To absolutely HATE wearing glasses?

[Fluffyflipflop]

I started needing glasses for both distance and reading around a year ago. Probably sooner than that actually but I put off going to the opticians for a long time.

I have varifocals, and they do their job in as much as I can see, but I HATE wearing them so much.

I hate having something touching my face all the time. I feel hassled by them as constantly aware of them. I’ve tried multiple styles and sizes and took ages to settle on a pair I can tolerate and they all constantly slide down my nose. Even the lightest frames feel heavy.

Ive got a trial for contacts coming up but because of my vision and my rugby ball shaped eyes I have to have “special” ones of those which are extremely expensive.

I’m not sure what I’m posting for but just to vent I guess.

arrrgghhhhh

Wore them since I was a teenager for decades and then got cataracts. Best thing ever as after operation I have 20.20 vision albeit still need glasses for reading.

I don't mind my glasses but a absolutely hate wearing my hearing aids, they make my ears feel itchy. Unfortunately my hearing is dreadful without them.

I have similar eyes, I get the prescription and then source online for a tenth of the price.

I hated them too. All of the things you mention - all the tiny inconveniences (them steaming up opening the dishwasher or wearing a mask), not being able to see my legs to shave them. I hated them slipping down my face, I hated the feel on my nose and behind my ears. I just didn't feel as fully awake and alert when I was wearing them as well.

Getting laser eye surgery probably goes down as the single best thing I ever did for myself. When I think back on it I'm just awed by how it worked for me. I can't explain how odd it is for poor eyesight, which has been something I have 'struggled with' since I was a child and was just so a part of the experience of being me, to be gone in a flash and to never look back. They did me at 10am - it was a bit unpleasant for a couple of hours, I had a long nap and at 6pm I went out for a walk and could just see perfectly.

I don't think I could ever be comfortable fully 'recommending' surgery to another person - as it's so personal and as PPs have said there is a risk of complication. But as I say, for me it has been so transformative. I put it off for years because of the expense and feeling worried about complications and I regret living with poor eyesight for so many years.

Oh 🫣. I had no idea.

I've worn glasses since I was 2, they used to be like milk bottle bottoms they were so thick and heavy, I was the only child in my class with glasses for most of primary school. Now there are so many different types of frame and they weigh next to nothing, you need to make sure you try lots of different frames on and find the ones that are right for you.

Personally I found contact lenses are a pain when you still need glasses for reading/distance, but I used to have them for going to concerts or out out when I was younger.

I know I'm biased on the matter, because without them I would never have been independent, but they are one of the most amazing inventions. Can you imagine what society would be like if people had to stop driving at 30? Had to stop working with computers by 40?

I also feel weirdly vulnerable in my glasses. The thought they could fall off (never actually happened) or be snatched off my face (also never happened) and be almost blind makes me nervous.

Just had my eyes lasered (after many years of reading up about it and getting the courage to do it!). I had really bad astigmatism and -5 to -6 prescription. I've worn glasses or contacts for 34yrs (and they're not cheap!!). Got assessed for it at Moorfields and they said that I could have Trans PRK as corneas were too thin for the other types of laser.

I got it done 3 weeks ago. Very quick (and painless) procedure. Slight discomfort for 24hrs after but then fine. I am still using drops and things get a little blurry at times but I'm told this can take a few weeks to subside, whilst everything heals. It's amazing though! I sometimes forget and worry that I haven't taken out contact lenses or that I've lost my glasses!

I hate them. I’m resigned to walk around blind as I hate contacts too. Very interesting life saying hello to people I don’t know all day and thinking everyone is gorgeous in soft focus. 🤓

I've been wearing glasses for over 50 years and I have never yet found any that I like or that suit me. I've tried every shape, colour and size and not 1 of them has made me think "ooh I like those". I just go for plain metal ones now.

Thank you for all the responses, I feel less alone knowing I’m not the only one who hates glasses.

When I went to the optician to enquire about contacts (the same optician who gave me my glasses a year ago) he asked why I was considering contacts. And I said, because I really hate wearing glasses (and listed some of the reasons) and he looked at me as if I was really unusual.

He said that with contacts I will need to have one eye for distance and one for reading…. I asked if other people manage that ok, and he SHRUGGED.

Maybe I should just change opticians?

Lens replacement surgery was the best thing I ever did. 20:20 vision at 49 with no future risk of cataracts ( both my parents had to have surgery). I wear reading glasses for very detailed work in my job which requires precision beyond the standard reading test. my optician tells me a great job was job wax done with perfectly centred lenses.

I always keep a spare pair (the ones from a previous prescription) in my bag!

You should ABSOLUTELY change opticians! Some opticians are odd and old school with very strong views on contacts. Others are the opposite and really push them for the revenue stream. A good optician will give you pros and cons and be willing to try a few different things with you.

If you can afford it, I see no reason not to try contacts. If they don't work for your prescription they don't work but what is the harm in trying. There is no way I could have got by without them.

Laser surgery was the best thing I have ever done. Quality of life was so much better.

Ah, I feel your pain. I have nearly started a similar thread several times. I had absolutely no vision problems until about 45 then started needing readers and it all deteriated quite quickly. It's definitely not a vanity thing - I quite like how they suit me and like having different styles..it's just the FAFF, all the time. I'm not bad enough for varifocals but need them for reading and middle distance like watching TV, looking at the whiteboard at work (teacher) but not driving etc. Hate walking round in them as it makes me feel dizzy but need them constantly for glancing at my phone, reading labels, even just telling the time etc. They're on and off, on my head, put down somewhere etc. They're also constantly grubby from all the on and off so I'm always cleaning them. I put them in a case in my bag so they don't get damaged and then need them again 2 minutes later for something!

I've needed reading glasses for about 2 years, whereas before I had perfect vision.
I recently got a pair of varifocals as I need to be able to see small labels at work and was forever dropping my readers/leaving in random places and then couldn't read stuff!
Was intending to wear them out and about but just hate them so they are work only!
I use readers at home though but have about 5 cheap pairs kicking about the place.

Short sighted people also tend to get less short sighted with age.

I hate wearing glasses .hate it.

Echo PPs, the plastic framed ones are a lot more comfortable to wear. Also once you do get a comfortable pair, note the measurements of the nose bridge and arms and look for that in future pairs.
I'm late 40s and needed to wear them permanently for about 6 years. I now feel odd without them and they do hide a tired face imo! But getting a comfortable pair is crucial.

@TicTac80 can i ask roughly how much you paid for consultations and the actual surgery? Thanks

I've just gone back to glasses after 40 years of lenses. Just couldn't be bothered with them any more.
I can't have laser surgery because of my prescription.
I have plastic frames as mine would look hideous with metal ones.

I hate glasses too. I vainly think they magnify my under eye wrinkles and add years to me.
I have astigmatism and need glasses for short and long sightedness. I now only wear contacts (toric ones for my rugby ball shaped eyes) and one contact is for reading and one is for distance-can't remember what they are called ?monofocal?

OP do you mean astigmatism? I have that but wear normal contact lenses. I found a diameter that worked perfectly for me. You can ask optician to recommend a different type which is cheaper.

And I loathe glasses. I wear contacts daily and have done for 15yrs. I had to wear glasses after a general anaestheic but put my contacts in the next morning as soon as I knew I'd be discharged.