Do you wear glasses? Please share your memory of wearing them for the first time and your tips on getting them for the first time with Specsavers - you could win £250 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at Specsavers would love to hear your story of when you first put on a pair of glasses and realised what you were missing - did you have that "wow" moment? How life changing it is to have your vision corrected for the first time? They'd also love to hear your tips for other people on wearing specs for the first time - whether they are for a long or short sighted prescription.

Specsavers say "when you choose Specsavers Opticians you are in safe hands - as shown by a YouGov 2014 survey*, Specsavers has been voted the most trusted optician in the UK. We always completely follow the guidelines set out by the General Optical Council - this means that all our glasses are professionally fitted under the supervision of a qualified optician. Every pair of glasses is individually made to meet your vision requirements and lifestyle needs - your dispenser will check that your new glasses fit properly and that you have clear, comfortable vision, making any necessary adjustments to ensure a perfect fit – making getting that first pair a easy!"

Share your thoughts and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 voucher from here

Please note Specsavers may use your comments - anon of course - on their pages on MN, on their social media or possibly elsewhere - please only post if you're happy with this.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

I absolutely loved choosing my first glasses. I wanted the biggest, brightest glasses I could get as I thought they were great! I chose bright red round ones. They were huge and looking back they were a complete fashion disaster. My life was transformed. I was 8 and I could finally see the board at school! I've had many, many pairs of glasses since but those round, red ones will always hold a soft spot in my memory.

I first had glasses at the age of eight. I remember a mobile optician came to my school, and when they asked me to read the letters in the yellow box I said "what letters?"

Walking onto the street in my new glasses I couldn't believe all the detail. I particularly remember the pavement - it wasn't just a uniform grey, it had speckles in it!

I told this tale to DD1, who was recently found to be shortsighted, and she scoffed, but then she did exactly the same thing when she first put on her new glasses. She said it was like viewing the world in HD all of a sudden.

I am slightly short-sighted in one eye and slightly long-sighted in the other and as such always find that SpecSavers recommend that I do need glasses. However I find that even with anti-reflective coating on the lenses I find the glare from the lenses worse than my slightly not brilliant vision so never actually wear the glasses that I buy. The only glasses that I do wear are the prescription sunglasses that I got as my free second pair so thank you to SpecSavers for those!

I was in art college when I first got my glasses. Studying art sight being of great importance. I remember getting the frameless glasses which were an interesting experience. I remember as I could not see the bottom of the frame staggering around thinking I was walking on a 45 degree angle!! They were quickly changed!!

Now not only is the function of glasses important, but style is incredibly important. It took me an hour to select my last pair as you have to be sure they suit your face and are going to last.

Early in my time at secondary school I started to wear glasses. I don't remember feeling different or being called names - they just became "part of me". One tip I would give is to try to spend short spells of not wearing them as my vision became dependent on them which made sports more difficult! And another is to experiment with different styles as they can become dated all too quickly.

I was 12 and had NHS pink frames. I used to think everyone was looking at me. I knew my mum couldn't afford anything better so had to put up with them.
Children today have much more choice. Try on a few pairs of different shapes until you find something you feel happy with.

I got my glasses when I was about 9, so I don't remember much about getting them. But I do remember having an eye test when I was about 5 and being really disappointed that I didn't need glasses - my friend wore glasses and I wanted some!

The first time I wore glasses I walked into a door frame on my way out of the opticians office.

My number one tip, practice wearing them first in a place you are very familiar with such as home so that you can get accustomed to how close / further away things really are.

I remember my first pair 5 years ago, i went for style rather than comfort. My nose used to hurt they were that heavy! Top tip, go for comfort and get two pairs. A flashy pair for nights out

I was 7 when I first got glasses. Before then I genuinely thought everything in the world had fuzzy edges. I had horrible NHS frames. I had to wear them all the time as my eyesight is terrible. Big thick lenses too. Awful blow to my self esteem. I got contacts as soon as I got my student grant.

I am sooooo grateful that high index are much cheaper now, as my glasses look so much better with thinner lenses, and I feel a lot better about wearing them.I currently have a Missoni pair from Specsavers. I'm also really pleased that NHS now does decent kids' frames for free. DD1 is 7 and loves her glasses.

had to wear them for reading from the age of 5, I was made fun of immediately, I used to sit at my little desk sweating and shaking knowing that I had to put my glasses on to read, I used to try to open the hard glasses case and sneak them out so that nobody would notice, but the case was very stiff and used to make a large snapping noise when it closed which always drew attention and many hurtful comments.

I got my first pair when I was 21 With my first months pay as I hadn't been able to afford any while I was a student even though I had needed them for 2 years. It was fantastic to be able to see clearly. My tip when choosing is to go for classic styles.

I got mine when I was about 12. Suddenly I could read and the headaches stopped - it was amazing.

I'd recommend not walking too fast when you've got a new prescription as it takes a little while to get used to them. I fell over on my way out of the shop on one occasion :)

I was at school - I felt really embarrassed, but I could see the blackboard better

The main thing I remember when I got my first glasses was seeing things more clearly and walking down a curb finding the floor arrived so much quicker.

I would love more help with choosing glasses and would love to be able to wear contact lenses

I don't wear glasses but my son has recently had to have them at age 9. I was quite worried at first as I though he wouldn't wear them and incase anyone teased him about them. He loved wearing them though as he was able to pick a 'cool' pair and there were lots of other children in his class who also wear glasses.

I have recently had to start wearing glasses for reading, when I put them on for the first time my daughter told me I look like a granny

I got mine in high school. I didn't realise that I couldn't see very far, until my Dad was surprised that I couldn't read the hymn numbers posted at the front of the church. When I put glasses on, I was amazed to see clear writing on the blackboard (remember blackboards :) ) and how sharp the world was supposed to be. Even today, I enjoy taking my glasses on and off - I look better a bit fuzzy when I look in the mirror - my own soft focus. Hahahahahaha!

I don't actually wear glasses as yet but it probably won't be long. My husband got his first pair around 4 years ago. When he started wearing them he was very self conscious and it took him a good 6 months to get used to them. His tip for first purchasing them is to listen to the staff, they know better than you which ones are more likely to suit you. Oh and buy the scratch resistant coating

I got my first pair as a teenager, I can remember when I first put them on it, it was like a brand new world. Everything was bright and crystal clear, it was amazing! The choice is a bit overwhelming when you go to choose your frames but the assistants at Specsavers are more than glad to help you pick a pair that is perfect for you!

When I first put glasses on I felt like I had developed superhuman vision. It was amazing how sharp and clear everything was.

I haven't had that experience yet, but definately need to! I've finally come to the realisation that life goes beyond 20 metres ahead, just waiting for my free eye test voucher to get passed through work.. wish me luck! lol

I was 10 and struggling to see the words at the back of the hall when practising for the Christmas play, and the moment I got my glasses and put them on it was like the whole word became clear and fresh again, I no longer was missing out on things on tv or not seeing things in the distance right, and the headaches stopped, it was great. I'm so short sighted now I can't do anything without my glasses and contacts, but that feeling of putt them on for the first time all those years ago wwon't be felt again

I was about 7 when I went to have my new glasses. I didn't like them at all because there was a limited range of specs that you could choose at the time. I am glad the choice is a lot wider since my daughter has had glasses :)

I had just gone to secondary school and had changed from close up work to board work. When I complained that I could not see the board, my mother though it was because I could not do the work. When she took me to the opticians, we were both surprised to find that I had been short sighted from birth. It was wonderful seeing through glasses for the first time. I had not realised that my vision could be so clear.