Seeing Clearly Now

I have almost forgotten how wonderful it is to be able to read small prints without squinting and holding the text as far away as my arms could extend. Books gathered dust in the shelves. Reading the Bible was an unpleasant task. I never got to finish the occasional newspaper from front to back in one sitting.

The pleasure in reading just went out the window when words became lines and lines of fuzzy misshapen curls. Fifteen minutes with a book was all I could muster before the strain sets in. The only reading I did was on the monitor, and that was because I could enlarge the fonts.

Last Thursday, I finally decided to get my eyes tested for a pair of reading glasses. After my transaction at the Sungai Dua Hong Leong Bank, Wuan, Peter and I hopped into Uni Eyecare which was just next door to the bank. Wuan helped me select a frame. Ms. Yan Mei Ling, the optometrist, was patient and very friendly. Testing was a breeze.

We went to collect the glasses on Saturday. Suddenly everything is so much clearer. There is depth. Colours have become more vibrant. The best thing is that I have started to read again. There are at least ten books that are waiting to be read. It is simply amazing how correcting my eyesight can bring so much joy into my life again.


Ms. Yan checking my eye refraction.


Reading the charts.


Uni Eyecare, Sungai Dua, Penang.


Bespectacled.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

15 thoughts on “Seeing Clearly Now”

  1. Bohemianphilosophy,
    Thank you but I never thought the day would come when I would need to read with a pair of glasses. Age surely is catching up.

  2. wah, so handsome ah? I need to get a pair of reading glasses too. Sigh! It’s getting embarrasing trying to read the menu at restaurants and not being able to see a thing unless I put it far, far away from me. Long sighted, lor! Pity they don’t make contact lenses for long sightedness.

  3. Marita,
    Where got bits of grey hair? That photo was heavily Photoshopped wor.

    Bkworm,
    If you need one, you need one. Go make a pair and see clearly again just like me now.

    Jinny,
    Wiser? That is just an impression. I do not think I am any wiser than I was before.

    JustMe,
    The next time we meet I belanja you kopi-O, ok?

    Chasyss,
    I am going to belanja you kopi-O also.

    Andreas,
    Professor? Hahaha, I wish.

    Sashi,
    And kopi-O for you also.

    Kervin,
    Truly, it is all very “different” with a pair of glasses.

    MrsT,
    We took almost half an hour just select the frame.

  4. Charlyn,
    I wish. 🙂

    Dave,
    Yes, it is just a few doors from Pelita.

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