13 ms·

You've got to hide your myopia away: John Lennon's contact lenses

175 points by geox 2y ago

melling 2y ago
Paul has a funny story about John trying to get by without his glasses. https://www.today.com/video/paul-mccartney-says-john-lennon-was-shy-about-wearing-glasses-186756677887 https://www.today.com/video/paul-mccartney-says-john-lennon-...
- pimlottc 2y ago
  It's mentioned in the article, great to hear Paul tell it though!
sschueller 2y ago
I am amazed what soft contacts can do. I have a myopia greater than -14 on each eye and the contacts I wear are as thin as any other regular set. In comparison the glasses I have even with the most advanced glass is extremely thick and only a small area doesn't cause color shifting.
- j45 2y ago
  Lennon was wearing the best shape for high prescriptions. Small, and round. Both will make the highest prescriptions very thin since the flaring out of the lens doesn't happen. Most of the mainstream optometrists don't specialize in frames like these. Lenses are also available in 1.7+ high index in plastic lenses or even higher if you don't mind glass. Glass lenses while brittle at high index, can be additionally hardened as well. It's helpful to find a frame manufacturer that can hide higher prescriptions in the thickness of the frame. Companies like OGI, Anne Et Valentin have suitable frames for high prescriptions, which include adjustable nosepads to get the lenses right, and also a hybrid frame where the lenses might be wrapped in a combination of metal and plastic.
  - WWLink 2y ago
    The periscope effect can be pretty darn bad with the small lenses though unless they're right on top of your eye lol.
    - j45 2y ago
      Certain frames can help with that a lot. At least one of the manufacturers above have such an option iirc
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  I have astigmatism, and have worn rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses starting over 40 years ago. I have tried various types of soft lenses a few times but could never see as well with them.
  - sgt 2y ago
    Astigmatism here too. I have soft lenses for sport use but I can't really read with them easily. Things go out of focus often and I have to wait for eyes to re-focus etc if at all possible. But for sport use it's fine. For every day use I use glasses and it's perfect. Except of course for the inconvenience of wearing them! Do you think RGP could be worth trying out for me ?
    - quercusa 2y ago
      I've used RGPs for 45 years (now -6.5) because I've been told multiple times that they provide the clearest vision. They only times I have any issues with comfort is grass allergy season but antihistamine drops work great. They tend to be a bit more expensive up front but they also last for years. My understanding is that even non-toric RGP lenses can correct some degree of astigmatism. Once thing that you can do with contacts is so-called Monovision [0], where one lens is slightly under-corrected and your brain figures out which to use. I'll put on reading glasses for close detail work but otherwise go from driving to working at a computer without any focus troubles. [0] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/monovision https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/monovision
      - mezzie2 2y ago
        > My understanding is that even non-toric RGP lenses can correct some degree of astigmatism. This is correct. Both of my eyes have astigmatism, but in differing amounts. One eye is corrected with a non-toric RGP while the other requires a toric RGP. The line is around a 1.75/2.00.
    - SoftTalker 2y ago
      RGPs are initially not very comfortable, it's been a long time but when I first got them I would only wear then a few hours, then I slowly worked up to wearing them all day. But now I rarely notice them, unless I get a bit of dust or a loose eyelash under one of them (that can be really uncomfortable). The nice thing is that they last pretty much forever and care is pretty easy. Just clean them daily and soak them overnight in disinfectant/conditioning fluid.
- 13of40 2y ago
  I wear soft contacts and one of my eyes has astigmatism. I've never understood how a symmetrical lens can correct an asymmetrical eyeball. Another strange thing I've seen is that after having put these things in my eyes about 2000 times at this point, I think I can tell that they vary in thickness, sometimes even in the same pack, but it doesn't seem to affect their performance. It all seems a little magical, so I guess I should find some time and go down the youtube rabbit hole that probably exists.
  - kvgr 2y ago
    Its not symetrical, one part is heavier and turns in the eye. What optometrist told me.
    - deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]
    - mywittyname 2y ago
      For mild astigmatism, you can use regular lenses and get pretty good results.
  - _yb2s 2y ago
    Astigmatism correction requires toric contacts- you should have a small line you have to orient upwards to align it properly, which myopia only contacts don’t have.
    - foldr 2y ago
      Hmm, I have astigmatism and have never had to worry about the alignment of my contact lenses in order to get good correction. Perhaps they are somehow engineered so that they automatically settle in the correct orientation. Edit: Answer here, by the looks of it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41237519 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41237519
