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Here’s an irony…even though it seems that the majority of people need some sort of visual correction enhancement, no woman really feels that she looks better in glasses. Now, a few have found frames that suit their face, body, coloring and style, and actually look very attractive with them, but if given their ‘druthers, would probably not have to wear them at all.

It’s one thing to don glasses in the library or at a business meeting- after all, they do give the image of intellectualism-but does any woman feel sexy and alluring pairing eyeglasses with evening or formal attire? Even if the glasses are part of her, and she’s far from a vain type, there probably comes a moment when she thinks, “I wish I could go without them just for tonight.” I find myself wondering about the stars that present the awards at show like the Grammies and Oscars who don cheaters before reading the list of nominees. Have they checked with every designer eyewear store in the country to find just the right specs to match their evening gowns?

I always look twice at ads for eyewear that show an absolutely stunning lady wearing glasses with fancy clothes. On the model, the glasses look perfect, and so does she. In real life, it isn’t easy to find glasses that allow us to look like that because most of us don’t look that those models.

Millions of people wear contact lenses, and some don’t even need them-they just wear them to change their eye color. That’s what I did for a very long time, until I did what thousands of others did and got Lasik surgery. It was 5 years in the planning, and my research involved every web site and blog I could find, as well as local doctors, hospitals, and facilities. I decided on a “chain” clinic, figuring it had to have high, uniform standards. Unfortunately, it took 3 surgeries and over 3 years to get my eyesight right.

My nearsightedness existed since 8 years of age, and my prescription was 20/500. But since I was over 35, I was advised to consider monovision, where one eye is slightly under-corrected, in order to accommodate the future need for reading glasses. It seemed like a good idea at the time. My surgeon had to over-ride the settings on the Bausch and Lomb laser, but was too conservative and I ended up with 20/30 in one eye and 20/150 in the other. This difference was most unsettling, and knowing that I could not have a corrective enhancement for 5 months did not improve the situation. Since there was a chance my eyes hadn’t stabilized; it would not have been prudent to order glasses or contacts and have them no longer be usable within days, so I couldn’t find relief, or even drive at night.

My second surgery did the trick-for about a month. I then developed extreme eye dryness which caused the cornea to “crinkle” up, causing a film and vision loss that neither over the counter nor prescription drops could repair. Plus, my vision regressed slightly in both eyes, so a third enhancement was scheduled. That post-op period required plugs in my tear duct, 3 kinds of eye drops, and steroids. It took a good year for my eyes to resume normal tear production and retention, but now my vision is finally close to 20/20.After a lifetime of glasses and contacts, I still find it miraculous. To get up in the morning and be able to see, and to not plan my day around contact lens wear, is a unique type of freedom.

There is no doubt that you will feel prettier on an average day, and more glamorous on special days, without glasses, but it may take longer than you think. It’s clear that Lasik does not have the kinks worked out yet, and it is impossible to judge results. But, if you don’t want to bother, check out the new contact lenses-you may be surprised that they’ve invented more comfortable versions, in more natural colors. And, to answer my question, there is such a thing as fashionable eyewear-you just need to try on many styles in many stores. But it can be done-just ask the stars.