I have worn glasses since the fourth grade. I remember in elementary school, there were days that we all had to go to the nurse to check our vision. I remember squinting through the little machine, trying to make out the blurry letters and numbers. I brought the note home to mom and she told me I would need glasses. I was excited to get my first pair of glasses, but the excitement of wearing them wore out quickly. By middle school, I just wished I would be bit by some magical creature that would give me super human eyesight so I wouldn’t have to wear the dumb things anymore.
Sometime during my eighth grade year, I decided I wanted to try and get contacts. So my mom took me to the eye doctor and I had my eye exam. They sat me down to teach me how to put them in and take them our properly. After a few minutes, I got the right lens into my eye. Suddenly I became hot and started to perspire. My head was swimming and the only thing I could think was “get to mom, tell her I don’t feel good.” So I stood up from my chair and my vision went black. I tumbled to the ground and I distinctly remember the receptionist yelling, “Do I need to call 9-1-1?!”
Needless to say, I hadn’t been keen on trying contacts for a long, long time.
But since I’ve been engaged, I had decided one thing: I don’t want to walk down the aisle with glasses on. I could do it; some brides look amazing with them and pull it off so well, but I knew that looking back, I would regret wearing them. So I put on my big girl panties and made an appointment for the eye doctor.
We went through the routine eye exam and they sat me down to teach me, once more, how to properly put them in and take them out. I was nervous; I didn’t want a repeat of the last time, but I felt fine and put the right lens in fairly quickly. As I started to reach for the left lens, I became warm and I sighed, knowing the signs of when I may pass out. So I told the lady helping me that I get queasy easily and needed to take a minute. My head started to get dizzy so I laid my head down and then I broke into a cold sweat. After about five minutes, I started to feel better. I was so thankful that the lady was so patient. I was embarrassed so as quickly as I could, I put the second lens in and then took them both back out.
After that, I was fine and I figured I might as well just get over it and order them. So we paid and now I no longer wear glasses.
I actually enjoy wearing them so far. It’s all the little things, like finally being able to wear sunglasses! I had a pair that I could wear over my regular glasses, but it was still a pain and uncomfortable and looked kinda weird. Also, not having to worry about them flying off your face on roller coasters. And when it rains, I no longer have to wipe my glasses off on my shirt. Just got the rain fallin’ in my eyeballs.
Overall, really happy with them. I really thought I would never get them because I am such a wuss, but I put on my big girl panties and sucked it up! After about two and a half weeks of wearing them, I still like them. It’s kind of a pain putting them in and out (even though it only takes me a minute now) because I still don’t like doing it, but the sacrifices we make for beauty, sticking our fingers in our eyes and whatnot.
Congrats on the contacts! It’s so weird, I’ve never worn glasses in my entire life and I’ve always wanted to wear glasses, hah. I’m thinking I would feel how you felt about the glasses if I did wear them! Was there a particular reason why having contacts in made you queasy and pass out? Anxiety? It’s definitely terrifying. I don’t understand how anyone can stick their fingers in their eyes so casually. I’ve gone out with friends and every now and then they just start moving around their contacts like they were adjusting classes and nothing’s wrong. I was just in shock, haha! Maybe you’ll get used to them so much that you’ll start doing that
I’m glad you gave contacts another try! I have a similar timeline where I had to get glasses when I was in elementary school, and then sometime around 8th grade, I decided on contacts. Fortunately, I didn’t react negatively to them, but it took me several days to get them in quickly.
Since I’ve been wearing contacts for so long, it’s become very routine, and I don’t think about it much anymore. Hopefully you’ll get to that point soon where it doesn’t feel like a pain to deal with! It’s definitely nice to not have to worry about glasses when you’re outside or doing some sort of activity where they might fall off
Congrats on not having to wear glasses anymore! I could never stand to wear mine, I drug them with me everywhere but protested when it came to actually putting them on. I still do. I need them full-time now and have been considering contacts but had one similar experience to yours. I put one in backwards and it stung so bad I swore I would never try again. I am thinking about it though. It is nice to hear about someone else having a good experience the second time around and enjoying them! I am so scared to try.
I would really recommend trying again, though there is nothing at all wrong with wearing glasses – I just hated the inconvenience. I knew that I just had to suck it up and after a week it would all be cake. And it was!
There was one day that I did put my contact lens in backwards, but it just felt like I had an eyelash in my eye. And you get really good at looking at the lens and telling if it’s right or if it is inside out. If you do try again, best of luck
Unfortunately, I hate contact lenses, so I opted to just not wear my glasses at all during my ceremony. But big congrats on not wearing glasses! I know they can be a big pain, but luckily, you found something that worked!
Good for you! I could never wear contacts. I have some kind of phobia of digging in my eyes, or have someone else digging in my eyes. I would never even try to get contacts in. But it’s great for everyone who can use them. I don’t mind my glasses too much myself.
Congratulations on the contacts! I’ve worn glasses since I was a toddler and even though I’ve always been happy wearing glasses for the most part, the things you mention are definitely the more annoying aspects for me too.
I’m about to go on holiday to somewhere sunny in a few weeks, don’t have expensive prescription sunglasses to switch with my everyday ones and don’t want to resort to clip-ons. It’d be a breath of fresh air to just be able to pick up any nice pair of sunglasses and pop them on while still being able to see. Same goes for being caught in the rain. You’re making me seriously consider giving contact lenses a go finally.
It’s good to hear that you persevered with the contact lenses and didn’t let them get the better of you. I could totally understand why you would be put off trying again after your first experience. I have this thing about eyes. They freak me out, and so I imagine I would hate putting in contacts.
Yay, congrats on your lenses! You look great!
I don’t wear any corrective lenses [though I suspect I may need to soon >.<] and doubt that I could ever imagine myself putting on contacts due to the simple fear of sticking my fingers or any objects near my eyes. In the meantime, I should try and see if I could undo the deterioration symptoms.
Omg I remember when I was so much younger how I used to think people who wore glasses looked really cool and smart! I was so excited when I was informed that I might have to wear them myself. Of course the excitement turned into annoyance a while after once I realized how troublesome glasses really are. Haha!
The first time I tried contact lenses I didn’t know how to put them on myself so I wasted a month’s worth of lenses because I gave up trying to wear them. Thankfully I decided to try again months later and now I’m pretty pro at it, if I should say so myself! Hahaha.
Anyway you look gorgeous, and I love your blog!
Thank you for the sweet words you left on mine 
Well done for getting them on and sticking with them
I’ve had lenses for about 4 years now (the same ones actually, as I have very bad eyesight and so specially made lenses). They are wonderful inventions, but a nuisance sometimes. Luckily I didn’t have too many problems when I first started because I’ve never been overly effected by going near my eyes. My mum still can’t put them in though, so you were not alone there! It took a few weeks to find the right lenses, so they tried me on these evil evil ones that felt like they were made of glass. I could put them in fine but they felt like stones, so I flatly refused to wear them. Ick, it hurts me to think about it. But eventually I got ones that really suited me and they’ve served me well. Next week I have to get a brand new pair with a new prescription so I’m quite worried as they take a time to wear in and I’m moving to a new city the day after. So wish me luck!
But you’re right, you get to wear sunglasses and run around like you’ve never even worn glasses! So enjoy if you keep on wearing them! Good luck to you!