13 Moments Only People Who Need Glasses Will Relate To

The struggle is real, even if you can't see it because you need glasses. Learn how you can help others in need of glasses with OneSight.

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1. When she knew they were fashionable from day one.

Courtesy of Jenny B.

"I was in fifth grade, and I got some fashion glasses. But I told everyone they were prescription because I thought that was cooler. A few weeks later, I was prescribed corrective lenses, and I was so excited that I wanted to tell the world...but I couldn't because I had lied and told people I was already wearing glasses! 😞 Oh, what a tangled web we weave..." —Jenny B.

2. When school and softball both went south.

Courtesy of Aislinn S. / Getty Images

"I was in fourth grade and was starting to do poorly in school because I couldn’t see the chalkboard. I got smacked in the face with a softball around the same time, for the same reason." —Aislinn S.

3. When he got sent to the back of the class.

Courtesy of Edwin H.

"The moment I realized I needed glasses was when I got into trouble! I used to sit at the front of the class all the time. But I was naughty and kept talking. So the teacher told me off and put me in the back row of the class.

"That was the first time I realized that maybe I needed glasses. Because I couldn't see anything written on the board, I thought the teacher's handwriting was bad, but everyone else on my row was fine. After that, I went to get my eyes tested." —Edwin H.

4. When the joke was actually on him.

Courtesy of Ari V. / Getty Images

"My sophomore year of college, I was in the dining hall, and I snatched the glasses off my friend Abe's face to do an impression of him. I was like, 'Look at me! I'm Abe, and I...," and then I realized that I could read all of these posters and signs that were far away. I'd been unaware normal people should be able to see them." —Ari V.

5. When the actress couldn't see her marks — or her fellow performers.

Courtesy of Ashley B.

"I've worn glasses since fourth grade, so I've been wearing them for pretty much my entire life. When I was in high school, I did a lot of theater. I couldn't wear glasses because they glared in the stage lights, and I did NOT wear contacts. It was a hoot trying to find my stage marks and reacting to other actors while not seeing their facial expressions at all! I'm pretty sure my eyes were just glazed over. Someone should get to inventing glasses that can be worn on stage, because I would buy them in a heartbeat." —Ashley B.

6. When he had no idea who or what Jar Jar Binks was.

Courtesy of Ryan S.

"The second I first laid eyes on Jar Jar Binks, I knew I needed glasses. I had ditched school with a friend to go see The Phantom Menace. I had fashioned my own T-shirt with an iron-on transfer of Chewbacca. In what might be seen as a harbinger, our family printer made the image come out very blob-like. Exactly, say, how a galactic creature would appear if one needed glasses and didn’t yet know it…

"My friend and I took our seats at the rear of a massive theater. The lights went down. Trumpets blared. Words scrolled, and before I knew it I had a headache like you wouldn’t believe. Why was I squinting so much? Were we too far back? And what the hell was that blurry fish-man with donkey ears speaking in a chipper patois? No matter how much I narrowed my eyes I just couldn’t make out what Jar Jar’s face looked like. And so, I walked away knowing that I needed glasses. It could’ve all been circumstantial, but I like to think there was a certain 'force' at work that afternoon. (A force I would later come to know as 'mild astigmatism.')" —Ryan S.

7. When she failed the eye-chart test...

Courtesy of Casey C.

"My first 'I need glasses' realization was in third grade. Everyone in my class had to take an eye-chart test, and as my turn drew nearer, my dread grew stronger — because I already knew but was in denial. Finally, it was my turn. I looked ahead, tried my absolute hardest to squint without getting caught, and totally got caught. My teacher noticed (obviously), and I couldn't even see clearly enough to try to lie my way through." —Casey C.

8. ...and when she wanted to see her husband clearly.

Courtesy of Casey C.

"My second moment of realization was this year. When I turned 22, I got a corrective surgery called PRK to bring my 20/2000 vision down to 20/20. I was extremely satisfied, but after a few years I realized my vision had gradually declined. I could tell when I looked at street signs in NY or when I drove back at home. It wasn't a huge issue, but ahead of my wedding, I knew I wanted to be able to see my husband clearly as I walked down the aisle. I wore contacts on my wedding day, but now I regularly wear my new glasses (which I love, by the way)." —Casey C.

