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Comment by flyinghamster | Hacker News Reader

I've worn glasses for almost forty years now, and I'll probably wear them for the rest of my life. I actually like having something between my eyes and flying objects, in spite of the annoyance of always having to clean my glasses (or having to wear bifocals for that matter).

I never liked the idea of undergoing a very new surgical procedure on eyes that are otherwise healthy. Not to mention, I'm old enough now that cataracts may be in my future, though they may be years off.

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I've worn glasses since I was 6. 3 times over the years, the glasses have prevented damage to my eyes from flying objects. They aren't true safety glasses (I have a separate pair for that) but I like the extra protection, as well as the protection from UV.

But at my age everyone needs glasses anyway, so there's little upside to lasik and even a small risk is too much for me to accept.

The glasses make for terrible eye-hand coordination, as they warp the trajectory of balls in unpredictable ways. I cannot hit nor catch baseballs worth spit. Fortunately, I couldn't care less about having an athletic career.

> I actually like having something between my eyes and flying objects

When I got contacts, walking through bushland suddenly terrified me. My eyes felt so exposed and vulnerable! Growing up with glasses I'd never realised how protected they made my eyes feel.

Wearing glasses also lets me safely ride with my visor open most of the time and I like the wind on my face. Well, there was that one time I ran into a bee so it's not 100% safe but my eyes were still fine...

Same here. Unfortunately I can not read a thing on my phone anymore if I don't have my glasses on. That can be a serious hazard in some situations. But, since I've been wearing them so long I feel naked without them so, it's rare I'm glassesless.

Why's that a serious hazard? I can't (and could never) read anything off my phone without my glasses, but I never considered it any sort of hazard.

Likewise, I'd have to carry safety glasses if I didn't wear regular glasses. And with bifocals, I never have to search for my reading glasses, because they're always on my nose.

I distinctly remember a high school gym class where they made all the kids without glasses wear safety goggles during some sport. My friend and I were the only ones who didn’t look ridiculous because we got to keep our glasses. ;) Luckily nothing happened then, but one time in university I was playing racquetball with a friend and the ball hit me right in the eye. I still worr glasses at the time and all it did was pop the lens out.

every time I go into my shop I spend 30 minutes trying to find my safety glasses...then go do something else.

For me, the flying objects are usually bugs, when I'm out cycling. More than once I've had yellow jackets bounce off my glasses. :O

Late last summer, I took a ride one evening when, in any wooded area, the air was absolutely thick with gnats. I wound up tying a extra bandana over my mouth (flying protein supplements do NOT taste good!) and adjusting the one around my forehead to close the gap over my glasses for good measure.

The trick is to have multiple pairs, to the point where you find them at the same rate you lose them.

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