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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be vain about wearing my specs

51 replies

workshy · 18/12/2011 21:12

hated wearing specs when I was little -think plastic NHS frames

had laser eye surgery at 19

I'm now 33 and have to wear specs again and hate it!

is it just me that doesn't like wearing them?

OP posts:
Alicious · 18/12/2011 23:38

YANBU-going back to glasses after lenses or laser eye surgery is hard!
Stopped wearing lenses as I couldn't afford them anymore, and now I find I look odd without my glasses-I love them and wear them with pride! There are millions of pairs out there, and I bet that loads of them will suit you!

chipmonkey · 19/12/2011 00:15

Cointreau I am an optometrist and attended a lecture a couple of weeks ago about an innovative new procedure for people who need a separate distance and reading prescription. It involved lasering both eyes for distance and inserting a micro-thin "pupil" on to the non-dominant eye for reading. Trials have been very successful.

Julesnobrain · 19/12/2011 00:34

www.doctors.com.sg/intracor-laser-surgery.html this is a new technique I read about. Only just available here. Costs £3500 per eye

chipmonkey · 19/12/2011 00:49

[[http://www.wellingtoneyeclinic.com/treatments/kamra-inlay.asp this is the one I was talking about and it's not that expensive, it's the cost of the LASIK and the inlay is 100O Euro extra. I don't know where it's being offered in the UK but it's being offered in only one clinic in Ireland.

chipmonkey · 19/12/2011 00:50

Sorry here, Kamra inlay

MoreBeta · 19/12/2011 08:40

Cointreau - I had my laser surgery when I was 47. I was short sighted and I now have perfect 20:20 long sight and only wear reading glasses for very small print and using my laptop.

It is true that over the age of 40 the eye canot focus as well, hence my need for reading glasses, but not true you can't have it done and still benefit.

I used to wear varifocvals and kept falling over things. My peripheral vision was terrible. Have a friend my age who also found his peripheral vision was so bad with varificals he had to have laser surgery in order to be able to drive safely.

EcoLady · 19/12/2011 09:43

I feel very sad that there are so many negative comments on here about people's apearance when wearing glasses. I've worn glasses since I was 4 (been through old NHS frames and survived) and my DD has worn glasses since she was a baby.

Some posters have said they are 'ugly', 'unattractive', 'look like Olive from on the buses'.... is that what you'd say to your own child if they needed specs? Is that what you think when you see someone else wearing them?

To use a favourite MN phrase "Did you mean for that to sound so rude?"

carrielou2007 · 19/12/2011 10:03

No, I don't think that when I see other people in glasses, I think I wish I looked as nice as you in them!!

Worn NHS glasses from aged 9 contacts since 15 rx not suitable for laser as I will gladly pay for it even at my age but it is not an option.

I had to get two pairs of new glasses recently and spent a long time chosing the frames. I was really pleased with how I looked in them (as pleased as I can be as I also hate wearing them) until I got them. Even with super duper ultra light/thin/expensive zeiss lenses they are still like bottle tops. Even with the choice of frame to minise this!

One girl I sometimes work with I said how nice her glasses were and then I realised they are the same frames as one pair of min but she looks lovely!!

I feel ugly in glasses, as if I have gotten up one day and maybe just had a wash rather than a shower, or not brushed my teeth, that's thte closest I can describe it as!!

MoreBeta · 19/12/2011 10:18

Nope. Some people look great in glasses. I don't, even with expensive frames.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 19/12/2011 10:20

I used to be traumatised by the idea of leaving yon house in my bins, but now I don't mind and wear them all the time except for going out partayin', I will wear my contacts then as I feel prettier and 'dressed up'.

It's much more comfortable to wear glasses when working with a VDU all day. I'd get very dry otherwise.

I can't have laser eye as I am too blind. (Went for tests at 21, but the only thing they could do for me would be lens replacement and I am too young).

crystalglasses · 19/12/2011 10:34

I don't like wearing glasses and used to wear contacts until I developed astigmatism which mad the whole process very uncomfortable.
However my dislike of wearing glasses stems from the comment my mother made 'Oh what a shame' when I was prescribed them aged about 9 years. So all you mothers out there, be careful what you say if your dc needs to wear them.

EcoLady · 19/12/2011 10:50

crystalglasses has got it! Smile

Beamur · 19/12/2011 13:52

I know lots of people who wear glasses and look great - but like MoreBeta said though, I don't think I am one of them!
If my DD had to wear them, then I'd be cheery and positive about it.
I also find my vision is much better with lenses - better peripheral vision and no misting up when you change environments.
I'm very very short sighted and the kind of lenses required for my glasses do not lend themselves to a glamorous look - think bottle bottoms!

