Trading glasses for contact lenses has been quite an interesting experience. For the last five months I have been noticing tiny little things that previously escaped my notice (my contact lenses do not give me X-ray vision, if that is what you're wondering). For the first time I could see everything clearly while getting a haircut (imagine not being able to see the mirror clearly while your hair is being cut). I was able to watch a 3D movie without wearing the 3D glasses over my own glasses. The fortunate few who have never needed to wear glasses, or need to but do not need to wear them all the time, might be unable to relate to this. But I'm sure those who have been through a similar experience can understand and empathize. And keeping in mind that I've been wearing glasses for nearly ten years, this has truly been a major change.
Being the curious, inquisitive cat that I am I wonder what would have happened if I had never needed to wear glasses at all? Would I have been a more confident and lively person? Would I have needed to work harder for people to take me seriously (yes, I can see the geeks grinning)? Possibly. Often, the first impression people have of me is that I'm a studious, serious person (which is not entirely wrong, just a little bit). But there starts the problem; this vicious process called labeling that pushes the bespectacled into a category that they are more often than not, forced into. As teenagers the bespectacled are programmed to take pride in their brains because not too many people have the patience to look beyond the glasses. Before you get the feeling that I am about to start a Society for Bespectacled Teenagers, let me clarify that I do not in any way feel wronged by society, and do not hate wearing glasses. I know quite a few people who wear glasses but can be the life of a party. And (to put it in dull, statistical terms) intelligence and spectacles do not have a direct correlation. I only feel curious about the kind of person I would have been, because no one can deny can glasses do play a role in forming first impressions, particularly if you wear them during your adolescent years.
Wearing glasses through my adolescent years has taught me two invaluable lessons - that beauty is subjective, and that intelligence is more important than beauty. I was pushed to develop my brains and value my intelligence. Thanks to glasses I did not become a superficial person who is unable to relate to those who are unhappy with their physical appearance. Would the absence of glasses have helped me develop confidence and charm that would have let me have my pick of the male species? Possibly. Would it have changed the way people view me, and consequently the way I view myself? Possibly.
I will never know the kind of person I would have been had I never needed to wear glasses. Perhaps I would not have learnt to value my intelligence and inner strength. Chances are that I might not have made the effort to make intelligent conversation the way I do now. I probably would have become a person who is lively, confident and charming but not nice and empathetic. So, in retrospect, I honestly do not regret wearing glasses. If not wearing glasses meant that I would never have learnt these valuable lessons I just mentioned, then I'm glad I wore glasses.
Wearing contact lenses is a convenience and gives a vanity boost. But I will always be bespectacled. I will always be the geeky looking girl with curly hair and glasses, and being that girl is pretty liberating.
