Monovision and New Shades

 I've recently visited my opthalmologist to check my eyes. I have a number of age related issues like most of us in our 60s.  A little background will help... 

I had both eyes receive Lasik over 20 years ago. That really improved my vision and I have not needed glasses to go about my day life or so I thought. A year or two ago I noticed (during COVID) that I had these bumps on part of my eye and had it diagnosed as pinguecela which is a non-cancerous growth on the cornea caused by UV rays - like a lifetime of UV rays. As an adult I have worn sunglasses when outside, but from what my doctor explained a lot of the exposure happened when I was younger. 

This time at my visit in October of 2023 I had my annual visit with Dr. Schaeffer and learned that my eyes needed correction for distance. I had noticed a drop off and especially when there is less light that I cannot see clearly so I got a prescription set of sun glasses. 

When I tried the new cool frames for the first time in the office (by a rather flirty technician named Fabian (trez bien)) I was blown away by a new-to-me 3-D effect with my vision. For the first time in those 20 or so years I was not using my dominant right eye for distance vision alone and the effect was striking to my brain. As I left the office I felt like I was experiencing a new form of vision as I wandered the streets of Denver. What a fun afternoon that was. The buildings and different structures all falling into focus at different distances from me were popping. I was immersed in a new world!

My resolve after several days of wearing my new sun glasses was that I was missing out on a lot of visual input without the aid of a prescription. So now I live more in real life in a 3D world with sunglasses that work for distance. They don't do well for close up vision or night time of course. Fast forward to March 2024 and I am trying out contact lenses. I have ordered a year supply and can't wait to wear them. 

The change for me now that I realize is that I can go about my day and see most things, but with lenses on or wearing glasses I see what I am missing without them. I will wear contact lenses for distance, but now have to wear glasses for up close work, reading and other activities. I will have to adjust, but wearing some kind of prescription is a must to keep living in out 3D world.

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