way they saw the world.

They did not know what they were missing because they had never seen anything differently.

Then They Had an Eye Exam

Finally, the sisters came in for comprehensive eye exams.

Each received her own prescription, and we made them new glasses.

When they put those glasses on, something remarkable happened.

Their faces lite up.

They looked outside.

They could see the leaves on the trees.

Not just a green shape where a tree stood, but individual leaves.

They could see clearly across the street.

Details that had blended together for decades suddenly became sharp and distinct.

The world had not changed.

Their vision had.

For them, it was like discovering an entirely new world at 70 years old.

And the part that has stayed with us all these years is this:

They missed out on seeing for over 70 years, they did not know they could not see clearly!

They thought that was simply how they were suppose to see.

You Cannot Miss Something You Have Never Seen

Many people live with blurry or compromised vision for years without realizing it.

Vision changes can happen slowly. When they do, your brain can adapt.

Instead of thinking, “My vision is getting blurry,” you may simply move a little closer to the television.

You may hold your phone farther away.

You may increase the font size on your computer.

You may avoid driving at night.

You may struggle to read road signs until you get closer to them.

You adjust.

And because those adjustments happen gradually, you may never stop to ask whether you are actually seeing as clearly as you could.

Sometimes, people come in for an eye exam believing they see perfectly well.

Then we put the correct prescription in front of their eyes.

The reaction is often immediate.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to be able to see that.”

Children May Not Know Their Vision Is Blurry Either

This can be especially important with children.

A child who has always had blurry distance vision may have no idea that other children see the board more clearly.

They may not complain because, to them, their vision feels normal.

They have nothing to compare it with.

Parents may notice signs before a child ever says there is a problem.

Watch for behaviors such as:

• Sitting unusually close to the television

• Moving closer to see things in the distance

• Squinting

• Holding books, tablets, or phones very close

• Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

• Struggling to see the board at school

• Losing their place while reading

• Avoiding reading or visually demanding activities

Sitting close to the television does not automatically mean a child needs glasses, but repeated difficulty seeing objects at a normal distance is a good reason to schedule an eye examination.

Clear Vision Can Affect More Than What You See

Good vision plays a role in learning, driving, reading, working, sports, computer use, and everyday independence.

An eye examination can also evaluate more than whether you need glasses. Eye doctors examine the health of the eyes and can identify changes that may not produce obvious symptoms in their early stages.

That is another reason not to wait until the world looks blurry before scheduling an exam.

When Was Your Last Eye Exam?

The story of those twin sisters has stayed with us for decades because it taught us something important.

You do not always know what you are missing.

You may believe the street signs are supposed to look slightly fuzzy.

You may think everyone struggles to see at night.

Your child may believe everyone has trouble seeing the board from the back of the classroom.

Sometimes all it takes is one eye exam to discover that the world can look very different.

For those two sisters, it happened at 70 years old.

They walked outside wearing their new glasses and saw leaves on trees they had looked at their entire lives.

Imagine what you might not be seeing.

If it has been a while since your last eye exam, schedule an appointment with An Optical Galleria in West Ocean City, simply call 410-390-3924 or schedule an exam online.

Our experienced eye care team can help determine whether you need a prescription, and make sure you are seeing the world as clearly as possible.

Because sometimes you do not realize how much you have been missing until you finally see it.

Author: Bob Pino, Owner, Expert Optician @ An Optical Galleria