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 was 8 when I got my first pair of glasses , It felt very strange the first time I wore them almost as the floor was moving and I felt a bit sea sick! That soon wore off and was replaced with the excitement of realising I could read the black board at school and see peoples facial expressions from a distance!

My tip would be to keep up to date with eye tests my prescription has changed quite a bit through my adult life with changes of jobs etc being a factor -so important to get regular checks.

I started wearing glasses when I was 15, and initially found it quite traumatic and uncomfortable, although my Dad did allow me chose whatever frames I wanted so that I felt more at ease wearing them. I first went to Specsavers when I was 18 when the shop had come to my local town, I've used them now for 25 years and find they are hard to beat for price, stylish frames and service. I now love wearing glasses, they can really add to your character if you choose them right, which means not always going with what's in fashion as they don't always suit.

I come from a family who needed glasses from childhood but the gene seemed to skip me and I only got my first pair two years ago. They really changed my life (although I can't stop smudging them and have managed to bend them). In terms of choosing a pair, I'd say try on lots until you find a pair you think you suit. My optician was a lovely, really professional lady but I ended up with a pair in an entirely different shape to her suggestions for my face shape and we both agreed it was actually a good choice.

I was 6/7 when I got my first pair. This was in 1976/77. We didn't have a lot of money so I was given the NHS plastic ones. They came in pink or blue and I hated them. I was bullied a lot for wearing glasses so I tried not to wear them unless I had to. Work at school was therefore poor! My eyesight deteriorated significantly sadly so from a young age I had to wear them all the time. I saved christmas and birthday money to get more stylish frames and begged my parents to take me to the opticians for better frames.

Until Harry Potter came along, glasses and kids often meant being teased.

I tried contacts over the years but don't get on with them. I am now about -11 in both eyes. Glasses cost a fortune but are thankfully more stylish now and I get new ones every couple of years. Glasses are the one thing I won't compromise on. They cost what they cost and I aim for the thinnest lenses possible.

I hope my sin doesn't inherit my eyesight.

Here are the NHS glasses.

I was 8 years old and standing in the opticians facing the shop window looking out when my first pair of glasses were put on. My reaction was "Wow! Look!" (I had no idea other people already saw this clearly!) For the first time I saw the writing on the giant billboard opposite and I read every word out loud to the shop full of customers! My parents were horrified that they had not realised how short-sighted I was. I was delighted as I realised for the first time that I wasn't actually walking around surrounded by misty clouds about 6 feet away from me in all directions - I could see blades of grass, individual petals on flowers. A whole new world opened up to me which continues to delight me to this day!

I was 14, and it was one of those eureka moments, when I realised the world was not made up of dots!!!, I was taking very big steps off the kerb as everything was so clear and vivd, I remember it like it was yesterday.

I only had a sight test as on a family day out I couldn't read the time on the large station clock, so was hastily booked in for an eye test. It's funny how you just assume what you see is how it should be.

I didn't particularly like wearing them initially, and used to take them off if I had to walk into a class on an errand. The biggest near disaster was when I was performing in a concert, and didn't want to wear them on the stage, that awful moment when you realise you can't actually read the music, but its too late to do anything about it!! ( and I had been wearing them for 4 years at this point)

I still have glasses, but 99% of the time wear contacts, although I do actually like my specs now. Funnily. my daughter was actually gutted that she didn't need glasses at her last eye test. But they are so much more fashionable and on trend now.

I think mine is an imparted memory, told so many times by my family I now 'remember it'.

I started wearing glasses when I was only 3 years old and I did not like them at all. I decided I wouldn't have to wear them if no one could find them so I flushed them down the toilet. Problem solved.

I wear reading glasses as I can see clearly from far, just not from very close. My kids laugh at the size of my glasses but I don't always use them as my kids are kind enough to read out most letters to me anyway.

Its great to have things brought sharply into focus

I have to use varifocals now, but I do like wearing contacts a lot and have both. I just have a pair of reading glasses to assist when wearing contacts.

I keep my varifocals for work, as I do a lot of computer stuff, and use contacts the rest of the time. Especially as it means I can have the sunnies I like.

I have discovered it's not good to play darts when wearing varifocals

In my 30's I started with double vision & was diagnosed with Astigmatism and prescribed glasses. At first I felt like the ground was coming up to meet me and could not gauge the high of curbs when I was walking along the street I felt like I was moonwalking. My eyes corrected themselves after approx 6 months and I didn't return to wearing glasses until in my late 50's when my eyes have now deteriorated with age.

I got my first glasses when I was 12. The school eye test found me to be very short sighted. I think I was around -3 in both eyes and the optician asked how I'd been crossing roads and reading the blackboard at school.