      - _yb2s 2y ago
        It is much more likely that your astigmatism is very mild, and your optometrist decided not to correct it, and corrected only the myopia. This is common because toric contacts are more expensive, more difficult to put in, less breathable, and fall out easier. As a longtime user of toric contacts, I have tried a dozen brands and every single one has the exact same mark. The shape will keep them from moving out of orientation, but it isn't enough to put them back into orientation if put in wrong, at least not quickly. Care to share exactly what contacts you are using? Do you have astigmatism in one or both eyes? If it is toric and for astigmatism it will say so on the box- many people have it in only one eye, so the boxes will be different, and only one will say toric. If you really are using toric contacts, but not aligning the mark, I am willing to bet you will be able to find the mark, align it properly, and your vision will be remarkably better. Edit: One reason you absolutely need the mark is because the optometrist also needs to be able to tell if they are staying in orientation like they're supposed to, by visually checking the alignment mark. It needs to point straight upwards (vertical). If not, they can prescribe you one that is made pre-rotated to compensate.
- tehlike 2y ago
  Have you considered LASIK?
  - saghm 2y ago
    Not OP, but I'm a lifelong glasses wearer with a strong prescription who has started considering LASIK in recent years; have you had it done, and would you recommend it?
    - password4321 2y ago
      Consult the HN hive mind here (mind the timestamps): https://hn.algolia.com/?query=Lasik https://hn.algolia.com/?query=Lasik
    - SoftTalker 2y ago
      I've only heard from others but the people I've talked to all had some issues post-op which they seemed to rationalize and claimed that it was a net improvement, but I've ruled it out as something I'll ever have done. It would be really nice to have 20:20 vision without contacts or glasses but some of the stuff I've heard (extreme dry eye feeling, distortions, glare/dazzling at night) just don't sound worth it.
      - elliottkember 2y ago
        It changed my relationship with the world. Dependency is the name of the game – it all depends how dependent you are on glasses. If you lost your glasses, would you be able to walk around? I was -6.5 and 3.5 astigmatism and I was stuck if I lost my glasses. Had to carry contact lens boxes and solution with me. Post-LASIK I'm something like +0.5. I get halos if I look directly at overhead street lights at night, that's about it. It's underwhelming as a side-effect. I don't stare at street lights at night very often!
        SoftTalker 2y ago
        Yeah ideally it sounds nice. But I've never lost my glasses. I don't carry contact lens supplies with me, worst case with my RGP contacts I can clean them with hand soap or dish detergent and tap water in a pinch. How do you do with oncoming headlights while driving at night?
xyst 2y ago
Was LASIK surgery experimental back then? Would have alleviated the issues John experienced on a frequent basis with those pesky rigid contact lens. I think I had similar diagnosis of myopia and astigmatism as John and its worked wonderfully for me. Fortunately this was completely recently where the techniques have been perfected/improved with technology.
- jrimbault 2y ago
  I also had a great success with LASIK, but it wasn't invented before his death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#History
- pmarreck 2y ago
  LASIK wasn't a thing until starting around the late 80's/early 90's.
  - Mistletoe 2y ago
    Before that it was radial keratotomy which my Mom had. Maybe it is apocryphal but she told me they discovered it when a Russian someone got exploded glass in their eye and it improved their vision. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_keratotomy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_keratotomy
    - scotteric 2y ago
      According to the wikipedia article, it was a Russian child that fell while riding a bike and his glasses broke and sent pieces of glass into both eyes. The doctor made radial cuts to remove the glass, and discovered that his vision improved afterward.
  - xyst 2y ago
    Makes sense, ha. I only briefly read it was invented in the 50s. But 90s for mainstream adoption and approval sounds about right
- deelowe 2y ago
pmarreck 2y ago
I had no idea about the Yoko Ono album cover of "Season of Glass" featuring John's bloodied glasses... and I was 8 in 1980!
dhosek 2y ago
It always startles me a little given how iconic the “John Lennon” glasses are that he started wearing them so late in his career. I’m guessing that the sunglasses he wore on stage at times when the Beatles were still performing live were prescription lenses.
- HumblyTossed 2y ago
  With his Rx, he would definitely need some correction.
  - dhosek 2y ago
    Well there were a lot of performances where he had no glasses of any kind…
slaymaker1907 2y ago
I think it's funny how many people really don't want to just wear glasses. I love that I can completely change my look just by getting some new glasses, though I'm admittedly fortunate to have a low rx such that I can get away without wearing them sometimes when I misplace them. Another random comment: I just love that his contacts apparently only fit because of ptosis from using weed.
- bobbylarrybobby 2y ago
  For me, glasses get smudged and fog up, slip down my nose, and are something to worry about during sports. Contacts “just work”.
