How bad is -4 in both eyes?

[WiseBearOrMare]

I know I need glasses. But don’t think it’s THAT bad. I can see okay without, just no loads of detail

Really random post. Off the back of a friend who works at Specsavers and gasped when I told her but was walking around without my specs (they were in my car)

At -6 prescription I always get to a point in the evening when I fling my glasses off. It’s like taking your bra off when you get home. I like to be able to switch my eyes off a bit and relax.

How can you not wear glasses apart from reading? Mine are the same and I’m definitely not safe to cross a road as a pedestrian as I simply can’t see clearly enough to judge where cars are. The details on a coffee mug 2 feet away (max) on a table are blurred.

When was the last time you went to the optician? It doesn't sound like your prescription is right. At - 4 in each eye you would have very poor vision without your glasses on.

Same here, and whilst I can function I’m very aware that I squint at everything, so wear glasses full time-I don’t need to make my wrinkles worse!

Mine are -2.75, my job involves very close detailed work and I don't wear my glasses at all for that. In the (small) room I work in I don't put them on during the day. As soon as I'm outside I feel blind as a bat without glasses.
At home I would happily walk around the house without them on but obviously wear to watch tv etc. But I'd never leave the house without them

I'm -3.75 in both eyes. I refer to myself as blind when I dont have glasses on or contacts in. I genuinely can't see anything without them.

It's panic stations if I mislay my glasses so I am very strict about where I put them. I use the mantelpiece or arm of the sofa if I take them off. My prescription is about -4.5. I can get around the house OK without them and read my kindle without them.
There are benefits to being able to see close up, though. I am good at spotting tiny splinters, reading hall marks on silver, reading ingredient lists on packets etc! At some point I will need cataract surgery and need to decide on my new prescription. I would still like to be able to do very close work so that means glasses but not all the time.

Can't believe so many if you don't wear your glasses all the time. I understand the short sighted people doing close up stuff without them but otherwise? Just seems mad to me. Mine are always firmly on.

I'm - 4.5 in both eyes and I hate it when occasionally I can't find my glasses and have to get my spare pair to find my nice glasses!! I can do things like make a cup of tea without glasses if necessary, but I feel quite disabled without wearing them and I could never leave the house without my glasses on my face! I even wear them in the pool.

Life must be a blur for you!

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdBr8yuE/

That video shows you how bad your sight is OP. You've got used to it, but it's really not OK....

I have -10 goggles (-12 prescription) and they are fine, obviously not full correction but I can see the clock, the steps, recognise other people etc.

I love my super close eyesight, I got a tiny hair from a thistle in my thumb last week which was very painful, couldn't see it at all with my lenses in but as soon as they were out I could see it clearly and remove it. I always put my glasses on if I get up in the night to go to the loo, I don't switch the lights on because there is enough light from streetlights outside but still need to make sure I don't step on a snoozing cat. I read in bed on my phone with no glasses but never get up without putting them on. It is a pain if I knock them off the bedside table in the night as I can't see to find them on the floor or down the gap.

Same. I’d be surprised if there arent any prescription goggles available for you. You can actually get customs ones made also if you can’t find them off the shelf.

I'm -1.5 and -3 and wouldn't leave the house without my glasses. In fact, the only time in without them is in the morning on the way to the loo most days - makes no difference in the dark.

I've had Rx swimming goggles made recently for about £20. Fed up squinting at everything.

That's not normal, please go back to your optician. You may need a different set of specs with different lens shapes. Or even just an adjustment to the fit of your current ones!

If you don't normally wear glasses, switching from contact lenses feels weird. They may be just fine.

I have a similar prescription and would be worried about blanking people in the street and not crossing the road safely without them. Cars would be visible but I might be slow to see a fast cyclist approaching. Can't imagine not going out without contacts or glasses. You might be amazed when you start wearing glasses at what you're missing.

I have similar (-3.75/-4.25) and I walk around the house and do loads without. I find it better without if I'm on my phone or reading. I can cook, use my laptop etc without. I'd never go outside or drive or watch TV etc without glasses or contacts in.

You've just got used to it. FYI, trees have leaves and aren't just like a kids drawing with brown trunk and a green mass at the top....

As my kids are now grown up and I never go swimming, thankfully I won't need the expense of prescription goggles

My sister thinks the price I pay for my glasses is ridiculous and why don't I just get cheap ones online. Sadly that's yet another thing that's denied to me.

That's what I thought too! I'm a new glasses wearer. So I thought maybe I'd got it wrong but I'm exactly -2. I can see without my glasses it's things like I need glasses on to read bus numbers or if I'm in the train station. I can manage without my glasses I just need to be a lot closer to read things clearly.

I'm short sighted. What are you OP?

Another one saying this. Why?

I’m -6. Yes you genuinely can see things without your glasses on 🙄

I’m -9 and -8.5 and can still see lol. I can’t read anything unless it’s a couple inches from my nose but I can still wander about and ‘shock horror’ can still make my breakfast and my coffee without them in .

I am very similar -3.75 in both eyes. I can read a book / use my phone ( too near) but otherwise I use glasses for everything including just walking around my home. It’s the first thing I do before leaving my bed.

I'm -4.5/-4 and I can see well enough to get about, I'd never bother to put them on to go to the loo in the night since I'm doing that in the dark anyway! Certainly wouldn't have any trouble making a coffee/breakfast etc. without them.

I've just turned 46 though and I'm really sad I now have to take my glasses off to do really close work, e.g. thread a needle

I’m -4 in both eyes and no way could I function properly without glasses or contacts. I can potter about my house if I’m not doing anything requiring detail, and I usually don’t put them on until I’ve finished getting ready. But beyond that, it would be weird not to wear them, as it would make life so difficult or unpleasant.

If I were catching the bus to work or our local town, I could get there without my glasses due to the familiarity. But I don’t understand why I’d want to!