My gift of sight.

I have not had a new pair of glasses since high school. I used the same pair of glasses all through college, and when I moved out on my own, they slowly started deteriorating. Aside from the fact that the prescription in them was so antiquated that I could barely see 2 feet in front of my face, they were also really big and round, and the ear and nose pieces were starting to fall off. When the left lens popped out and I had to use tape and a rubber band to keep it in place, I decided it was time to retire said glasses, for fear of my new boyfriend (eventual husband) dumping me because of my geekdom.



I have been wearing my contacts for the last several years from the minute I wake up in the morning, until 2 seconds before I go to sleep at night. I keep my contact case right next to my bed so that I can see every last second of the Real World or Good Eats before pulling out my contacts and passing out.



But lately I've been getting slight headaches in the evening. Of course it's possible I've fallen into the typical married woman behavior -- you know, faking headaches every night...ha ha ha. Just kidding. I know for a fact it's due to a combination of the fact that I wear my contacts for too many hours a day and that I stare at a computer screen for at least 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week.

I tried to cure the headaches with my recent infatuation for good red wine, but more than one or two glasses, and the headaches are even worse...they just take place the next morning (I think they call this a hangover, no?). **side note: I am currently consuming a delicious glass of Raven's Wood Zinfandel which my new-found wine-connoisseur husband suggested to me. But I'm allowed because a) it's Friday, b) it's after 5pm, and c) it's blizzard-ing outside.

Back to my eyes. So on Thursday I ventured to the eye doctor. Aside from the fact that I was there for nearly three hours, and my contact prescription remained the same, I was finally given the opportunity to get a new pair of glasses. JOY! I would now have an alternate optical choice!

So I headed back to the glasses department (in house at the eye doc's office), and started browsing frames. That's when I realized that I might be in trouble. Every single pair of glasses I looked at were in the $200 - $300 range. And I couldn't find anything cheaper! Nor did I know what my insurance would cover. So I nervously backed up from the shelves and clasped my hands behind my back, which drew the attention of one lady working the department who asked if I was Melissa, and then immediately (as if she could smell my fear) told me my insurance coverage plan, and pointed me to a far shelf in the back corner that contained the "$40 frames". (I found out after purchase that the frames were actually $180 but my awesome insurance paid for $140 of them!).

I told the girl that was helping me that it had been so long since I wore glasses, that I had no idea what they should look like. So she told me to try on several different pairs, see what I liked, and to avoid any pairs that were rimless because they would (and I quote) "show the thickness of your really strong prescription" (I'm pretty sure she breathed "Mr. Magoo" at the end of that sentence, but I can't be positive). YES - I'M BLIND! THANK YOU HENSON/KRAMER GENES! Can someone explain to me why my brother has perfect vision?!?! I digress.

So I began trying on several frames that I thought were very attractive and stylish, when the sweet girl that was helping me walked back over and said "hmm...it really has been a long time since you wore glasses, huh?" I said "yeah, it's that obvious?" and she said "well...all the styles you're trying on are very popular... with the older, 60+ woman crowd. How old are you?" When I said "27" she quickly picked up several frames that looked NOTHING like the ones I was trying and said "yeah...try some of these instead". So I finally settled on a more rectangular, thin brown framed pair that suited my face. She took them back to the lens maker and I went to check out while waiting for the glasses to be finished.

At the front desk, I pulled out my credit card to pay and the receptionist said "ok, $349.00". My jaw hit the floor. "I'm sorry...can I get a break down of costs, please?" I asked. Turns out, my glasses only ended up costing a third of that $349...and the exam, only $80. The rest of the cost? My stupid contact lenses.

As I drove home from the appointment, I called Todd. "Honey...I went to the eye doctor today..." I told him. He said "yes...and? cost...?" I very sheepishly replied "umm...$349.00". Todd's response? Well...Happy Birthday honey. This year, you're getting the gift of sight."

So now I'm wearing my glasses every day until my birthday (in September) to make sure I get the maximum value out of this birthday gift.

Sad part is, that $349 is about 1/3 of the way to Lasik. Todd said that might have to be my one year wedding anniversary present. Now THAT...would be a gift of sight!