  - loeg 2y ago
    Glasses are also absurdly expensive for what they are (maybe this is a US thing). Contacts are also expensive, but you can sort of appreciate the manufacturing challenge.
    - fsckboy 2y ago
      >absurdly expensive for what they are (maybe this is a US thing) It's actually a European thing. Luxottica, an Italian company, has largely monopolized glasses worldwide. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2014/09/10/meet-the-four-eyed-eight-tentacled-monopoly-that-is-making-your-glasses-so-expensive/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2014/09/10/meet-the-... from wikipedia: Luxottica retails its products through stores that it owns, predominantly LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, and Glasses.com. It also owns EyeMed, one of the largest vision health insurance providers. In addition to licensing prescription and non-prescription sunglasses frames for many luxury and designer brands including Chanel, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Michael Kors, Coach, Miu Miu and Tory Burch,[8] the Italian conglomerate further outright owns and manufactures Ray-Ban, Persol, Oliver Peoples, and Oakley...In March 2018, the European Commission unconditionally approved the merger of Essilor and Luxottica.[14] On 1 October 2018, the new holding company EssilorLuxottica was born, resulting in combined market capitalization of approximately $70 billion.[15] The merger with Essilor additionally gave Luxottica control of Foster Grant and Costa Del Mar, sunglasses brands acquired by Essilor prior to the merger Now, I'm not an expert on European regulation, but I do get a lot of good information from Europeans here on HN, and I'd guess that the EC approved the merger because the company respects the GDPR
WalterBright 2y ago
I've worn glasses since I was 5. On three occasions, they have prevented something from damaging my eye. Tried contacts for about a year - gave them up after 3 incidents of being blinded by grit getting in them while driving.
- ajkjk 2y ago
  Well that is... An uncommon experience.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - WalterBright 2y ago
    Is it? I know many people who've wound up in the emergency room with some eye damage. I don't know if these incidents would have significantly damaged my eyes or not, I just know they bounced off the glasses.
    - ajkjk 2y ago
      I'm quite sure that if any non-vanishingly-small percentage of people had issues with their contacts like that, they would not be ubiquitous like they are. edit: also wtf why do you know "many" people who've been to the ER with eye damage? I've only ever known that to happen to one person and it was due to a stick going into their eye..
      - WalterBright 2y ago
        > had issues with their contacts like that If you think I'm lying about that, you're mistaken. A tiny piece of grit blowing into the window would cause my eyes to squeeze shut from the pain. It was all I could do to open them enough to pull over. They were hard contacts, which were necessary for my astigmatism. I don't think the soft ones had that problem. Believe what you want. > why do you know People who work with machine tools. A lot of people learn the hard way to use goggles. My incidents were with machine tools and being slapped in the face with thorny blackberry vines I was trying to decimate. I've had a couple other incidents with power tools where the flying debris didn't hit my face, but if it did, without goggles, there would have been damage. For example, one time my angle grinder disk exploded. Another time my radial arm saw picked up a piece of wood and used it to punch a hole through the wall. One acquaintance leaned over the car battery to attach jumper cables. The outgassing hydrogen exploded into his face and burned off the top layer of his eyeballs. He spent a week with his eyes bandaged wondering if he was blinded (fortunately, he recovered, but he said the pain was incredible). Others have had their eyebrows singed from a carburetor backfire.
supertofu 2y ago
It seems that there is a generational divide between glasses acceptance. When I was a kid in the 90s, having glasses was seen as cool and desirable. I remember being puzzled by all the 80s movies which mocked characters with glasses, when having glasses was seen as a positive trait among my peers.
- Teever 2y ago
  I can't recall which episode it is exactly, but there's a Seinfeld episode where he's doing a standup bit in the opening sequence where he's talking about how glasses are a thing that are associated with intelligence and style while hearing aids are not. Coincidentally I was thinking about this but yesterday and how it relates to Bluetooth earbuds. Somehow Apple managed to make hearing aids cool. It crossed my mind when I was thinking about a coworkers hearing aids and if they were ever picked on as a child for wearing them. I bet that the rise of earbuds has made life a lot easier for children who are hard of hearing.
  - bigstrat2003 2y ago
    > Somehow Apple managed to make hearing aids cool. Just like with all fashion things, the causality goes the other way. People think Apple is cool, so when Apple does a thing they think that thing is cool.
  - atestu 2y ago
    AirPods were widely ridiculed by the press when they first came out. Lots of online comments about q tips and “tech bros.” Idk when or what changed but they became cool a year or so later… not sure about the timing but they weren’t an overnight sensation.
