I have four eyes - a tale of my second pair of eyes

The Spectacle Story

One day my spectacle began speaking, and here is what it had to say –

One fine afternoon, while I stretched myself after a hectic schedule at the office, I heard an unusual hello. I looked around. Most of my colleagues sitting around my desk had meetings that day. So, in my space, I was the only person. A few others in different corners were too busy preparing for their respective presentations. Then, who greeted me! I wondered.

Again, the voice spoke – “Hey, don’t you recognise me – you have been in relationship with me for the past 6 years and you don’t even know what my voice sounds like. Although I have felt your skin, your nose – your ears – smelt your hair, I bet you would say that you don’t even recognise my touch. And, very soon, you might even think of replacing me with another – more efficient being whom you would consider to be more efficient than me in making you look dazzling and smart in front of the world, just like you had dumped the one before me.”

I felt stunned. Who was talking to me – with no colleagues in my vicinity? A chill ran down my spine – it was a Saturday and New moon. Was it so that the characters and plots I read in Horror Novels going to be real and live and with me? Then, to my utter surprise, I realised it was my spectacle – my spectacle – who was talking to me.

Relieved to an extent, although logically challenging myself, I too said – “Hello dear. Seems like you are upset with me. But unfortunately, I do not get what wrong have I done to you.”

Spectacle: I know, I am an understanding partner. But what really hurts me is the fact that despite spectacles have been serving you since you were 10, you do not know yet how to take care of us. And, you make a lot of fuss while changing frames and often grave mistakes.

Me: Hmmm. But I can change them whenever I want.

Spectacle: True, and this is the attitude which we dislike. Without us, you would not get a clear vision, yet, we happen to be someone’s last priority to be cared for. And, while you are too conscious about fashion – one seldom cares about upgrading user-experience with spectacles, although we happen to be a vital part of your charisma.

Me: True, spectacle. You have become so much ingrained in our lives that taking care of you doesn’t come up that way.

Spectacle: And this habit of this generation transcends in other areas of their lives as well. You all have so many options in your lives that you do not even think of taking care of several things in your lives – which might seem to be a practice and trivial however, they are the most important part of you. Value – it’s something you want as ROI but not give.

Me: Spectacle, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I will take care of you and this habit will also be a part of me in the long run for other aspects of life too. But, what do I do now?

Spectacle: OK, I will help you. First, I will tell you how to take care of me.

1.     Use both hands while you take me off. My frame handle lasts long and the orientation remains good.

2.     Never put your hands – especially when dirty or moist on glasses.

3.     Like you take a shower regularly, I too need one periodically. Put me under running lukewarm tap water. And then, like you use a clean towel to pat yourself, use a dry clean microfibre cloth and wipe me dry.

4.     Wipe off smudges with clean dry cloth – preferably microfibre.

5.     Try to avoid sleeping with me on.

6.     Over time, my orientation might change. It doesn’t mean my expiry date has reached and you need to replace me. Check and fit up the screws. Often, all you need is to change the glasses while the frame is still of good quality.

Now, if you wish  replace me - or like you have broken me in a manner beyond repair, then here are a few tips for you:

1. Buy me only from a good optical store. By good I don't mean the branded and super expensive stores. I mean the ones which are licensed dealers and will not sell you - 
                          a) duplicate frames at unusually high or low prices       
                          b) the glasses would be original crisal lenses - which will make them last longer, with great benefits                              for your eyes like dust protection, enhanced UV ray protection, etc.
                          c) are proper shops and not like street-side stalls, which may or may not exist when you would need for any replacement in future; also do check if the optician / seller has the knowledge of repairing frames or any connections to get it repaired or will ask you to buy a new frame for any minor defect which could have been repaired easily.

2. In case you wish to enhance your experience with spectacles, here is another tip for you - 
You would often complain that the chasmishly glamourous looks would come at a huge cost of time expense - not any longer. Here are a few websites, which will help customise your experience of buying spectacles, at your time, location and convenience and you can try variety of frames wherever you are using technology. Here are a few examples - 

a.       Glassify.com – You can easily download this app from playstore. It helps you compare renowned brands of both spectacles and sunglasses from a wide range of brands. You can create your virtual avatar using your phone camera and thereafter using face detection and face recognition algorithm, Glassify identifies your facial landmarks and overlays different glasses on your face automatically, allowing you to compare between the range of choices available. You can easily share a picture you like with friends and relatives or simply save the frame picture into your favourite list, to be referred to while you visit the real store.

b.       Glasses.com – Here you can create a 3-D model of your face and try on a range of sunglasses and spectacles. They are working on it to create such an experience that visiting a shop gets a thing of the past. And here, you can even order the frames online with free shipping and returns available. Actually, shopping for spectacle frames and sunglasses online is on a rising trend among youth – both urban and rural. If you buy now, you can also use their promo code ‘HELLOSPRING’ for additional discounts. Although priced in dollars, you can get original versions of the frames which are far better than the duplicates which have flooded the markets. Or, if you still prefer the traditional way you can easily take screenshots of your photos with frames you like and then visit a shop.

c.       Warby Parker – You are an iphone user. Great news for you. Warby parker app lets you find out the perfect match using face recognition technology. And, it’s even more interesting. You select 5 frames and they deliver it to you for free so that you can try them on real life situations like wearing it to work, college or school and commit to paying for the one you like, later.

And, there are lots more coming up as eyewear manufacturers and sellers find it really profitable. They know what is the trend and demand of the market. From the customers point of view, you are benefitted as well. Saving time while having a larger range to choose from is indeed great while you try to catch up with the ‘chasmish’ looks of popular movie stars on screen.

Spectacles: That's all for today. Rest is already known to you.

Me: Thanks a lot spectacles. I was really unaware of the fact that you could be bought online by trying frames using 3-D

Spectacles: That's alright. But promise me - you will learn to take care of the small things of your life - that would lead to taking care of the big picture. Bye Bye.

And, I realized I had dozed-off.