To see or not to see, that is the question?

I can hear my mother's voice clearly as if she was standing next to me, "Don't squint. Where are your glasses?"

That was pretty much a mantra of my childhood. I hated wearing glasses and although my eyes weren't that bad, I started wearing glasses in the first grade. After too many comments about being "four eyes" I would ditch my glasses in my bag as soon as a left home by the time I hit seventh grade. And close up I didn't have any problems...until the teacher wrote on the chalk board and then I'd squint a lot to see what was written.

This pattern of squinting and not seeing too clearly at a distance continued through my high school and college years. I could have gone to contacts at that point, but I couldn't see putting something in my eye. My college roommate had them — the hard contacts, and they were always causing her problems.

Even after I got new glasses about 10 years ago I continued my pattern of wearing them only when my kids were playing sports. If not, I couldn't tell where they were on the field or court — everything was fuzzy! Most recently, my doctor sent me to the eye doctor to have some things checked out and I sheepishly admitted to keeping my glasses in my purse most of the time. But I assured her that I took them out when I absolutely needed them. I didn't get scolded, but the reality is that my eyes are changing. I guess it has something to do with turning 50 this year. I guess I should be grateful I didn't need bifocals.

After the exam, the eye doctor quickly led me to the area where there are many frames to choose from. And at that point, I resigned myself to find a pair that I would wear. I have to admit that the glasses today are huge improvement over the cat-eye style I first had in first grade. They aren't as heavy of a frame or lens and they don't cover your entire face!

It's been a bit of an adjustment to wear them every day, but I'm improving. All in all, I guess I have answered that question — vanity aside, I want to be able to see.