I had a habit of running into things growing up.

I couldn’t catch worth beans.

And when it came to television, I couldn’t sit still in front of it.

After the umpteenth time I did a face plant on the rail to the back door steps, a neighbor suggested to my parents I might have a vision problem.

That was the summer before I started kindergarten.

How bad is my vision? Let’s put it this way: If it wasn’t for modern technology my glasses would be thick enough to start a fire in eight seconds or less.

I started out with an eye patch and bifocals.

I was teased relentless by adults, siblings and strangers but I really didn’t let it get to me even as a young kid. The reason was simple. It was figuratively and literally like seeing a whole new world. Things went from being a blur 24/7 to being visually crisp almost overnight.

That next door neighbor - a teacher by the name of Catherine Gates - capitalized on my thrill of being able to see things clearly to teach me to read. Every day that summer and every chance I got in the afternoon when Mrs. Gates got off work and I was home from kindergarten I hounded her to help me learn to read.

By the time first grade ended, I was reading the front pages of the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Union, and Roseville Press-Tribune every day.

Being able to see clearly was like flipping on a switch. The fact my world was no longer fuzzy just made me hungry to take in everything I could. And reading was what I took to most.

I can’t imagine a world where there aren’t eyeglasses.

The use of lenses to magnify words and objects stretches back to the 13th century and earlier. But it wasn’t until Benjamin Franklin’s era that lenses to correct myopia - nearsightedness and farsightedness - came into being. Astigmatism - another problem I have - was first corrected in lenses produced by British astronomer George Airy in 1825.

In short, it has been only 187 years that the technology has existed to begin to address my sight problems.

Not being able to see clearly and having everything blurred would be a horrible way to go through life. Yet we often take such small miracles that we enjoy today such as eyeglasses for granted.

It is why I consider myself lucky that people like Mike Lavieri Jr., Greg Miller, and Fred Stellhorn to name a few opted to pursue careers as optometrists.

I’ve had to wear trifocals since I was in my early 30s. It doesn’t bother me a bit. I know what it is like not to see clearly and do simple tasks that others often take for granted.

I still occasionally run into things. If you toss something at me, it’s not a sure thing I’ll catch it. Even glasses can’t resolve klutziness.

But all things considered, I’m happy just to know I can clearly see what I’m about to hit or something that is being tossed at me.

Count it as another reason why people - including - myself - are luck to be living in this day and age.



This column is the opinion of managing editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Bulletin or Morris Newspaper Corp. of CA.  He can be contacted at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com or 209-249-3519.