20 Weird Things That Only Girls Who Wear Glasses Can Relate To

Flickr / Florence Ivy
Flickr / Florence Ivy

When I was in second grade, my teacher read from big, oversized books and we’d each stand up, one at a time, and read a sentence. One day, I stood up, looked at the page, and realized I couldn’t read a word; it was all a blur.

I didn’t understand what was happening, and as a shy 7-year-old and the “new girl in school,” I already didn’t want to be standing in front of the class. So, I froze.

I shrugged my shoulders. I kept saying, “I don’t know, I don’t know,” and my teacher thought I just couldn’t read. I sat down, humiliated.

Next thing I remember, I was sitting in an ophthalmologists’ office picking out a pair of glasses. Glasses? I imagined kids would call me “four eyes” (they didn’t). I imagined being picked on, being called ugly (I wasn’t).

But you know what did happen? I COULD SEE! I will never forget the drive home in my new specs, looking up at the street lights, the stars, seeing more clearly than I ever remember seeing.

“This is the real world?” I thought to myself. “Is this how everyone sees? Look how much I’ve been missing.”

All that to say, I’ve been wearing glasses for a long, long time. I’ve had pairs I’ve loved, pairs I’ve hated, and pairs that have been run over, rolled over, and snapped. When kids couldn’t remember my name, I was “the girl in glasses” by default. It’s my thing.

So, as the woman in glasses, allow me to shed some light on ordinary and consistent problems us bad-sighted gals deal with:

1. When your glasses break, your empty wallet flashes before your eyes.

It’s not just an ordinary accessory. Either you drop hundreds of dollars on new frames and lenses immediately, rock some Urkel tape, or go through the Warby Parker try-on period and stay blind for a solid week.

2. Choosing the right frames requires at least a full day of indecision.

The decisions! Sometimes we like the “look” of a frame, but it doesn’t suit our face shape. Or, we worry that it’s too trendy. Or, too flashy. Or, too boring.

These things are going to be on our face, and I don’t know a single person who can pick out frames without a mild mental struggle and a few selfie texts to friends.

3. Eye exams are comparable to Medieval torture.

“Which one is clearer: number 1 *click*, number 2 *click*, or are they about the same?”
Ummm, the first one? No, definitely the second. Wait, can you go back again? Maybe they’re the same? And no, I would NOT like you to puff air into my eyes and flip my eyelids.

Unfortunately, a prerequisite to getting new lenses are these uncomfortable appointments, reminding us we’re slightly blinder each year.

4. You can’t see sh*t when you’re wearing sunglasses.

We could get prescription sunglasses — meaning we a) switch frames back and forth as we go inside and out, which is annoying, or b) wear sunglasses indoors, which we’ve clearly labeled as “douche behavior.”

Or, naturally, we wear contacts, which comes with its own list of grievances.

5. And you can’t see sh*t when you’re swimming, either.

Let’s just say I spent my childhood summers as “Marco.”

6. Exercising is practically impossible.

Try doing burpees in glasses; they’ll fly right off your face. Or, run on the treadmill, sweating, as glasses slide down the rim of your nose. Downward dog? Down goes the glasses.

7. Rain storms leave you with blurry vision.

Bummer about your hair getting wet, but I can’t see right now.

8. Going into someone’s warm house when it’s cold outside …

Your glasses WILL fog up.

9. Drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee …

Your glasses will ALWAYS fog up.

10. Be prepared to lose your frames to infants who’ve hit their “grabbing” milestone.

No baby can resist grabbing these puppies straight off my face as I gently wrestle it out of their fiercely tight fists.

11. The only way to put on makeup is to get super close to the mirror.

My makeup always looks better when I’m seeing a slightly blurry version of myself in the mirror. And forget about false lashes or lengthening mascara. That won’t happen without skidding your lenses with each blink.

12. Showering and shaving is done by memory.

We basically learn to shave by feel, not sight. And is this shampoo or conditioner? *squints at the bottle*

13. You’re too familiar with the unsettling feeling of people asking to try on your glasses.

Then you’re momentarily blind as they say, “Oh my gosh; you’re blind!” Yes, yes I am. Now stop stretching my frames.

14. You reach for your glasses in the morning and discover they’re missing.

Assume the position of crouching down and patting the rug.

15. Wearing glasses greatly outweighs getting that scary LASIK.

Anyone who wears glasses has momentarily considered having their eyes taped wide open while a laser singes their eyeball, which probably won’t blind them. A solution is in our reach … but damn.

16. We fit into three stereotypes: nerdy geek, sexy librarian, and well-read/smart.

Sometimes this works in our favor (which is why people wear fake glasses on job interviews), but it’s mostly irritating.

17. People constantly think you look exactly like someone else.

Hi, Lisa Loeb; apparently we’re twins. You too, Tina Fey. When you’re a “girl who wears glasses,” your specs become your identity.

18. Everyone has an opinion when you’re debating getting contact lenses.

“Oh, you look so different.” “I didn’t recognize you without glasses.” “You’re so much prettier without glasses.”

I’ve actually had several people tell me I look better in glasses, which is a strange compliment because they’re essentially saying I look better when plastic is partially covering my face.

19. You instinctively go to adjust your glasses mid-conversation, and realize you’re actually wearing contacts.

Just itch your face and pretend you didn’t just do that.

20. People who wear glasses strictly for fashion annoy the hell out of you.

You don’t know the struggle and for that, we shun you. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

YOURTANGO

Keep up with Michelle on yourtango.com

More From Thought Catalog