My new contact lenses allowed me to see how fast technology is moving
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I recently got new contact lenses. Turns out the astigmatism in my right eye has now reached a point where using a proper astigmatism lens will make a big difference. So said my optometrist. I was skeptical. I’d seen this movie before - pun intended as usual - and the ending was as bad as the one from La La Land.
I’d tried these special astigmatism lenses about 5 years before and boy was it uncomfortable. I’m talking impossible-to-get-used-to levels of discomfort. It was harder to put in, felt scratchy and weird, and made no discernible difference to my eyesight. After trying multiple brands for several days each, I gave up and returned to my familiar and comfortable lenses. I would have to settle for 20:18 vision.
Fast forward to a month ago and my optometrist insisting we try again. Apparently lens technology had improved. There were more options available. And besides, my astigmatism was not getting any better as I got older. So, I reluctantly bought the tickets to the sequel.
We tried one lens which made me feel like I was having an out of body experience. Uncomfortable, weird and importantly not really an improvement in my eyesight. La La Land 2 was following a familiar script.
Then it happened.
She ordered one more trial lens and I came back to give it a try. I put the lens in and… voilà. My vision was crystal clear. And importantly, it was completely comfortable. We did the usual checks and I departed a happy man. It was like magic. We found the right lens and my eyesight was back to being near perfect.
There is a key life lesson hidden in this story. Even a technophile like myself can behave like a luddite when they have a closed mind. Specifically, when we underestimate the progress that engineering, science and technology can make over time. Technology years are more like dog years. 5 years is almost half a lifetime.