I Can't See Clearly Now ...

... but I might be able to in a week or two.

I've just come home from my first eye test in 14 years (I know, I know, don't all yell at me at once.) I went to SpecSavers this time, after an incredibly bad experience at my old opticians last time I went, and which was the main reason why I haven't been sice. Most people are scared of the dentists - I'm scared of the optician. As usual, I have to be different.

I've noticed my eyesight getting worse over the past few months, and knew it was time to get glasses sorted out, having not worn them since I left college and stopped needing to read the whiteboard at the front of the room.

It turns out that not only do I need *strong* (meaning thick!) distance glasses, but that I have a broken blood vessel *and* a separate small haemorrhage in my left eye, which is the weaker one as well. If that weren't enough, I have early stage cataracts in both eyes. I'm 31!

I asked about contacts, and Louise, the optician, said it will be best if I get used to the strength of my glasses first, then think about contacts. She's written to my GP to recommend that she refers me to the eye specialist for further examination of the broken blood vessel, which may need laser surgery. The cataracts will need careful monitoring too.

Worst of all, having just looked at some of the online optical sites, which are usually cheaper to order glasses from, my lenses are going to cost me an absolute freaking fortune. Because they'll be thick lenses, I'll want to get the "thinner" lenses to compensate, and that element of the lenses alone will cost me up to £130. Plus the frames, anti-scratch coating etc. So, I'm not only freaking out about *more* eye surgery and traipsing back and forth to Brighton eye hospital, which I've done for nine years in the past, or the fact that after cataract surgery last year, my nan is now completely blind in that eye, but about the cost as well! Bugger!