Title: My Life Thru Blurred Vision Author: Megan Cone' Hello everyone! My name is Megan and free Lasik would be a dream come true! When I saw this contest I knew that if I ever wanted to have the procedure done, this would be the only way for me to get it. I found out in 3rd grade that I had inherited the horrible eyesight my mother was plagued with, thanks to my teacher informing my parents that she had a feeling I was having issues seeing the blackboard. I remember my first pair of glasses, purple plastic frames with thick coke bottle lenses. Leaving the eye doctor with glasses on was like opening the door to a world I had never really seen before. From that day forward, I never took off my glasses. I wore them in the shower, I wore them while I slept. I felt like when I took off my glasses I was taking off the one thing that was keeping me connected to the world. Over the years, I continued to wear glasses and the lenses continued to grow thicker. I can remember the comments people would make about the thickness of my lenses. As a child, even though I knew my poor eye sight wasn’t my fault, the comments about my glasses stung like a bee. It actually became a joke with my friends. They would ask to wear my glasses because it looked so funny when they looked through them. In order to give them an idea of what it was like to have my eye sight, I told them that the way they see with my glasses on, is similar to the way I see with glasses off. Finally, my freshman year in high school, my mom decided I was responsible enough to try contacts. You couldn’t have found a happier 15 year old in the world. I could wear sunglasses! I had sunglasses waiting in the car, so as soon as I stepped out of that office I was prepared! Plus, now there wouldn’t be anymore comments about how blind I must be to have lenses that thick! Contacts were much more of chore than glasses but the benefit of feeling “normal” was well worth it. After high school my boyfriend and I decided to join the Army National Guard together. It never crossed my mind that my vision would be a hinderance. Upon the completion of my physical, I was informed that I had failed my vision test. I would require a medical waiver from the State of Illinois in order to enlist. If they had an issue, I would have to get a federal medical waiver. I guess the contacts made me feel “normal” but it didn’t change the fact that I had extremely poor vision. So, while my boyfriend was already enlisted and completing training, I was sitting at home waiting to hear if I would even be able to enlist. It took about 6 months, but I did get the federal medical waiver and luckily was able to enlist. It restricted what job I would be able to train for but luckily, it didn’t keep me from enlisting altogether. This being an example of how even though poor vision doesn’t ruin your life, it makes things difficult. I continue to wear contacts to this day. However, I haven’t been to the eye doctor in years. I can’t afford the exam or new contacts and I don’t have vision insurance. Last time I went I was negative 9 in one eye and negative 9.5 in the other. I don’t know much about the technical side of everything but I’m told those numbers are not very good, especially for a 26 year old whose eyes get worse every year. I don’t go to the “glasses in an hour” places because with vision as bad as mine, it’s just not the same. Since I haven’t been able to afford the eye doctor, I have been wearing the same contacts for over 4 years and haven’t had an eye exam in as much time. I’m 26 years old and I am the mother of 2 amazing children, who I hope aren’t plagued with the poor vision of their mother. Lasik has been a dream of mine ever since I heard about it for the first time. It’s a dream that may never become a reality, as I will never be able to afford it. I work full time but because money is so short, saving for the procedure would be impossible, as there are always more important things that the money could be used for. I realize that everyone submitting an essay has a great story and we all deserve Lasik. This is such a great gift to give and I wish good luck to all those submitting their story and congratulations to that lucky winner!