sticking my finger in my eye

Millions of people before me have done it, mastered the skill and think nothing of doing it each morning and each evening, many without mirrors.

Yesterday, I went to the eye doctor to be trained on how to put in and take out contact lenses. The prescription itself is very small, helping my regain the slightly better than 20 - 20 vision I have enjoyed for so long (but had noticed recently was not as clear for long distances). The contacts are only for the long distance vision (defined as anything not close . . .) and were my best option for playing one of the sports I love, golf.

The technician was helpful (I noticed that she was wearing glasses however) and showed me the theoretical way to put in contacts. Then, I gave it a go, under her watchful eye. First attempt, sticking my finger in my eye and then pulling it back to see how I had done, no good, the lens was still on my finger. Second, third and fourth attempts were very similar. For the fifth attempt we (the technician) put more solution on the lens and made ready. I concentrated, tried to keep my other eye open (supposed to help - probably does - won't know until I actually keep it open), and put the contact right on my eye (cake, who said this was hard, easy as pie . . .). And then, we went to my other eye (left, in case you were counting). I tried with my right hand and was unsuccessful (a couple of times). Then, thinking the angle might be better, I went to my left (if I could do the same in basketball, I'd be a dangerous player). A couple more times and, each time poking myself straight in the eye, I was ultimately successful.

Wahoo (I said to myself)! Now, said the tech, let's take them out. Uh huh, sure, I can do that. The extraction process was a little more intense physically (yes, I know millions of other people have done it and continue to do it daily, whatever . . .). But, after moments of frustration, slight opthalmetric (made up but should be a real word) irritation, and determination, I got each of them out (I see a market for a contact extraction machine, perhaps a tiny, very delicate suction machine that attaches to the contact). Now, said the tech, let's put them back in so the doctor can see how they look, how they fit and if they are doing their job.

Uh huh, no problem, I'll just pop them in and we'll be ready. Well, minutes later (I was better the second time) I was ready and the doctor was able to check everything out. And, they were working as designed (always a good thing and double wahoo!).

I wore them home, looking at every long distance street sign and billboard, happy to be able to see like I used to, envisioning pars, birdies and eagles now that I could see things more clearly. After 5 hours, before I went to work out, I took them out with some difficulty but only personal trauma. Day one was a success. I looked forward to day two.

Speaking of day two, getting the right one in was a sn . . snap (two tries before success). I put the left one in on the first try but didn't see any correction in the eye sight. Being a quick study, I reasoned that while the contact was in, it wasn't in the right place and started looking for it. Moments of quiet desperation (okay, a little over the top) and once asking my wife for help (she didn't see it), I went back to the mirror and felt around my eyeball for the vision helping piece of plastic. Somehow, I found it and, after putting it in solution to let it unfold, put it back in, right on my eye.

At the end of today's wearing session (supposed to be 6+ hours), I took each of them out and put them in solution. I was better at it than yesterday and likely will be better at it tomorrow. As Heber J. Grant, the 7th prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said (probably talking about doing much more important things), "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us; not that the nature of the task has change but our ability to do it has increased". So, I'll keep sticking my finger in my eye and seeing better (and playing better golf) as a result.

Have a good one. KipK