  - KineticLensman 2y ago
    > I was thinking about a coworkers hearing aids For info: I started wearing hearing aids later in life. Couldn't function without them and the occasional glance people give them is nothing compared with being thought stupid because you apparently haven't understood something (people seem much more likely to assume you are stupid rather than deaf). Even though they are free ('socialised') medicine - UK NHS here - they are still functional blue tooth devices that can stream audio, etc, which is awesome.
andrewpennachio 2y ago
Never made the connection until reading this, but I suspect Steve Jobs' choice of spectacle was a nod to or was influenced by Lennon's 'granny' glasses.
- divbzero 2y ago
  The shape and color of Steve Jobs’ frames were similar to John Lennon’s, but I believe Jobs opted for rimless lenses.
- franksvalli 2y ago
  Not to mention the name of his company!
  - ggm 2y ago
    The contract between Apple and "Apple Corp" came into sharper focus when Apple launched iTunes.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
fsckboy 2y ago
when I just read this FTA, i was shocked, thinking "how did I never know this till now?" >In 1973, he stopped wearing the ‘wire rimmed Lennon glasses’2 and expanded to slightly non-round styles. His blood spattered spectacles even featured on the cover of Yoko Ono's 1981 album ‘Season of Glass’ following his murder in 1980. https://images.artbrokerage.com/artthumb/onoyoko_129502_12/1250x1118/Yoko_Ono_Season_of_Glass_Billboard_Ad_Paste_Up_1981_Unique__16x13.jpg https://images.artbrokerage.com/artthumb/onoyoko_129502_12/1... but then i realized, "ok, that's really grotesque, but at least I have done a great job of ignoring Yoko Ono!"
77pt77 2y ago
Archive: https://archive.is/wip/6XmKN https://archive.is/wip/6XmKN WayBackMachine: https://web.archive.org/web/20240813194919/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/opo.13351 https://web.archive.org/web/20240813194919/https://onlinelib...
seancork 2y ago
I wear hard lens for my Keratoconus and amazed at how comfortable they are all day.
hn_ltl-ftc 2y ago
Surprised that I haven’t seen anyone recommend or even mention implantable lens technology, for long-term vision correction (maybe I missed the mention). AFAIK, it’s reversible, and safer than laser surgery (LASIK, PRK, etc.)—-nota bene: I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Anecdotal, but I got lenses implanted in both eyes recently, after living with astigmatism, nearsightedness, and Rx glasses for many years. Very happy with the outcome—-now I can drive without any glasses at all! Well, I do wear sunglasses in the summer, as one does; but now I can wear whatever sunglasses strike my fancy—I’m no longer limited to using those annoying clip-on sunglasses, over my (former) Rx glasses. I could have chosen a ‘progressive’ Rx for my implanted lenses. However, the surgeon would not provide, for my eyes, high assurance that I’d have crisp vision at both nearby and far distances. So, I chose to get implants that would let me drive legally without glasses; and also do most activities without glasses. For reading and computer use, I can use either: cheap ‘drugstore’ magnifying glasses, or Rx glasses for the same purposes. But definitely research those tradeoffs, and discuss with your doctor. Wish I’d done it sooner! More info here: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/what-to-know-icl-surgery https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/what-to-know-icl-surgery
- throwaway2037 2y ago
  > safer than laser surgery Is this statement backed by peer reviewed science? I could not find anything. When I Google for "safer than laser surgery", 100% of the results say that ICL (implantable contact lens) are riskier than laser (LASIK).
  - otteromkram 2y ago
    They probably just mean in terms of reversability; LASIK is obviously permanent, but ICL can be undone. Both procedures are relatively low risk; each has their own set of drawbacks and qualifying conditions (eg - ICL isn't recommended for people who are over 45 years old).
    - throwaway2037 2y ago
      > They probably just mean in terms of reversability No, everything I read says the ICL procedure is higher risk than LASIK. The risk is infection after the surgery.
ianbooker 2y ago
Read the abstract and then imagine someone or somebot would study your medical condition in similar depth. This is myutopia.
BrandoElFollito 2y ago
I am short-sighted for 40 years and think from time to time to switch to contact lenses (mostly for the comfort in winter). I am however getting older and have near-vison decreasing (you know, thise people who hand stuff at arm length to read). I find myself getting off my glasses often to see from a close distance (I hate the hybrid glasses). I guess that contact lenses are not possible for me in that context.
- whyleyc 2y ago
  Actually multi-focal contact lenses are a thing. I was surprised to hear this too, since I wondered how they could work in practice - there’s a handy explainer here if you are interested: https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/how-do-multifocal-contacts-work https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/how-do-multifocal-contacts...
- damontal 2y ago
  I’m in the same boat. If I put in contacts to correct my vision for distance I have to wear reading glasses to be able to see my phone or read a book.