9. When he tried to do his job with a magnifying glass.

Courtesy of Paul S. / Getty Images

"I had just started work on Regular Show as a storyboard artist a few weeks before. I was 36 at the time and had been working as an animation artist for about 13 years. I began to notice that after about an hour or two into my work day, I was unable to focus on what I was drawing anymore. This was strange because I had always had excellent eyesight. Whenever I went to a doctor, they'd always say, 'You should be flying fighter jets, your eyes are so good!' I didn't know what to do.

"At first, I faked it. I would squint my eyes and just kind of do the best I could. It became clear that that wasn't going to cut it, so I went to Swain's Art Supply store to find one of those big magnifying glasses on a swivel arm that model-makers use to paint details on tiny figures. I thought I could use that for my drawing. They didn't have it. I thought to myself, 'If only there were a way I could have magnifying lenses in front of my eyes..." Then it came to me...oh yeah those are called GLASSES, you idiot." —Paul S.

10. When his eyes weren't really watering.

Courtesy of Ben C. / Getty Images

"I was riding my bicycle at night in Madrid, Spain, when I was 19. I remember feeling extra scared and cautious of the road in front of me — even with my front light on, I couldn't see the ground at all and was scared I'd hit a pothole and go flying. I just remember thinking, 'Wow, it's pretty blurry out. Must be my eyes watering from how fast I'm riding.' It wasn't until I got back home to the States a few months later that I went to the optometrist and learned that I'm quite nearsighted. Upon putting on my glasses, I was blown away by how clear my vision was. Then it hit me — I couldn't see in Madrid because I WASN'T WEARING GLASSES, NOT BECAUSE OF WATER IN MY EYES." —Ben C.

11. When she straight-up couldn't see the road.

Courtesy of Kirby D.

"There was a time shortly after I moved to Los Angeles that particularly stands out to me as a time that I realized I needed glasses. I was driving home from a friend's house late at night, and I was in an area that I was unfamiliar with. I was trying to follow directions on my phone, but it was dark and foggy and I was having trouble reading street signs. Like, so much trouble reading street signs that I had to pull over. While I sat in my car on the side of the road, I looked at my route on the map and memorized how many streets until my next turn. That way I wouldn't have to attempt to read street signs in the foggy darkness. I continued this pull-over-and-memorize pattern until I was finally back in familiar territory." —Kirby D.

12. When her grandfather was right in front of her the whole time.

Courtesy of Katie H.

"In middle school, I was active in choir, and many of the performances were on stage in an auditorium. Despite the bright lights and my nerves about the events — you know how seriously middle-schoolers want to be taken — I usually was able to pick out my family members. On this particular night, I wasn't able to locate my grandpa (Grumpa), and it threw me off for the whole night. It turns out that he WAS at the concert, but Grumpa was wearing a fancy hat and I didn't recognize him. Also, my eyesight definitely needed to be checked.

"After an optical appointment, turns out my eyes did need the extra help, and glasses came to the rescue. I'll never forget when my Dad drove me home after getting them...I was able to actually see the outlines of leaves on trees! It was pretty cool. I also would never mistake Grumpa or his hat options again." —Katie H.

13. When she knew that glasses were a big part of who she is.

BuzzFeed / Getty/ Images/Courtesy of Briana B.

"Glasses are so fun to me! They are a part of my identity. I've been wearing glasses since I was 2, so I've had every style of glasses from baby goggles to the stylish ones you see on my face today. Glasses are a part of my style and fashion sense. When I wear contacts, I'll squint and adjust my glasses on my nose even though they're not even on my face. I've never actually broken a pair of glasses *knock on wood*, even though I sleep with them on my bed and I'm a wild sleeper." —Briana B.

These people got glasses because they wanted to be their best. So do 1.1 billion other people, but they literally have no way to get them. Donate now and help bring access to clear vision to everyone who needs it.

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