These old eyes ain't what they use to be.....

Well I finally did it. Last week I went and saw the optometrist and had my eyes checked. Since November I have noticed my eyesight gradually getting worse....I need the light on over my computer and sometimes even the over head light...my eye sockets ache like crazy...and headaches...driving at night is very uncomfortable...and by the end of the day all I want to do is close my eyes and give them a rest. It seemed like it came on all of a sudden, but hubby tells me he has noticed my deteriorating eyesight for awhile. I was getting fearful that there might be something else going on. I have had a variety things going on with me and in isolation of each symptom I can rationalize each and every symptom. My eyes for example....I must admit...I am getting older...46....urgh...only 3 years ago I had my eyes checked by the opthamologist who told me I had perfect vision. So I was fearful that something else was going on. In hind sight I realize that poor vision runs in my family and that I should consider myself thankful that I have held onto my eye sight for as long as I have. After a very detailed examination I am told I need glasses. Glasses you say....is that all....nothing else....just old eyes...that's it.....yippee!!! It's funny how we can take our sight for granted, thinking it will always be there for us. I know I shouldn't have been excited about getting the glasses but it was such a relief to know that there was nothing else going on to cause my eyes to be as sore as they were and for the increase in my headaches.

Anyhow...now they got me.....the optometrist wants to do one more test, she puts drops in my eyes, that make my pupils HUGE!!! eventually I can't really see a thing. But while the drug is taking effect they take me out to the area where they have all the frames .....I have to pick a frame. The clerk picks up a pair and I try them on....they looked pretty good...or at least I thought....we tried on at least 15 others...but I was drawn to the first pair, of course I was.....they were the designer pair....$364 for the frame alone. I tell them I need to wait for my hubby to return to make sure he likes them on me. Seeing as I have to wear them all the time, I thought it would be important that he liked them on me. He did...until we saw the price...then came the lenses....over $600 for the lenses.....oh my god....how can that be....they are just a little piece of glass....and that is the problem, small frames, small lenses, and because I am getting progressive lenses there is a lot of adjusting that needs to be done for the lenses to fit the frame. I didn't realize that at the time.

I wasn't thinking properly, I think those drops they put into my eyes gave me brain freeze and I didn't realize what I had just purchased. I put a 50% deposit on the frames and lenses that on top of the $120 for the examination. Anyone doing the math out there.....yes....it was a very expensive afternoon. But they get you don't they. Never having worn glasses...not knowing what to ask or what was a reasonable price etc. and feeling stunned about getting them in the first place and the drops in my eyes making me feel all goofy....oh just bad judgement or lack of judgement on my part. The next day when I went to go see my sister and I told her about my glasses and what they were charging me....she was shocked as was her roommate, they both wear glasses and told me they have never ever paid that kind of money. I called the shop to cancel my order, they said that they had already placed my order and that my prescription had already been started. It all seemed pretty fishy to me. As most of you folks who wear eye glasses know you can get frames and glasses in a hour....so I ask you why is this place taking 10 days for me to get my glasses if they had already started my order? Seems odd don't you think......

Well I had them fax my prescription to me so I could do some shop comparison....I haven't yet....I am putting it off as I don't want to get depressed when I find out I shouldn't have paid so much. Lesson learnt.....the very hard way......

I share this with you all as this is part of the reason I haven't been around visiting as often....being on the computer is really bugging my eyes....but by the end of this week I should have my new goggles that only cost me my first born, and will be surfing the blog world to check up on you all......cheers....