175 points by geox 2y ago

Paul has a funny story about John trying to get by without his glasses. https://www.today.com/video/paul-mccartney-says-john-lennon-was-shy-about-wearing-glasses-186756677887 https://www.today.com/video/paul-mccartney-says-john-lennon-...

pimlottc 2y ago
It's mentioned in the article, great to hear Paul tell it though!

sschueller 2y ago

I am amazed what soft contacts can do. I have a myopia greater than -14 on each eye and the contacts I wear are as thin as any other regular set. In comparison the glasses I have even with the most advanced glass is extremely thick and only a small area doesn't cause color shifting.

j45 2y ago
Lennon was wearing the best shape for high prescriptions. Small, and round. Both will make the highest prescriptions very thin since the flaring out of the lens doesn't happen. Most of the mainstream optometrists don't specialize in frames like these. Lenses are also available in 1.7+ high index in plastic lenses or even higher if you don't mind glass. Glass lenses while brittle at high index, can be additionally hardened as well. It's helpful to find a frame manufacturer that can hide higher prescriptions in the thickness of the frame. Companies like OGI, Anne Et Valentin have suitable frames for high prescriptions, which include adjustable nosepads to get the lenses right, and also a hybrid frame where the lenses might be wrapped in a combination of metal and plastic.
- WWLink 2y ago
  The periscope effect can be pretty darn bad with the small lenses though unless they're right on top of your eye lol.
  - j45 2y ago
    Certain frames can help with that a lot. At least one of the manufacturers above have such an option iirc
SoftTalker 2y ago
I have astigmatism, and have worn rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses starting over 40 years ago. I have tried various types of soft lenses a few times but could never see as well with them.
- sgt 2y ago
  Astigmatism here too. I have soft lenses for sport use but I can't really read with them easily. Things go out of focus often and I have to wait for eyes to re-focus etc if at all possible. But for sport use it's fine. For every day use I use glasses and it's perfect. Except of course for the inconvenience of wearing them! Do you think RGP could be worth trying out for me ?
  - quercusa 2y ago
    I've used RGPs for 45 years (now -6.5) because I've been told multiple times that they provide the clearest vision. They only times I have any issues with comfort is grass allergy season but antihistamine drops work great. They tend to be a bit more expensive up front but they also last for years. My understanding is that even non-toric RGP lenses can correct some degree of astigmatism. Once thing that you can do with contacts is so-called Monovision [0], where one lens is slightly under-corrected and your brain figures out which to use. I'll put on reading glasses for close detail work but otherwise go from driving to working at a computer without any focus troubles. [0] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/monovision https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/monovision
    - mezzie2 2y ago
      > My understanding is that even non-toric RGP lenses can correct some degree of astigmatism. This is correct. Both of my eyes have astigmatism, but in differing amounts. One eye is corrected with a non-toric RGP while the other requires a toric RGP. The line is around a 1.75/2.00.
  - SoftTalker 2y ago
    RGPs are initially not very comfortable, it's been a long time but when I first got them I would only wear then a few hours, then I slowly worked up to wearing them all day. But now I rarely notice them, unless I get a bit of dust or a loose eyelash under one of them (that can be really uncomfortable). The nice thing is that they last pretty much forever and care is pretty easy. Just clean them daily and soak them overnight in disinfectant/conditioning fluid.
13of40 2y ago
I wear soft contacts and one of my eyes has astigmatism. I've never understood how a symmetrical lens can correct an asymmetrical eyeball. Another strange thing I've seen is that after having put these things in my eyes about 2000 times at this point, I think I can tell that they vary in thickness, sometimes even in the same pack, but it doesn't seem to affect their performance. It all seems a little magical, so I guess I should find some time and go down the youtube rabbit hole that probably exists.
- kvgr 2y ago
  Its not symetrical, one part is heavier and turns in the eye. What optometrist told me.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - mywittyname 2y ago
    For mild astigmatism, you can use regular lenses and get pretty good results.
- _yb2s 2y ago
  Astigmatism correction requires toric contacts- you should have a small line you have to orient upwards to align it properly, which myopia only contacts don’t have.
  - foldr 2y ago
    Hmm, I have astigmatism and have never had to worry about the alignment of my contact lenses in order to get good correction. Perhaps they are somehow engineered so that they automatically settle in the correct orientation. Edit: Answer here, by the looks of it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41237519 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41237519
    - _yb2s 2y ago
      It is much more likely that your astigmatism is very mild, and your optometrist decided not to correct it, and corrected only the myopia. This is common because toric contacts are more expensive, more difficult to put in, less breathable, and fall out easier. As a longtime user of toric contacts, I have tried a dozen brands and every single one has the exact same mark. The shape will keep them from moving out of orientation, but it isn't enough to put them back into orientation if put in wrong, at least not quickly. Care to share exactly what contacts you are using? Do you have astigmatism in one or both eyes? If it is toric and for astigmatism it will say so on the box- many people have it in only one eye, so the boxes will be different, and only one will say toric. If you really are using toric contacts, but not aligning the mark, I am willing to bet you will be able to find the mark, align it properly, and your vision will be remarkably better. Edit: One reason you absolutely need the mark is because the optometrist also needs to be able to tell if they are staying in orientation like they're supposed to, by visually checking the alignment mark. It needs to point straight upwards (vertical). If not, they can prescribe you one that is made pre-rotated to compensate.
tehlike 2y ago
Have you considered LASIK?
- saghm 2y ago
  Not OP, but I'm a lifelong glasses wearer with a strong prescription who has started considering LASIK in recent years; have you had it done, and would you recommend it?
  - password4321 2y ago
    Consult the HN hive mind here (mind the timestamps): https://hn.algolia.com/?query=Lasik https://hn.algolia.com/?query=Lasik
  - SoftTalker 2y ago
    I've only heard from others but the people I've talked to all had some issues post-op which they seemed to rationalize and claimed that it was a net improvement, but I've ruled it out as something I'll ever have done. It would be really nice to have 20:20 vision without contacts or glasses but some of the stuff I've heard (extreme dry eye feeling, distortions, glare/dazzling at night) just don't sound worth it.
    - elliottkember 2y ago
      It changed my relationship with the world. Dependency is the name of the game – it all depends how dependent you are on glasses. If you lost your glasses, would you be able to walk around? I was -6.5 and 3.5 astigmatism and I was stuck if I lost my glasses. Had to carry contact lens boxes and solution with me. Post-LASIK I'm something like +0.5. I get halos if I look directly at overhead street lights at night, that's about it. It's underwhelming as a side-effect. I don't stare at street lights at night very often!
      - SoftTalker 2y ago
        Yeah ideally it sounds nice. But I've never lost my glasses. I don't carry contact lens supplies with me, worst case with my RGP contacts I can clean them with hand soap or dish detergent and tap water in a pinch. How do you do with oncoming headlights while driving at night?

