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 got my first glasses when I was eleven or twelve.

They were a really terrible bright, apple green, and very big.

Looking back, they were awful but at the time they were quite a fashionable size. Someone had told me that green suited me so that's why I chose them. Green did not suit me. I looked like Kermit.

But I loved them, I thought I looked so cool, and it meant I could finally see the board and projector at school and keep up with my work.

I still wear glasses now, smaller ones that are not green, as I can't get on with contact lenses.

Until 2009 I used to buy them from Specsavers, but not since I was heavily pregnant, hauled myself up a flight of stairs in one of your stores, and was told my optician was running at least half an hour late.

That would have been fine except that at over eight months pregnant I had an urgent need to use the toilet and the branch staff refused to let me as it was for staff only.

They told me to leave the branch and walk to a nearby shopping centre, where the nearest toilets were up two flights of stairs, and then come back again.

I did leave, but I never went back for my appointment. I went down the road to a rival optician, who let me use their staff toilet and booked me an appointment with their optician instead.

I've worn glasses since I was five. Mum and Dad used to be continually telling me not to sit so close to the TV, then when I had my first sight check at school, I couldn't see the pictures (too young to read) of the lion, giraffe, zebra etc. My poor Mum was sitting in the room, tears pouring down her face because she hadn't realised I was as blind as a bat.

My first specs were NHS clear plastic, because I thought people wouldn't be able to tell I was wearing them if they were clear! We lived near the sea, and for the first time i could actually see the ships steaming up the channel when my parents pointed them out to me.

I went through a period of wearing contacts, purely due to vanity, but went back to glasses in my thirties. First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is stick my specs on the end of my nose, and last thing I do at night is take them off and fold them on top of my current book.

Make sure you get tested for glaucoma - I have it (thanks Dad!) but it was caught early and is closely managed and my sight is stable.

It was several years ago, I think I was 22ish.

I was frustrated because the amount of time I could read was become more and more limited - the words would get blurry and it made trying to read through big academic tomes a nightmare. It had been bad in school (where we tested yearly or so but it was mainly if you could see the board) but it was getting worse with the heavily load. I finally went with my partner and apparently my distance vision is amazing but when I went to read from the sheet, the optician noticed that I automatically held it as far away as I could before I had even looked down at the text. Having glasses has been amazing miracle for me especially as most of my work is dealing and organizing text!

As for tips, it really depends on the person. My partner, with sight issues opposite to mine as he can up close well but not distance at all, and we use our glasses differently. As the main use for him is TV, he puts his glasses on top of the TV stand out of toddler reach when he goes to bed at night so he knows where it is and that it is mostly safe until he needs it the next day; whereas I put them on the desk next to the bed as I want them first thing. Also to ensure a good fit for the activities you do and consider them if you change glasses or activities - my current pair are great but as I'm doing more callisthenics these days to help with my medical problem, I find I have to find a place for my glasses or they will fall off during it (I will eventually get a cord so it can sit around my neck while I do it).

Another tip: I've found glasses great for covering dark circles and skin patches under the eyes! .

I remember feeling incredibly stupid in my lessons because I couldn't understand what was written on the blackboard. I spent a fair amount of my first year at secondary school copying my friends work.
So when I had my eyes tested and I was short sighted it was a relief to out the glasses on and realise that the gobbeldygook suddenly made sense! Of course being 11/12 I still resisted wearing them because glasses weren't cool but they did make a difference to my life!
I now wear contacts mostly but glasses still some days. Wouldn't be without them now.
Get your eyes checked regularly as well for our health as well as your eyesight.

I got my first glasses 3 months ago aged 35! Went along to support my daughter and show her nothing yo be worried about. Sat down in chair to look at letter boards , whizzed through first eye then swapped eyes and could read only the top 2 lines! I said to the optician "I think I'm in trouble here" she asked how long I hadn't been able to see properly and I said I thought I could! My good eye was working so hard to correct my bad eye! 1 hour later, 2 gorgeous pairs of glasses chosen and I haven't looked back; driving, board work, reading, cinema all now in HD!! Great work by Specsavers and after all that my DD eyes were absolutely fine!

I was twelve and realised my brother could read the numbers on approaching buses far sooner than I could. My mum took me to an optician, and when I got my first glasses (Deirde Barlow-style, of course), I couldn't believe how crisp and clear everything looked!

As for tips for new glasses wearers, I learned to love my glasses much more when it occurred to me that I didn't have to have only one pair. After all, I wear different shoes to suit different outfits, so why not have different glasses too?
Also, it bothers me when I see people with smeary, dirty glasses. It's easy to give them a wash every few days, and it keeps the world looking bright.

I suddenly found I could read the road signs!

I have succumed to the reading glasses. tips: try them on in the chemist to find the right strength... um and ahh a bit. think you will come back later to buy a pair... buy a month later in Aldi. these are just a stop gap until I can get a proper pair from the opticians.

