Monday, November 21, 2011

My First Pair of Contact Lens

It felt like it was only yesterday when ShinTien persuaded me to try on contact lens.

It's the greatest invention ever, she used to tell me. But the mere thought of touching my eye balls totally freaked me out. Until one day I was unable to resist the temptation any longer, I bought my first pair of contact lense.

The shop assistant could immediately tell I was new to this - a pair of spectacles and the hesitation must had given me away. He offered to help me put them on. I tried for less than 5 minutes then I gave up, couldn't bring my fingers anywhere near my eyes.

That time I was studying in UPM and Tien and I were housemates. I brought my first pair of contact lens home and told her I couldn't do it. I could never do it.

It was easy and all I need was a little getting used to, she said.

After spending more than 1 hour standing beside the sink, parting my eye lids with my fingertips, trying hard not to blink, forcing myself to put the contact in, hypnotizing myself that there was nothing to be afraid of - I finally did it.

It was the strangest feeling. When you're short-sighted and wearing glasses, you can only see clearly through the glasses. If you look up or down or sideways outside the frame, you feel as if you're looking at a smeared painting. But in contacts, you see everything clearly even through the corner of your eyes. And most importantly, I touched my nose and there was nothing on it. You see, I started wearing glasses since I was 10 and I had already forgotten what it was like to have perfect eye-sight.

Now I take less than 5 minutes to clean and put on my contacts every morning. In fact, I couldn't live without them.

Once I had to travel as early as 4 in the morning to Kelantan. Mr. Chin said that I should just wear glasses. I told him walking on the streets without my contacts was like going shopping without panties - it was more comfortable but it just felt wrong.

9 comments:

confessions of a medical student said...

you enjoyed shopping without panties??

MODERN ROBINSON CRUSOE said...

Shin Loo,

Contact lens - temporary solution but Lasik will result in permanent perfect eyesight (albeit it's an "investment" on eye surgery correction if you have the means) :)

Anyway congrats on your new found contact lens - surely better than eyeglass!

thE gEOgrAphicAlly blind said...

ShinYin, not that I've tried. It's just a metaphor. =.=|||

Robinson, yes I've thought of Lasik but my power is still increasing you see. Maybe I'll wait till I'm older :)

Contact lens is not "new found" for me. I've been using them for more than 3 years. ;)

David Batista said...

Your story is so similar to mine. I have really bad myopia and have been wearing glasses since I was 7! But I hate glasses. I mean, I really HATE them!

I was finally able to convince my parents to let me get contacts when I was 16. I sat for 3 hours in the doctor's office trying to get them in. It was one of the toughest things I ever had to learn to do, and for the next month or so I dreaded doing it every morning.

But now I pop them in and out without a second thought. And, like you, I simply cannot go outside with my glasses on. I haven't done so in YEARS! I have friends I've known for a long time now who have never seen me with glasses on.

Funny, huh?

thE gEOgrAphicAlly blind said...

You're right. I didn't even know you're short-sighted. :)

You should get the Lasik done then!

Anonymous said...

the greatest invention ever? i said that? hahaha....i forgot already! but i do remember your one hour in front of the mirror at the sink! see, aren;t you glad i made you try? akekekeke....

Anonymous said...

P.S. i've actually been thinking of Lasik too.....it's getting more affordable right?

thE gEOgrAphicAlly blind said...

Yes you said that! And I'm glad you made me try :)

Yeah I know. Some more can pay by installment. But like I said, I'm still afraid that my power will increase. It's still increasing you know. :(
Maybe I'll wait till it's stabilized. My sister said should wait till pass 30.

Anonymous said...

hahaha contacts are being compared to undergarment! that's such a random metaphor!

ethan zai