VikingLady · 19/12/2011 15:43

Sympathise. I got so used to wearing contact lenses that I can't walk in glasses any more - I get motion sickness!

frankie3 · 19/12/2011 16:08

I am really short sighted but have very dry eyes so can't wear contact lenses. I don't mind wearing glasses and try to wear trendy frames, but do wear contact lenses occasionally if I have a party to go to as i feel i look better without glasses when i am wearing a nice dress, and it really annoys me as my DM always says that I look so nice without my glasses on!! This always upsets me as 99% of the time I am in my glasses and I think I look ok.

scentednappyhag · 19/12/2011 16:21

I wear glasses for reading and using the pc etc, and it doesn't bother me. What does, however, is the sheer amount of people who assume them to be clear glass and moan about me wearing them to be 'fashionable'. If you could see my glasses, you'd see why this annoys me so much Grin

Pinot · 19/12/2011 16:30

I was prescribed glasses at age 10 and had a panic attack from crying so hard in the opticians Blush. True story. My Mum always said my glasses were like milk bottles and that association of ugliness stays with me now. DH always tells me I look lovely in specs, but I can't believe him and always always panic when I get a cold that I'm going to get an eye infection.

If I could change one thing about myself psychologically, it would be to like myself in specs. I really think this would improve my confidence ten fold.

It's comforting to know others feel the same and no, Ecolady, no one means to be rude. Silly really but we all have our quirks.

Snowy27 · 19/12/2011 16:37

I have astigmatism in both eyes- and find contacts really uncomfortable and fiddly!
I endured the big plastic NHS glasses, then years before I finally found a style I like!
I am now the proud owner of 6 different pairs of glasses, ranging from rimless to chic metal to a pair of green and black plastic thick rimmed ones (nicer than they sound!). I think the trick is to have a few pairs to choose from, so you can alter your look and treat them as an accessory. Mine are all from tesco brought as buy one get one free!

And they hide the dark circles/in need of a tidy eyebrows very well!

AmazingBouncingJesus · 19/12/2011 16:38

I love my glasses. Chunky dark brown frames, cost something like 30 odd quid because I couldnt afford anything else!
I don't wear them all the time because I find lenses more comfortable. But I dont mind how I look in them.

Bennifer · 20/12/2011 11:14

YA of course BU, vanity is one of the seven deadly sins

smartyparts · 20/12/2011 11:24

I was served in Boots yesterday by a young girl. She was blonde and pretty but she was wearing the most hideous, massive, chunky black framed glasses.

I know they're probably trendy, but they made her look ridiculous. I really wanted to ask why she was wearing such fuck ugly specs, but of course I didn't.

tinselworm · 20/12/2011 11:34

If its just gls for reading you could try wearing just 1 contact lens ( 1 eye reads and the other is for distance) doesnt suit everyone but you could have a trial.

Otherwise you can look forward to getting mild cataracts in your 60s and when they replace your lenses they will take prescription into account and you can even have fancy bifocal lenses implanted ! Xmas Grin

SusanneLinder · 20/12/2011 12:03

I use to HATE wearing glasses,but there are so many trendy pairs around , I actually LIKE them. Like Snowy, I get them on BOGOF in Tesco, and have about 4 pairs.:o They hide my lack of eyebrow plucking and the bags under my eyes.Oh and the wrinkles as well.

I do wear lenses as well on nights out,but I don't panic if I forget them.Tbh I can't be bothered faffing about with my lenses most times.

TheChristmasTreeSurgeonsMate · 20/12/2011 12:16

I wear glasses all the time, I like it and feel they give my a bit of colour. My question is, you know when someone takes their glasses off and they look a bit peer-y and blink-y, Penfold-like? Do you think I look like that if I take mine off? Or is that just some folk, depending on their particular eyes?

CointreauVersial · 20/12/2011 17:18

Chipmonkey - sounds interesting! I'll have to investigate further... I'd always thought it would only be worth having laser surgery if it meant no glasses at all, but I suppose wearing them for reading would be OK.

Ecolady - like a few others on this thread, the only person I consider ugly in glasses is myself!! I don't find them bad on other people at all; in fact DH is one of those people who suits glasses so well that he looks a little mole-y without them. But it is very interesting to see how others lose all confidence in their appearance as soon as they put on a pair of glasses.