Never Run Out of (Eye) Glasses

Never Run out of (Eye) Glasses

Vision is an important sensory accessory for humans. Nothing can replace a good functioning eye. Visually impaired individuals can use modern computer with audio to do many tasks like phone call and typing. With proper care and reasonably good nutrition, eyes need no extra care. Most adults can read and see distant objects without any glasses (spectacles). Still, a few healthy reading habits can contribute to the overall health of eye. Reading a well lit page and keeping a good distance from laptop screen or book – they are a good start. Also, eyes need periodic rest and gentle exercise. Excessive viewing of phone, tablet, or TV screen without blinking can strain the eye. Many dry eye problems can be managed with over-the-counter eye drops solution (ex: Visine, Bosch, Family Care, etc.). Dark glasses (shades) give soothing feeling on hot summer days; they also protect sensitive eyes from sand and particulate smoke (auto, diesel exhaust). 

Our father first got his glasses when I was barely a teenager. Initially they’re just reading glasses. Mother was very ingenious; she would stealthily borrow father’s glasses for her daily reading of Ramayana (the section got to be the one with Hanuman, the Sundara-kanda). What’s the point of getting another pair just for an occasional ten minutes of sparing use? Later father got bifocals, I think. But our parents never got into the complications of cataract (“the clouded lens”) or painful retina issues. Alas, grandmother was not so lucky – she developed cataract in both the eyes. I am not sure whether the cataract happened due to cooking with firewood. In the village she was desperate to get back her clear vision; for several months she tried few drops of some plants and herbs with little improvement. Luckily an ophthalmic surgeon, a follower of Gandhian philanthropic principles visited our village and conducted operations for several hundred elderly patients in a summer camp. It was held in our high school. I accompanied grandma and attended to her during the postoperative period. In those days there were no plastic lens implants. The patient was given thick external glasses (soda bottle glasses) but they were not very effective in restoring the normal vision fully.

So, after months and months of squinting my eyes, moving nearer to bright light, and using a magnifier for reading small letters, I got dragged to the optometrist. Everything was ok; I merely needed a reading glass prescription. I looked a bit more dignified, sort of added gravitas with some grey hair and glasses. In the beginning not accustomed to the new appendage, often I would forget my glasses – they could be in the car, upstairs, in the garage, or near a flowering pot in the garden. One day I was studying road map (circa B.C. = Before Cellphone) or attending to some garden chores. Absent-mindedly I left my reading glasses (with the cover) either on the car roof or on the rear trunk. Without realizing my mistake I took off in a hurry to pickup someone. Right around the street corner the highway vehicles smashed the fancy rimmed glasses and I lost my prized first pair. Could’ve taken the broken glasses with twisted frame for warranty replacement but I did not bother with the trouble. Later I got another pair and then another one with bifocals. Over the years I collected more than five eyeglasses. It may look a bit crazy, sort of a compulsive possessive habit. But I need them all. There is one always in the car to help with shopping and reading the fine print of credit cards. The proper test for any decent reading glasses is this: The wearer should be able to read the small (fine) on the back of a credit card or be able to read all the ingredients of ice cream or vitamin pill bottles. That means you can read almost everything – from newspaper, textbook, postage stamp details, and imperfections of a face shave. 

Then I need one set of glasses for upstairs use. And another set for working in the basement too. Now all the floors are covered and one can focus on the work at hand without the irritation of missing glasses. Recently I purchased one inexpensive pair of plastic reading glasses for $ 1.00. Yes, just seventy rupees. You can’t beat the price. They are good, no distortion and no headache. Only once I lost a valuable pair; but since then I learned my lesson and I take good care of them. Regularly I clean the glasses with mild liquid soap or lens cleaner solution and gently wipe them out with a clean lint free tissue. Still, infrequently I do misplace my glasses, just a trifling inconvenience. But no unnecessary trips to upstairs.

Here I must tell the story of a famous thermodynamics (Engineering Physics) professor, Dr. Willard Gibbs. In his adult life he encountered problems with his vision. It was a case of “astigmatism” – things appearing as blurred. He diagnosed his own vision problem, made a prescription for lenses, and got the lenses fabricated – all in his workshop. The irritating problem solved, once and for all time. I think the American glass industry was in its infancy then. Another interesting incident occurred in our native town. Both in US and India we often see numerous elderly aunts and grand fathers with ill fitted glasses or spectacles with broken frames. Encountering people with missing front tooth or vision problems is not uncommon even in this modern age. They need gentle help, care, and proper guidance. Now back to the days in our coastal town – once a gentleman with lots of hanging bags visited us to help with our eye problems. He was a Punjabi peripatetic optometrist. 

In the afternoon all our neighbors assembled around this sweet gentleman on the Markapuram tiled floor. One after another he would ask for the old glasses (if any) and checked the numbers. Then out of his stock he would come up with the perfect fitting glasses with a reasonable frame. He also advised the patient about growing cataract or undetected retina problems. I was totally impressed by his extraordinary skills and decency. He carried the portable Spherometer, optical charts, miniature screws, and nose pads. Though he did not know Telugu language, both the optometrist and customer exchanged efficiently their thoughts and needs. Now, pray tell me, which government can provide such efficient eye care to the poor elderly at doorstep? Anywhere, in the world? Still there are fine mechanics, physicians, teachers, and all sorts of decent people on this planet earth. We all owe gratitude to such exceptional good-natured human beings. Copyright 2022 by the author