Throw away those "granny glasses"

Good news everybody.

If you need to wear those "granny glasses" or the glasses you buy at the pharmacy to help you read objects that are near, now you can get contact lenses. Although contact lenses that correct distant, intermediate and near vision have been around for years, technology (and more experience) has helped in refining and fine-tuning the manufacturing of these lenses.

Now before you start jumping for joy, be warned that these lenses need to be carefully fitted -- and the cost is slightly more than normal content lenses. According to the New York Times article, "Better Vision Without Looking Your Age," one year supply of between $200 to $500 depending on the degree of customization and the fitting can range "range from a modest insurance plan co-payment to about $1,000" depending on the number of visits it takes. Also, not everyone who wants the lenses is a candidate for these contacts. But if you're interested, you should definitely contact your optometrist. One optometrist said he saw a success rate of "75 to 80 percent for gas permeable lenses, and 60 to 70 percent for soft lenses."

Now, many may say this is just vanity--- why not just wear the glasses? As one optometrist said "it's a matter of utility. People are living longer, working longer and leading more active lives. They want to function as they age like they did when they were young."

And we agree. Why wouldn't we, as we age, want to function like we did when we were young? Why be dependent on glasses?