I had the purple rimmed NHS pair (early 80s style). My parents offered to buy me private ones but I thought my sight was somehow my fault from reading books late into the night by a dull light.

When I left the optician's wearing them for the first time I remember that the ground looked very uneven and I was probably staggering, unsure of where my foot would meet the ground. I looked at the ground for a while and then looked up and stopped walking.

I couldn't believe the detail of the world around me. Anything far away had always looked like a child's drawing with solid masses of blobby trees and splodges of white instead of clouds. Even the most distant trees, many miles away, had gaps in them where light came through. They had shape around the edges and dark and light. Clouds had similar definition.

I tried to explain this to my parents. I'm not sure if it was my description that made them book their own eye appointments but very soon after that we were all wearing glasses for short sightedness.

I got my first pair of glasses when I was about 8 or 9 and it made a huge difference in school. I could suddenly see the blackboard and didn't have to copy from the book of whoever sat beside me. I could do my work a lot faster and it made such a difference to my school work. I didn't mind wearing them as they were pretty and had pink bits.

I first started wearing glasses in my mid 20's, they really helped and I stopped suffering eye strain. The optician was really helpful and I liked choosing my glasses.

I always let the assistant choose for me. They know what they are doing.

I got mine aged 11 after a school eye test recommended that I needed an eye test. They were thick NHS glasses that were like the glasses my nan wore. I used to get some flak for wearing them.

Now I have some trendy specs from the budget range of Specsavers which are stylish and do the job and something my nan would not wear

Still not had to wear glasses, but I've had plenty of sight tests over the years at Specsavers. They have plenty to choose from to suit all tastes and styles. My boyfriend has had glasses and contact lenses from there. I wouldn't mind wearing glasses but I have a terrible track record with sunglasses and breaking them. If I wore glasses I'd have to start being more careful!

love the comments on here that look like they were written by the ad department

My first glasses came after a small accident with one of my eyes as a child. I'd always known I might have to wear them because a lot of people in my family did, but it was quite a traumatic way to start out!

Luckily because so many in my family already had glasses they were really supportive. And what I discovered at school was that everyone suddenly assumed I was clever because I had glasses, and everyone wanted to try them on!

I think these days glasses are seen as a much cooler thing to wear, almost as a stylish accessory sported by lots of celebrities. And of course it's part of the 'geek chic' culture. So there are so many more affordable frames and you no longer have to settle for milk bottle lenses.

If it's the first time you've ever chosen frames then make sure you take someone who's opinion you trust and they'll help guide you to frames that suit you. A lot of places have '2 for 1' deals now, I tend to go for everyday and sunglasses. I wear my glasses most of the time so I'm never without them, but if yours are only reading glasses keep them in an obvious place or get a second pair to keep in your desk drawer at work.

I got my first pair aged 30 - didn't even know I needed them, just went for an eye test as it was free!
When I put the glasses on I was amazed!! Couldn't believe how 'fuzzy' my life had been!!
It was a revelation, I could see much more clearly, everything in fine focus, sharp lines etc. It was fab!
I loved trying on different frames and actually bought two pairs - one quite subtle (pale, thin frame) & one a bit more bolder. I pick and choose which ones I wear depending on the occasion.
I recommend anyone to have an eye test just in case!

Got my first pair at age 10 (I'm now 42!) and I was teased terribly at school. I am short sighted. They were a pair of clear plastic nhs ones, they were awful. But I couldn't see the blackboard prior to wearing them and had to sit right at the front of class. I went on to have the pink plastic nhs ones too.

As the years went on and I progressed into secondary school my mum got me some more fashionable ones, but they were still not a patch on the styles you can get today!

My prescription has worsened as I've gotten older and I have an astigmatism is both eyes -I'm virtually blind without my specs!

I remember leaves - big beautiful leaves in the trees right outside the optometrist's office. I had not seen leaves like that before. Until this day, the same week I turned 7, I thought trees were mostly green sponge-like growths, like moss. However that beautiful sunny day I walked outside and looked up and discovered leaves. I was so happy I felt like a bubble was rising up inside me and would lift me off my feet. Almost 40 years later, I still marvel at the complexity and beauty of leaves.

I was worried when my kids both needed glasses. However, they loved wearing them and there were no tears. They realised they can see better and the choice of frames is now very cool. Now their friends want glasses too even if they don't need them!

My 10 year old son sang the song... " I can see clearly now..." when he first put on his new glasses. He told the optician ( at Specsavers!) that his life was now in HD!
The optician looked chuffed. I don't suppose he was used to such an effusive reaction. My son loves his glasses and thinks he looks cool. 'Geek chic' he calls it.