I was 16 when I had my eyes tested as I had been telling my parents for years that I was struggling to see clearly - they kept saying "we've got good eyes in this family" and refused to take me to the optician. So when I was 16 I went by myself and discovered that I was extremely short sighted.

I spent most of my secondary school education peering at the board trying and failing to read it and having to stop behind the class to write down the set homework which had been written on the board, but I couldn't read it until I was up close.

When I got my first glasses, books on shelves had titles! Buses had numbers. I could actually recognise friends in the street before they touched me on the shoulder! Nothing had a blurry edge any more. Life suddenly became a lot easier for me.

I can't remember getting my first glasses as I was 18 months old!

I got my first pair of glasses age 14 in year 9. I remember having to move to a chair nearer the board in science lessons because I couldn't see what was being written.. that or copy what was in my friend's books.

The huge "glasses", which they use to switch lenses and they put on you for the test were quite funny and bizarrely I felt quite proud when I could read a line!

I was thrilled when I walked home with a pair of glasses, but shortly discovered they were terribly uncool and took them off for photos. Now my husband tells me he prefers me wearing glasses and doesn't like me in contacts as much as he isn't used to how different I look.

Just as well, really, because I'm too lazy for all the faff of contacts most of the time

As a teenager I really fancied wearing glasses so I lied about what I could see during my eye test!!

I wasn't so keen to wear them now I really do need to wear them but recently invested in some lovely trendy Karen Millen ones (yes from Specsavers!). Has changed the way I feel about glasses as they look great and am getting used to having clear sight again after avoiding wearing them for years

I was about 11 when I first got glasses. My short sightedness had been noticed at a school medical test. I went to a lovely old gentleman from Vienna for my eye tests from then untill I got married and moved away.
His consulting room was on the top floor of his house which overlooked a large cherry orchard.

After he'd tested my eyes I saw the dispensing optician, who said that his eyes were similar to mine. He took me over to the window, and as we looked out, he put his glasses on me.
I was absolutely stunned as this sea of chaotic blotchy green blobs and patches transformed itself into trees with leaves and swathes of grass swaying in the wind.

I never had to be encouraged to wear my glasses, I loved wearing them. My school work improved once I could see the blackboard and the clock, I don't remember ever being bullied at school because of wearing glasses.

I got my first pair at the age of around 2. I remember being slightly older than this and having to do exercises with an eye patch covering my lazy eye (my eyes are both bad, but this one I am nearly blind in). I couldn't see a thing with my better eye, so my child logic told me to peer under the glasses instead!!

The first time I didn't actually mind wearing glasses was when they stopped being 'NHS specs' and I got some nice ones. Other than that I wore them reluctantly and only because I was/am blind as a bat without them and it made life hard.

I was aged 7 when my parents noticed I couldn't see things in the distance they had pointed out to me. It turned out I was quite short sighted and I had the awful 80s plastic huge glasses, hated them then, still hate wearing glasses now. I wear contact lenses as often as possible.

I don't remember being able to see with them for the first time - but my mother recalls the day after I got them, driving me around our beautiful local area with tears in her own eyes, pointing out all the things I'd been missing she was upset to think she hadn't noticed I couldn't see, bless her.

Incidentally I am a Specsavers customer and have been for a good few years - contact lens service is excellent, and I can currently choose a free pair of glasses as I am on a contact lens scheme. My sight tests are also included as well as all contact lens aftercare. I like the fact I've got a one stop shop for everything. (almost everything, see below lol)

AliceLidl I had a similar problem in my local branch - I'd just spent about £150 on glasses with super duper thin lenses, chosen and paid for in full, then my 3yo DD who had been so patient while mummy chose glasses, suddenly needed a wee (as they do!) and they refused to let her use the toilet there - instead directing me 4 streets away to the scabby bus station, with a newborn in a pram and a leg-crossing toddler

I got my first pair of beautiful blue plastic glasses ages 9. For the first time I could see the leaves on the trees near the play ground. I thought it was truly amazing.

My best friend at primary school
Used to wear glasses and she looked so smart, I really wanted a pair. Imagine my disappointment when at the opticians I was told I had 20:20 vision!

Fast forward to being aged 15 in year 10, I always sat at the back of the class but realised I could hardly see the black board, I told my mum one day and she made a quick call to the school for me, after a discreet 'classroom reshuffle' in some classes, I was moved to the front. After another opticians visit I was told my eye sight just needed a little help and I got some weak glasses, I hated them but it was nice to be able to see.

By the time I was 19 I needed to wear them full time thanks to my dad and all of his family that have always wore glasses but by this time I was ok with them.

I have always got my glasses from Specsavers and I love the range available and the service I've received in store. I feel my glasses are part of me now and I look odd without them!

