How Eye See

No, this is not going to be a creepy Halloween post, though the picture is kind of odd. It is actually a picture of my eyes. They were photographed today. Cool, huh? I had never had this done before, which is strange considering the amount of time that I have spent in the Optometrist’s chair throughout my life. Shortly after my 1st birthday my Mom noticed that I had a tendency to go cross eyed. It was discovered that my eyes are very, very far-sighted, as well as having astigmatism. I was fitted for my first of many pairs of glasses. I was a very small child with very large glasses. It was the eighties. See evidence below (this was actually a couple years later, but you get the idea). I thought the fact that I was sitting next to a pumpkin was quite appropriate.

I was thrilled when I was turned 16 and began wearing contacts. They have become the everyday norm for me since.

I had my eyes checked shortly before I went to Brazil. I have been using that prescription ever since (about 2 ½ years) Over the past few months I had noticed that I was not seeing very well, and knew that it was time for another appointment. I was worried that my eyesight may be worsening.

Today I had my appointment, and I learned a few things:

1)- I don’t like eye appointments. Even though the Optometrist was super nice, they make me take off my glasses (at which point I can’t see well at all) and go through all sorts of tests that wear me out! By the time I am done I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep!

2)- My eyesight is actually IMPROVING. Not a ton, but to the point that my prescription was too strong and throwing everything off balance.

3)- I have VERY little depth perception. They had me put on some 3-D glasses and asked me to pick the eight things on a page that jump out. I was able to pick out one. Just one. When they asked if I could see the picture on the next page, I had to admit that I couldn’t see it at all. The doctor explained to me that during the time when your mind is learning depth perception my eyes were probably too occupied with the other problems they were having, so the part of my brain that controls depth perception doesn’t really work. It doesn’t really harm much, but it explains why I was never able to see those magic eye pictures as a child (or now!), why I find 3-D movies boring, and why driving at night is hard for me. It may also explain why I tend to be a klutz :)

Beyond that my eyes are healthy! It is always a relief to hear that! And he gave me new contacts that feel FANTASTIC! I am so grateful to live in a day and age that allow my vision problems to be fixed easily, making it possible to live a normal life!