Glasses Gang & Problems With Their Prescriptions

The blind. Everywhere you look, they are there. They live among us and slowly surround us. Using contacts to disguise their disability and show us their blurry perspective. Although they may all have the same disability, it comes in different severities. To cure the problem, they are prescribed a unique prescription and carry it around with them in a pair of glasses for the rest of their lives. Another common solution is a pair of contacts — invisible to the blind eye and a game changer for some of the blind. 

As a person fallen victim to this disability, I seek out blue light glass wearing fakers and look to inform the 20/20 majority about the different struggles of each member of the community. Whether it be the difficulties of steamy lenses or the frames slipping down one’s sweaty face, having glasses isn’t the most convenient. 

Lindsay Shimizu (‘23) finds crying in class quite difficult. The typical situation of crying in class is made practically impossible due to the disregarded disability of glasses wearing people. The lenses begin to fog up and the tears drip onto them. Once again, our disability is looked over as we suffer in silence. 

After a long day, a normal response is to hop into bed and lay down for a minute. But for a glasses-wearing person like Cali Rapolla (‘23), it’s quite a hassle. Before jumping into bed, one must take off their glasses to avoid the risk of smashing them or snapping the legs off. If they decide to ease into bed, they still run into the problem of it getting tangled in their hair or leaving an obvious outline on their face.

Besides glasses, contacts come with a handful of problems as well. A good night’s rest can be ruined if a pair of contacts aren’t taken out before bed and one wakes up with a pair of crusty lenses. 

Another common problem with contacts is the chance of them falling out at any given moment. Graciela Diaz (‘23) is one of many who have had the misfortune of a bothersome contact at school. Whether it’s due to rubbing of the eye or an aggressive blink, it’s a frustrating situation. After excusing herself from class, Graciela uses the veteran strategy of lubing it back up with a splash of water. She pops it back in and heads back to class with a bright red eye and a few tears slipping down her face. 

No matter the prescription there are difficulties that come along with a pair of glasses. But some just avoid the problems entirely. 

“I prefer glasses” says history teacher, Mr. Dave Desmond ‘94. A diagnosed glasses wearer for the past 15 years, doesn’t even risk the dangers of contacts. Not once has he put in a pair and doesn’t plan on it either. He addresses his nearsighted problem with a good ol’ pair of glasses.

Some choose to reject their glasses, “I got them at the same time as I got braces and I felt like it was social suicide” says Jenna Yates (‘23). Even with a lighter prescription of -2.25, Jenna feels that it’s safer to simply pop in a pair of contacts than risk the embarrassment of becoming the typical four eyed nerd. 

“I wore contacts for a couple years” says history teacher Mrs. Erin Hanshew. Like Mr. Desmond, Mrs. Hanshew has had her glasses for “a little over 15 years” she says. For a period of time, she ditched the glasses and tried out the contacts, but made the move back to glasses shortly after. 

Preference can’t dismiss the problems that come with either form. Whether someone is like Mr. Desmond and doesn’t push their luck with contacts or are like Jenna and resort to nothing but contacts, the difficulties are still very much there.

Don’t be afraid to offer a helping hand and help them with an activity that a non-glasses wearing person may find easy. Although they may look strange, try and not exclude them and remember the Lasallian Core Principle of Inclusive Community. 

And to all of my fellow glasses wearing students, stay strong and push through. We are stronger in numbers and can work together to achieve world domination. Whether you may wear glasses or contacts, you are one of us. But anyone who gets lasik is a cheater and a fraud who “looks” to weasel their way out of our disability.