I do occasionally wear contact lenses if I've got a big night out planned and need to have killer eye make up, but I find myself constantly pushing up my invisible glasses on my nose!

I was in first or second year high school. I thought glasses really suited me, made me look very pretty, so begged my mum that i needed an eye test. Turns out i did need them. i then wore (and still wear) contact lenses as soon as i could as i was sick of my glasses!!

I got my glasses aged 8 and many over 40 years later I can remember walking out of the Opticians and realising that trees were made of lots of small green leaves rather than just being a huge green mass that I was used to seeing!

I also discovered I was really good all games such as tennis and rounders cos I could now actually see the ball!

I first got glasses when I was about 11. I had no idea I needed glasses! It wasn't until my parents were laughing at a terrible 80s car bumper sticker and I couldn't even see the sticker never mind read it! I was taken immediately to Dolland and Aitchison (I think) and got glasses. They were navy metal, very boring, not at all fashionable, square frames. I hated them but I loved being able to see

When they were ready I was sent out to walk round our local town to try them out. It was quite scary! I couldn't judge the height of pavements and took massive steps up and down - apparently it was hilarious to watch. It was incredible being able to read the blackboard in school and stop having to copy my friend's work. I wonder why I didn't realise it wasn't normal to not see the board???

I wish I didn't have to wear glasses, but I'm very grateful it's possible to correct vision. I can't imagine what life would be like without my glasses!

Tips? Hmmm,well it's such a long time ago... But I think the main thing is to trust the optician and assistants. I would never have chosen my current frames without a bit of a nudge from the trendy girl in the opticians, but I really love them now. Also, it all feels very strange at first, but persevere - It's worth it!

I've had glasses since I was absolutely tiny (4?) so can't remember not having them! I do remember constantly losing them though, and the whole class having to go on a hunt while I sat blindly in the corner!

Tips?
Take a photo of you wearing the pairs you like most when you're trying to choose - you can get a better sense of what you really look like then when you're squinting through the stickers on the sample frames

Also wear contacts when you go glasses choosing so you can actually see what you look like with different frames on - you would think this would be obvious but

Don't bother about whether frames feel too loose around your head, etc - the optician will fix this for you

Always keep a spare pair of glasses around so you can see to search for your other pair when you lose your glasses!

Those microfibre wipes than come with your glasses case are actually designed for cleaning glasses and do it much better than a tissue/sleeve of your shirt/etc

I got my first pair of glasses when I was 9. My dad had taken me to the cattle market and asked if I could see what the cow weighed.
"No"
"well look where the needle is pointing on the dial"
"Which dial?"
"The one on the scales"
"What scales?"
"The ones the cow is standing on!"
"Cow? What cow?"

An eye test was duly booked. When I put my glasses on for the first time I was blown away. I said to my Mum "Wow! Everything is so clean, it looks like it's all been drawn with a very sharp pencil instead of a really blunt one!"
We went for a walk round town and I was amazed at things I had never seen before. I kept exclaiming about stuff, like "So that's why they call it clock corner!"

I thought my sight was normal. Never realised other people could see stuff I couldn't. I have a complex prescription and wear Specsavers contact lenses now but I will never forget the wonderment of that first day in my trusty national health specs

Btw the Specsavers service is fantastic for anyone thinking of trying contact lenses. The tests they do to ensure your eyes are healthy and suitable are thorough and extensive. The lenses arrive in the post every three months and I pay monthly by dd. The staff are lovely too and it is never too much trouble for them to sort out a query. I really could not fault them in any way. That's why they are the opticians I trust with my children's eye health too. My son got his first pair of glasses last year.

I got mine when I was 12, it was the old cliche of not being able to see the blackboard, and the bliss of those headaches going away! It took me a while to pick ones that suited me though. That first pair where black wire square rims, and they did nothing for my square face.

I had my first pair aged 10 (25 years ago!) I didn't realise there was anything wrong with my vision until a school check up.

Then the first day I got them I remember watching TV at home and kept taking them off and putting them on again in disbelief. I said to my mum that I wouldn't have known that there were buttons on the top the lady on TV was wearing. It was a revelation. At that time I only needed them for telly and the blackboard so I used to wear them on a chain around my neck .

1st pair were from specsavers, then my first contact lenses at age 12 as my eyesight got worse, and I still get both from there now.

Like the PP I really recommend Lensmail, the contact lens delivery service.

I love getting new glasses, they instantly update your look! I have worn them since I was 11 and currently have some rather nice Karen Millen ones from Specsavers.

I do lots of sport so having the choice of glasses or contacts is really good for me. I remember feeling quite proud of my tortoiseshell glasses when I first got them! They completely changed the way I saw the world.

Glasses are so fashionable that there are ones to suit anyone - the opticians really know their stuff and are friendly and helpful. The best thing I have found with Specsavers was that when I was a flaky gadabout and ran out of contact lenses on weekends away they would usually give me a pair to tide me over!