[lostalex]

I'm near-sighted, and i hate it.

I literally can't see anything past how far i can stretch my arm, everything is just a blurry blob after that. I'd much rather be far-sighted and only need reading glasses.

Which do you think is better to be? Near-sighted or far-sighted?

[mizzy25]

By near sighted I take it you mean short sighted? Im short sighted and without my glasses I can see things but they re very blurry. Funnily though I can read better without my glasses on, think it could be an age thing.

[lostalex]

near-sighted = you need glasses/contacts to see things that are far

far-sighted = you need glasses/contacts to see things that are close

and some people need glasses/contacts for both, which is why they invented bi-focals. Benjamin Franklin i think.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by lostalex

near-sighted = you need glasses/contacts to see things that are far

far-sighted = you need glasses/contacts to see things that are close

We say short sighted and long sighted.

[smudgie]

I need glasses to read, and I need glasses to see past my outstretched arm.

Cataracts in both eyes...blind as a bat

Can see the computer screen ok.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Josy

We say short sighted and long sighted.

ahh, okay, that makes sense. same meanings different words.

usually we only use the term "short sighted" to mean an ignorant person. not literally.

[Z]

I'm short/near-sighted and have been since I was like 10 maybe. I hate it. Wish I had perfect vision! I'd rather be long/far-sighted but yeah, glasses just don't suit me at all I don't think, I've been wearing contact lenses for years now.

[lostalex]

to all the people who have similar vision problems., have you ever considered getting the laser eye surgery? I really want it, but i can't afford it yet.

Does the NHS pay for eye surgery in the UK? you guys have government payed healthcare right? does it give you free eye surgery?

[anne666]

Both now. I started wearing specs in my thirties for reading. Now its all knackered so I wear varifocals. Marvellous invention, I can see! Much less obvious than bi-focals which I wear at the computer. Middle vision and reading. I can't wear contacts because of a stigmatism so they have to suit me fine. I know a few people who've had laser eye surgery successfully. I'm too scared of doing damage to go down that route.

[anne666]

Originally Posted by lostalex

to all the people who have similar vision problems., have you ever considered getting the laser eye surgery? I really want it, but i can't afford it yet.

Does the NHS pay for eye surgery in the UK? you guys have government payed healthcare right? does it give you free eye surgery?

In a word no. We have to pay for eye tests and specs etc.

[MTVN]

I always find the concept of being long sighted quite strange really, how things become harder to see as they get nearer to you, I know there is a very basic optical reason for it but still

Laser surgery's not something I'm that sure about, I'd love to be able to wake up every morning with perfect vision but I don't mind wearing contacts that much so not sure it'd be worth the cost and the hassle. Mind you contacts aren't cheap either really

[Sophiee]

I have 20/20 vision .

[Ammi]

..I'm short sighted and wear contact lenses but I'm about to get some new ones which are one eye shortsighted/one eye longsighted..it sounds a bit weird and I'm not really sure how it's going to feel but whichever eye you need at the time for whatever you're doing is meant to adjust your vision...hmmmm...

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..I'm short sighted and wear contact lenses but I'm about to get some new ones which are one eye shortsighted/one eye longsighted..it sounds a bit weird and I'm not really sure how it's going to feel but whichever eye you need at the time for whatever you're doing is meant to adjust your vision...hmmmm...

One of the girls at my works is long sighted in one eye and short sighted inthe other. Putting her glasses on immediately makes you feel drunk!

I'm short sighted.