What I CAN see

Yesterday afternoon, I went for my annual eye exam. I was six months late, so it was actually an eighteen month checkup. As I suspected, my eyesight had gotten worse since my last exam in December 2013 and I needed a new prescription. This spring, I began to notice when I wore my sunglasses that the horizon was a bit out of focus, not significant, but enough to be annoying.

a pale yellow lily yearns for the sun
a pale yellow lily yearns for the sun

I started wearing eyeglasses in seventh grade. My vision was off just enough to warrant a visit to the eye doctor and I learned my eyes needed help – just a little. I’ve been wearing glasses since. When I passed forty several years ago, I began to notice that I needed reading glasses for reading (and see) up close. It’s the rule of forty, when you reach forty years of age, there needs to be at least forty inches between your eyes, and what you are trying to read or see up close. Gradually, I came to grips with the ideas that my arms were not long enough and my eyes needed more help. I made the transition to progressive lenses and I haven’t regretted it, in fact, considering the amount of reading I do, as a teacher, blogger, reader, and writer AND how much time I spend looking at a screen – phone and computer, my eyes needed the extra boost.

My eyeglasses and my sunglasses were slightly different prescriptions – both are progressive lenses. The sunglasses prescription is from December 2012 and the eyeglasses prescription is a year younger – December 2013. The difference between the two prescriptions – at the time – was minimal and the optometrist did not recommend changing both prescriptions. However, lately I’ve noticed a difference – having to strain to see, to blink and refocus, it was time. The doctor noted the prescription had changed which is normal, but it had changed more than normal and he recommended upgrading both lenses.

After the exam, I visited the optician. I chose to re-use the frames I already had – I wanted to save some money and I did not need (or want) a new look. After a bit of consultation and exchange of money, the optician told me my eyeglasses would be ready later today (Friday) and my sunglasses would take a couple of weeks – they didn’t have the progressive lenses on hand. I frowned, a bit of disappointment, but at least I would to get the eyeglasses soon. Then she told me she would need my eyeglasses overnight. I did not think it would be a problem until I got home, tried to navigate, and realized I would have headache before long. I searched and found my old prescription from 2011 and put them on – they are smaller than my current lenses and a couple of prescriptions off but using the older lenses beats viewing the world on my own.

coneflower2
a coneflower awakes for a new day

Last night, I toured the back yard with Ivy. Ivy patrolled for critters and I looked at the blooms. Pinks, yellows, purples, oranges and the colors in between. I looked closely at the colors and textures and I took a few photos. I forwarded them to B – she is still in Michigan enjoying the lake. As the light faded, I decided to come back in the morning and take more photos.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24

The morning light opened my eyes to weeds and plants I needed to pull. I can see that I need to do some work; I do not need my eyeglasses to see what needs to be pulled and trimmed. The optician will call later this morning and I’ll be able to see more clearly later today, for the moment I can see what needs to be done. So, that is what is on my list this morning. Since my photo shoot this morning, the day lilies in front of me have opened and begun their stretch for the sun. The sun is up, the birds are singing, and today is gonna be a great day. I know it and I can feel, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one little job, followed by another.

How’s your eyesight? What can you see?

4 thoughts on “What I CAN see

    1. I love your photos Coleen. They always bring out the details of what you see and how you see it. BTW, being forty is cool, but the next level is even COOLER, trust me. It’s all relative. Have a wonderful week.

  1. Last time I went for an eye test, like you I said my existing frames were fine, thank you. They warned me they might not last the course…. and they didn’t. They broke shortly after. Planned obsolescence you see! I hope maybe American frames are stronger and you don’t, as I did, live to regret your economical way of looking at things. Good luck! Hope the world looks better with your sparkling up-to-date prescription.

    1. I am wearing them and WHAT A DIFFERENCE they make. I have thick plastic frames and they should bear up to another year, at least. I hope my eyes will. The sunglasses will take another week and I’ll report out then. It’s been a great couple of days being able to see more clearly, though it takes me more than mere spectacles. Have a great week!

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