xyst 2y ago

Was LASIK surgery experimental back then? Would have alleviated the issues John experienced on a frequent basis with those pesky rigid contact lens. I think I had similar diagnosis of myopia and astigmatism as John and its worked wonderfully for me. Fortunately this was completely recently where the techniques have been perfected/improved with technology.

jrimbault 2y ago
I also had a great success with LASIK, but it wasn't invented before his death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#History
pmarreck 2y ago
LASIK wasn't a thing until starting around the late 80's/early 90's.
- Mistletoe 2y ago
  Before that it was radial keratotomy which my Mom had. Maybe it is apocryphal but she told me they discovered it when a Russian someone got exploded glass in their eye and it improved their vision. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_keratotomy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_keratotomy
  - scotteric 2y ago
    According to the wikipedia article, it was a Russian child that fell while riding a bike and his glasses broke and sent pieces of glass into both eyes. The doctor made radial cuts to remove the glass, and discovered that his vision improved afterward.
- xyst 2y ago
  Makes sense, ha. I only briefly read it was invented in the 50s. But 90s for mainstream adoption and approval sounds about right
deelowe 2y ago

pmarreck 2y ago

I had no idea about the Yoko Ono album cover of "Season of Glass" featuring John's bloodied glasses... and I was 8 in 1980!

dhosek 2y ago

It always startles me a little given how iconic the “John Lennon” glasses are that he started wearing them so late in his career. I’m guessing that the sunglasses he wore on stage at times when the Beatles were still performing live were prescription lenses.

HumblyTossed 2y ago
With his Rx, he would definitely need some correction.
- dhosek 2y ago
  Well there were a lot of performances where he had no glasses of any kind…

slaymaker1907 2y ago

I think it's funny how many people really don't want to just wear glasses. I love that I can completely change my look just by getting some new glasses, though I'm admittedly fortunate to have a low rx such that I can get away without wearing them sometimes when I misplace them. Another random comment: I just love that his contacts apparently only fit because of ptosis from using weed.

