How many of you bassists wear glasses?

[afinalfantasy]

I've been wearing them since before my tenth birthday, so over 8 years now. I have astigmatism in both eyes and it pretty much sucks that I can't see far away things. What about you guys?

[bassteban]

I have old guy-matismism. Need 'em to read, but can't read(music). So as a bassist, no; as an old guy trying to crap or fall asleep, yes.

[Lalabadie]

I do too. I'm gonna try contact lenses for the second time soon, but it's hard, since my eyes are dry as hell, and my glasses cool as hell.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Wore glasses from about age 8 til 13. My left eye was never very strong (have to force it into focus). Also long sighted in my right eye. Only started wearing glasses again last year (at age 21), now my vision feels worse than ever and i need them quite a bit!

[Baryonyx]

I don't wear glasses because I don't need them, but in a way, I'm kinda jealous of those who need them because they look pretty cool!

[BlackLake]

Just got my first pair (at 40), for reading small stuff up close (like phonebooks, mags etc.)

But now that I started using them for soldering and other intricate mod stuff etc. I love em.

The only thing I don't like is the eye adjustment when I take em off, kind of a momentary dizzy feeling.

[Valerus]

Aye!

[jsbass]

Yes, but I am near sighted (can't see distance). Use them when driving and wear them around the house, thats about it. Otherwise I'm usually fine without them.

[kesslari]

Used to need them for distance, had pretty awful vision.
Wasn't a problem for playing music. One advantage was that early on, when I was still new to being on stage, I could take them off and the crowd would disappear from my vision, so I wouldn't feel nervous.

The one impact musically for me was trying to learn to read music in school - at the time my glasses were old and not quite right, but I couldn't afford new ones, and so I just gave up on reading because it was too hard to focus on the notes on the page. (trying to learn it now though)

I got lasik about 4 years ago and it has been great for me. Of course, as an aging fart now I need reading glasses, but being able to be without glasses 90% of the time (and for all my outdoor and sporting activities) was a huge win for me.

JK

[FL Knifemaker]

I just started wearing them last year and it SUCKS. I have to wear them in order to work with tiny screws and small parts. Working in a dusty envionment with glasses on SUCKS!!!! I can read fine without them but I need them to drive. I can't see things in the distance, I must have midrangesitedness

[bassman1185]

I've had to have corrective lenses since I was eight or nine. I got contacts when I was 15, and wore those up to about a year ago, but I ran out of them and have just been wearing glasses. I still have my last set of contacts that I wear for shows (only Elton John and Rivers Cuomo can rock and roll with glasses on) but I really need to order more. I was just about to go in and get an eye exam and all that, but my car ended up needing $550 worth of brake work, so the contacts got put on the back burner.

[Happynoj]

My eyesight isn't too bad, but I have glasses for distance work, e.g. watching TV, reading lecture notes off a board, etc

[AmyTheFreak]

Glasses and contacts... I've been wearing my glasses a lot more recently because I'm on my last pair of contact lenses and my appointment to order new ones isn't until April 1st.

[txbasschik]

I'm 45, and have worn glasses since I was 8. I'm terribly nearsighted, and have astigmatism in my left eye. That, and now I'm getting "old people eyes", too. When I wear my contacts, I have to use reading glasses to see charts and lyric sheets at jams. So...I try to memorize *everything*. At my age, this is a challenge, but I'd rather work hard to memorize stuff than to wear glasses when I play. When I sweat, they slide down my nose, and I have to wait for an open string to push 'em back up! LOL!

Cherie

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Used to need them for distance, had pretty awful vision.
Wasn't a problem for playing music. One advantage was that early on, when I was still new to being on stage, I could take them off and the crowd would disappear from my vision, so I wouldn't feel nervous.

The one impact musically for me was trying to learn to read music in school - at the time my glasses were old and not quite right, but I couldn't afford new ones, and so I just gave up on reading because it was too hard to focus on the notes on the page. (trying to learn it now though)

I got lasik about 4 years ago and it has been great for me. Of course, as an aging fart now I need reading glasses, but being able to be without glasses 90% of the time (and for all my outdoor and sporting activities) was a huge win for me.

JK

My husband's bassist used to play without corrective lenses, with that "non-crowd" effect. Right up until he walked off the edge of a 5' high stage and hit his head, resulting in a concussion. He couldn't see the edge, and just walked right off it.

So, he wears contacts, now.

Man, I wish I could get lasik! I'd love to get rid of these Mr. Magoo glasses I've got.

Cherie

[Gard]

I've been wearing glasses since I was 17, I'm mildly nearsighted. Until recently, I could "spoof" the driver's license eye exam and get my license without the glasses requirement (I always drove WITH glasses, I'm not stupid!).

I refuse to wear contacts or have surgery, for some reason the one major phobia I have is someone or something TOUCHING my eye.



I wear my glasses on gigs, but have a tendency to get a bit excited and flip them off....

[Surly]

Contacts for me. Glasses give me tunnel vision.

[CrazyArcher]

I'm near-sighted, wearing glasses since I was 11 or something. It kinda grew worse and worse, but now my vision stabilized at -5.5. Tried out contacts, didn't like them: my vision just couldn't get into focus with them, although wearing them while moshing at a gig is a plus.

[iamlowsound]

I have been wearing glasses since I was about 9, contacts since I was 13. I am nearsighted, but really so. I can't even read without help. My vision has stabilized now so I hope to be getting lasik in the near future.

lowsound

[bluevoodoo]

bassists should be wearin shades...