From Tracie: Can You Read This?

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Can You Read This?

This post was sponsored by Sears Optical. All opinions and stories are my own, and I was not required to say nice things.

My parents took me for my first eye exam when I was three years old. Both sides of my family had a history of vision issues, and when my parents noticed my right eye turning slightly, they knew something was wrong.

I started wearing glasses immediately. I wore a patch, too, but that is a story for a different day (it involves a great rebellion, flushing things down the toilet, and probably at least half of my mom's grey hairs - sorry mom). The patch went away by the time I was five, but the glasses stayed.

Tracie as little girl wearing glasses
Look at me matching my blue glasses with a blue dress, shoes, and hair-bow!

Every year I had an eye exam before school started. My prescription would be adjusted, new lenses and frames bought, and I would start the new year with the best vision possible.


Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can your kids read it?

That was an unofficial (way unofficial) eye test for you. How did you do?


My parents were able to actually see the beginning of my vision issues, because I had a lazy eye that physically turned. Most vision problems are not so easy to recognize - especially if your child does not tell you he or she is having problems seeing. But kids don't always realize they are having issues; their vision just feels normal to them. I certainly did not know at three years old that there was something wrong.

Since 1989, Sears Optical has raised awareness about the importance of eye health and annual eye exams with their National Eye Exam Month each August. Even if you can't see a problem with your child's vision, or they aren't complaining about not being able to see clearly, they need an eye exam each year.

As you get ready to send your kids back to school, I know an eye exam might feel like just one more thing to add to an already long list - but it is a very important thing. 80% of what children learn comes through their vision, and undetected vision problems can lead to learning difficulties. Being able to easily see everything in the classroom will help your kid start the new year the right way.

Glasses worked really well for me. My eyes were strengthened and trained during my childhood and teen years, and once I reached my 20's, I no longer needed to wear them. That does not mean I no longer need eye exams; my vision may change as I grow older. Small changes might not be easy for me to notice, but an eye exam will quickly show them. My grandfather developed Macular Degeneration in his later years. An early diagnosis enabled him to seek treatment, and retain as much of his vision as possible.

Preventative care for eye health should not end once you grow up. Like so many health issues, early detection is key. Many vision-threatening eye problems like glaucoma can be treated and prevented if discovered early enough.

During the back-to-school season, now through September 13th, Sears Optical has special offers for the whole family: 
  • 60% off lenses with any frame purchase and 75% off lenses with any frame purchase on the second pair. *This offer excludes Varilux lenses.
  • Kids 18 and under will receive eyeglasses with single vision ULTRAlightTM select lenses and frames for $49.99 up to $69.99.
2 out of 3 Americans need vision correction of some kind, and 1 in 4 children has a vision problem. Hopefully, you and your children don't fall into these numbers, but if you do, a simple eye exam can help you to detect and treat any problems before they get worse.

Did you wear glasses when you were a kid?

22 comments:

  1. I got glasses in 2nd grade and I hated them.. I still wear contacts.. Thanks astigmatism. Both of my older boys need glasses or contacts. Only the youngest has excellent vision and He WANTS to wear glasses.. sighs..

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    1. It must be that whole "grass is greener" syndrome.

      Although, I will say, glasses are SO much cuter now than they were when I was a kid. It makes a difference.

      Contacts scare me. I could never put something directly on my eye. But I know a lot of people who love them.

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  2. Thanks for this Tracie, this has me thinking. My mom was great about getting us eye exams when we were little and I was lucky enough to never need glasses. Now that I'm older I have definitely neglected getting regular eye exams. Things do change as we get older. My husband and I went in for exams the end of last year and sure enough he needed glasses. I'm going to make a point of making sure we get regular exams now.

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    1. There are days when I would definitely love to have my mom back in charge of making appointments and setting up my life for me. Those were nice days. I'm glad to hear that you are going to get back into the routine of regular exams - it really is so very important.

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  3. I have worn glasses since I was in 5th grade. I wear contacts mostly now. I remember never wanting to wear my glasses to social events when I was younger. I can't remember when it happened, but I got over being self-conscious about my glasses eventually.

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    1. I didn't feel very self-conscious about the glasses, but I think it helped that I started wearing them so young, and I had family members who wore them, too.

      I never wanted to wear my glasses in pictures, because I hated the glare - but by the time I was a teenager, you could get those non-glare lenses, and that made a difference.

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  4. I've worn them since grade school also. Don't remember what year though, I didn't mine wearing them because I could read the board at school then. I always took my kids because of that starting when they started school. They all needed them also. In fact my oldest has been wearing bi-focals since she was eleven.

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    1. It really does make a huge difference when you can actually see the board!!

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  5. I didn't do too badly, though the tiniest is a little problematic! I remember battling over glasses when I was eight....they were thick even then!

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    1. I had one really thick lens, and one that wasn't thick at all. Which was a little weird looking. LOL.

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  6. I didn't wear glasses as a kid but that is so amazing that your eyes strengthened and you no longer need them. I honestly didn't even know that was possible! My daughter had an eye exam last month and it went well but I do understand the importance of doing them regularly. I skipped a few years once and my eyesight had changed!

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    1. I still don't have a lot of vision in the one eye - but glasses aren't really going help that. It did strengthen enough that it doesn't turn anymore, which is really good.

      Eyesight is so sneaky - it changes slowly without us even noticing it.

      I'm glad to hear that you are already getting eye exams for your daughter, even though she is little. That is awesome.

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  7. I had to wear a patch too! I was so awful about it. I didn't have any other problems, and the patch seemed to clear it up, but in my 20s it started getting lazy whenever I was really tired. Now it's more often. . .I should probably go to an eye doctor. Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. Patch-wear-ers unite!

      (except I did that whole rebellious, flushing them down the toilet thing, so I might not get to unite)

      Love hearing that the patch made a difference for you. I should have continued wearing it longer than I did.

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  8. I wear glasses, my hubby wears glasses and now our older daughter wears glasses. Pretty sure it runs in the family! ;)-Ashley

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  9. I wear glasses. Sort of. I would like to get me some of those nifty colored daily disposable contacts. I should probably stick with new glasses; they're far more affordable.

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    1. I've never tried contacts - they terrify me!

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  10. My grandson has a turned eye and really should have surgery to fix it but his parents have said no, they don't think he needs it which really pisses me off I feel they are not taking it seriously

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear that. My cousin had the surgery, and it really helped. But I know a couple of people who wanted to have it, and their doctor didn't agree that they needed it.

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  11. Thank you so much for writing this- keeping you in my prayers.

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  12. Thank you for this post. I've been wondering about this for a long time, and you did a great job here.

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