bobbylarrybobby 2y ago
For me, glasses get smudged and fog up, slip down my nose, and are something to worry about during sports. Contacts “just work”.
- loeg 2y ago
  Glasses are also absurdly expensive for what they are (maybe this is a US thing). Contacts are also expensive, but you can sort of appreciate the manufacturing challenge.
  - fsckboy 2y ago
    >absurdly expensive for what they are (maybe this is a US thing) It's actually a European thing. Luxottica, an Italian company, has largely monopolized glasses worldwide. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2014/09/10/meet-the-four-eyed-eight-tentacled-monopoly-that-is-making-your-glasses-so-expensive/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2014/09/10/meet-the-... from wikipedia: Luxottica retails its products through stores that it owns, predominantly LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, and Glasses.com. It also owns EyeMed, one of the largest vision health insurance providers. In addition to licensing prescription and non-prescription sunglasses frames for many luxury and designer brands including Chanel, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Michael Kors, Coach, Miu Miu and Tory Burch,[8] the Italian conglomerate further outright owns and manufactures Ray-Ban, Persol, Oliver Peoples, and Oakley...In March 2018, the European Commission unconditionally approved the merger of Essilor and Luxottica.[14] On 1 October 2018, the new holding company EssilorLuxottica was born, resulting in combined market capitalization of approximately $70 billion.[15] The merger with Essilor additionally gave Luxottica control of Foster Grant and Costa Del Mar, sunglasses brands acquired by Essilor prior to the merger Now, I'm not an expert on European regulation, but I do get a lot of good information from Europeans here on HN, and I'd guess that the EC approved the merger because the company respects the GDPR

WalterBright 2y ago

I've worn glasses since I was 5. On three occasions, they have prevented something from damaging my eye. Tried contacts for about a year - gave them up after 3 incidents of being blinded by grit getting in them while driving.

ajkjk 2y ago
Well that is... An uncommon experience.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- WalterBright 2y ago
  Is it? I know many people who've wound up in the emergency room with some eye damage. I don't know if these incidents would have significantly damaged my eyes or not, I just know they bounced off the glasses.
  - ajkjk 2y ago
    I'm quite sure that if any non-vanishingly-small percentage of people had issues with their contacts like that, they would not be ubiquitous like they are. edit: also wtf why do you know "many" people who've been to the ER with eye damage? I've only ever known that to happen to one person and it was due to a stick going into their eye..
    - WalterBright 2y ago
      > had issues with their contacts like that If you think I'm lying about that, you're mistaken. A tiny piece of grit blowing into the window would cause my eyes to squeeze shut from the pain. It was all I could do to open them enough to pull over. They were hard contacts, which were necessary for my astigmatism. I don't think the soft ones had that problem. Believe what you want. > why do you know People who work with machine tools. A lot of people learn the hard way to use goggles. My incidents were with machine tools and being slapped in the face with thorny blackberry vines I was trying to decimate. I've had a couple other incidents with power tools where the flying debris didn't hit my face, but if it did, without goggles, there would have been damage. For example, one time my angle grinder disk exploded. Another time my radial arm saw picked up a piece of wood and used it to punch a hole through the wall. One acquaintance leaned over the car battery to attach jumper cables. The outgassing hydrogen exploded into his face and burned off the top layer of his eyeballs. He spent a week with his eyes bandaged wondering if he was blinded (fortunately, he recovered, but he said the pain was incredible). Others have had their eyebrows singed from a carburetor backfire.

supertofu 2y ago

It seems that there is a generational divide between glasses acceptance. When I was a kid in the 90s, having glasses was seen as cool and desirable. I remember being puzzled by all the 80s movies which mocked characters with glasses, when having glasses was seen as a positive trait among my peers.

Teever 2y ago
I can't recall which episode it is exactly, but there's a Seinfeld episode where he's doing a standup bit in the opening sequence where he's talking about how glasses are a thing that are associated with intelligence and style while hearing aids are not. Coincidentally I was thinking about this but yesterday and how it relates to Bluetooth earbuds. Somehow Apple managed to make hearing aids cool. It crossed my mind when I was thinking about a coworkers hearing aids and if they were ever picked on as a child for wearing them. I bet that the rise of earbuds has made life a lot easier for children who are hard of hearing.
- bigstrat2003 2y ago
  > Somehow Apple managed to make hearing aids cool. Just like with all fashion things, the causality goes the other way. People think Apple is cool, so when Apple does a thing they think that thing is cool.
- atestu 2y ago
  AirPods were widely ridiculed by the press when they first came out. Lots of online comments about q tips and “tech bros.” Idk when or what changed but they became cool a year or so later… not sure about the timing but they weren’t an overnight sensation.
- KineticLensman 2y ago
  > I was thinking about a coworkers hearing aids For info: I started wearing hearing aids later in life. Couldn't function without them and the occasional glance people give them is nothing compared with being thought stupid because you apparently haven't understood something (people seem much more likely to assume you are stupid rather than deaf). Even though they are free ('socialised') medicine - UK NHS here - they are still functional blue tooth devices that can stream audio, etc, which is awesome.

