The call I’ve been dreading for the past six months came through this afternoon. “You can pick up the prescription when you’re ready.’’ To be honest, I think I’ll be ready the day Karl Stefanovic wins a Gold Logie. While my little issue is pretty insignificant in the scheme of what some of you deal with on a daily basis, it still didn’t stop a little tear today. OK, so maybe it was full on, snotty nosed sobbing.
While there’s great relief in knowing Princess Ella won’t ever look like this:
(Yep, don’t you just feel sorry for that kid… Ahem) she will have to go tomorrow and pick out her first pair of glasses. She wants purple ones. We could be unveiling the modern-day version of Esme Watson come 3.30pm.
Since heading to the opthamologist last week for the follow up appointment, I’ve been trying to ignore the idea of her two eyes multiplying. If you don’t know the back story of the mad rollercoaster ride we’ve been on with Ella needing and then not needing glasses, then brace yourself for the full story here.
However, the clincher, and the reason I’m now quickly getting over my hang-ups with her wearing glasses, is that as if her eyes overcompensate her slight vision impairment there’s a chance the eye could turn in. This is me.
Source: cbsnews.com via Jacqui on Pinterest
Well, not that photo exactly, but I do have a lazy eye that will never be straight without glasses or contact lenses. I’d never forgive myself if my petty reasons for not wanting her to have glasses caused this.
Thankfully, Ella doesn’t give two hoots about my concerns. She even said to her Dad tonight: “Yay! I’m getting glasses, Dad. Mum’s really sad about it. Are you?’’ The combination of not needing “raindrops’’ at last week’s appointment– her term for eye drops – and running into a friend with glasses in the waiting room, has made her super keen to sport specs. All the cool kids are wearing them, it seems.
“I loved having the little windows on my eyes, Mum’’, she said after the opthamologist put lenses over her eyes to check her vision. Apparently, the “windows’’ made everything look brighter. As long as she doesn’t think she gets to hold up little lenses to her eyes all day. That could make going to the toilet difficult.
As for me? I just need to get over it!
So tomorrow afternoon we’re going shopping! Any tips for buying glasses for children? Are there things I should be aware of?
Hi Kel,
My granddaughter now 15 had glasses from around 6. They were to correct an astigmatism & she went cheerfully back & forth to the ophthalmologist& more to have tests, get patched and so many times I was one who took her. Her attitude was terrific even if she didn’t quite follow all the instructions & by around 8or 9 no more glasses. Every kid is different but she was incredible & she is our family’s Princess who’s given to being, um, vain? But she dealt with this well. All encouragement to you Kel. If Ella says it makes the windows make everything clearer…WIN! Xx
Her enthusiasm is incredible, Denyse. It’s certainly made the whole process much easier (despite my hang ups!). Things have certainly changed from when I was a kid. And I’m so glad of that.
Glad to hear another positive story from your end too. Thanks. x
As a teacher, I noticed that kids are much more likely to wear their glasses if they LOVE them – especially girls. So make sure she gets to pick.
As a wearer of glasses, (these days contacts) I remember that “wow” when I first got glasses and realized how much I couldn’t see. It’s worth it, Mummy!
So true, Tonya. I remember my own first pair of glasses and they were horrid. I have extremely thick glasses, so finding nice frames has always been hard. Not that Ella will have that problem. My third pair of glasses I really did like though, so I know how important that is.
Love that you remember the first day you got glasses. Wow! I have no memory at all.
Thanks for your words of encourgement too. x
My son has quite a significant vision impairment but the nature of the impairment means that glasses will not help in any way. He was always hoping the doc would say he needed glasses because they would be really cool. The only reason why I was thankful they weren’t needed was because it just would have been another thing he could lose! And probably an expensive item to continually misplace! His constant loss of items has nothing to do with his sight however but probably more to do with just being a boy! Anyway good luck with Ellais it is great she is so cool with it all 🙂
Martine, that’s what I fear – her losing them all the time. She’s a shocker for putting things down and not remember where it was she put them!
I hope your son’s vision impairment doesn’t impact his life too much. Let’s hope they find a way to improve itt oo. I’m extremely long sighted and have had very thick glasses since a really young age. I also underwent a few eye ops, but I’m not really sure they helped. Mind you, this was a long time ago. Things have improved a lot since then. x
I think both you and Ella will be fine. Good comment above about getting her to pick them out – although if I let me almost 4 year old do that I’m not sure what she’d work out with. Hope it all goes well Kellie 🙂
I’m just a tad nervous as to what Ella’s going to choose, Caz. I’m hoping they only have a limited number of really tasteful glasses to choose from! 🙂
I’ve worn glasses myself since the age of 5 (short-sighted – worsening as I got older) and now my Master 9 is recently sporting glasses for reading and close work thanks to a focusing problem. He too was quite enthusiastic and has not worried about wearing them, in fact he is quite vigilant. I let him settle on the pair he was most happy with, and guided by the optometrist’s recommendation for what he needed. I honestly don’t think glasses are quite the “thing” they were when I was little. The computer age means so many people, although mainly adults, wear them that no one cares!
Kellie, I’ve been the same – except I’m severely long sighted. Things have certainly changed since we were kids, that’s for sure. And so glad of that. Even looking around the playground at school this morning, I was shocked at how many kids I noticed wearing glasses. When I was at school, I think there was only one other. How times have changed! 🙂
David and I both wear glasses for Driving reasons. But so far our boys havent got to.
I remember being in highschool when I had to have my first pair. I was teased for a few days, and then it all settled down 🙂
Maybe you could get a pair with a chain so that she can keep them on her neck when not wearing them (so that she doesnt misplace them?)
They have some really nice Kids ones to chose from – well at least they do where i got my last pair from.
The only advice is to check out any writing on the glasses. I purchase a gorgeous pair two years ago (they cost so much money) to realise that on the side of them they say “fcuk” as a brand name!!! YEP – my bad!
All the best for Ella – she is such a cutie!
Oh dear, Lisa. The writing on them isn’t good. Although, I’m sure all the teenagers thought you were cool! LOL!
Thanks for all your comments, Lisa. It’s a big help. x