Eyes

I never seem to make things easy for optometrists. (Perhaps this is because I see the world as ever-so-slightly out of focus.)

Remember that part of the exam where they'll try a series of different combinations of lenses to determine which improves your vision, changing them in small steps and asking which is better? I almost never give an unqualified response. ("That might be better, but not so much that it makes a difference.") I'm sure a simple, definitive answer would be more useful, but I just can't manage it.

Even then, I'll have them switch back and forth between the two choices at least once more — sometimes twice — so I can be sure. The degree of difference often just seems too slight.

I once had an experience, it must have been more than ten years ago, where a new pair of glasses just didn't seem right, somehow. The optometrist agreed to examine me again (it turned out the prescription he had written wasn't properly followed), but the inability to correct my vision to 20/20 became a sort of challenge. This led to a weeks-long series of different tests with all kinds of interesting equipment, and to my pupils being dilated with drops so that he could examine my eyes more closely. They were in fine health — though It's been so many years that I have no recollection how that was ever resolved. (He might have just given up.)

Another optometrist was left bewildered this afternoon, unable to correct my vision to 20/20. I probably should have told her that I hadn't been getting enough sleep this week — instead, I agreed to come back in a week for another examination (and to have my pupils dilated).