andrewpennachio 2y ago

Never made the connection until reading this, but I suspect Steve Jobs' choice of spectacle was a nod to or was influenced by Lennon's 'granny' glasses.

divbzero 2y ago
The shape and color of Steve Jobs’ frames were similar to John Lennon’s, but I believe Jobs opted for rimless lenses.
franksvalli 2y ago
Not to mention the name of his company!
- ggm 2y ago
  The contract between Apple and "Apple Corp" came into sharper focus when Apple launched iTunes.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

fsckboy 2y ago

when I just read this FTA, i was shocked, thinking "how did I never know this till now?" >In 1973, he stopped wearing the ‘wire rimmed Lennon glasses’2 and expanded to slightly non-round styles. His blood spattered spectacles even featured on the cover of Yoko Ono's 1981 album ‘Season of Glass’ following his murder in 1980. https://images.artbrokerage.com/artthumb/onoyoko_129502_12/1250x1118/Yoko_Ono_Season_of_Glass_Billboard_Ad_Paste_Up_1981_Unique__16x13.jpg https://images.artbrokerage.com/artthumb/onoyoko_129502_12/1... but then i realized, "ok, that's really grotesque, but at least I have done a great job of ignoring Yoko Ono!"

77pt77 2y ago

Archive: https://archive.is/wip/6XmKN https://archive.is/wip/6XmKN WayBackMachine: https://web.archive.org/web/20240813194919/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/opo.13351 https://web.archive.org/web/20240813194919/https://onlinelib...

seancork 2y ago

I wear hard lens for my Keratoconus and amazed at how comfortable they are all day.

hn_ltl-ftc 2y ago

Surprised that I haven’t seen anyone recommend or even mention implantable lens technology, for long-term vision correction (maybe I missed the mention). AFAIK, it’s reversible, and safer than laser surgery (LASIK, PRK, etc.)—-nota bene: I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Anecdotal, but I got lenses implanted in both eyes recently, after living with astigmatism, nearsightedness, and Rx glasses for many years. Very happy with the outcome—-now I can drive without any glasses at all! Well, I do wear sunglasses in the summer, as one does; but now I can wear whatever sunglasses strike my fancy—I’m no longer limited to using those annoying clip-on sunglasses, over my (former) Rx glasses. I could have chosen a ‘progressive’ Rx for my implanted lenses. However, the surgeon would not provide, for my eyes, high assurance that I’d have crisp vision at both nearby and far distances. So, I chose to get implants that would let me drive legally without glasses; and also do most activities without glasses. For reading and computer use, I can use either: cheap ‘drugstore’ magnifying glasses, or Rx glasses for the same purposes. But definitely research those tradeoffs, and discuss with your doctor. Wish I’d done it sooner! More info here: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/what-to-know-icl-surgery https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/what-to-know-icl-surgery

throwaway2037 2y ago
> safer than laser surgery Is this statement backed by peer reviewed science? I could not find anything. When I Google for "safer than laser surgery", 100% of the results say that ICL (implantable contact lens) are riskier than laser (LASIK).
- otteromkram 2y ago
  They probably just mean in terms of reversability; LASIK is obviously permanent, but ICL can be undone. Both procedures are relatively low risk; each has their own set of drawbacks and qualifying conditions (eg - ICL isn't recommended for people who are over 45 years old).
  - throwaway2037 2y ago
    > They probably just mean in terms of reversability No, everything I read says the ICL procedure is higher risk than LASIK. The risk is infection after the surgery.

ianbooker 2y ago

Read the abstract and then imagine someone or somebot would study your medical condition in similar depth. This is myutopia.

BrandoElFollito 2y ago

I am short-sighted for 40 years and think from time to time to switch to contact lenses (mostly for the comfort in winter). I am however getting older and have near-vison decreasing (you know, thise people who hand stuff at arm length to read). I find myself getting off my glasses often to see from a close distance (I hate the hybrid glasses). I guess that contact lenses are not possible for me in that context.

whyleyc 2y ago
Actually multi-focal contact lenses are a thing. I was surprised to hear this too, since I wondered how they could work in practice - there’s a handy explainer here if you are interested: https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/how-do-multifocal-contacts-work https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/how-do-multifocal-contacts...
damontal 2y ago
I’m in the same boat. If I put in contacts to correct my vision for distance I have to wear reading glasses to be able to see my phone or read a book.