One of the nice things about progress is, there are solutions to
problems that once, you never would have imagined possible.

Growing up I shied away from physical confrontations - mainly because
I wore glasses. It's not because I wasn't physically imposing or fit -
in fact, when I played ice hockey and, thus, was wearing a full face
mask, I was voted roughest player on my team. I don't go looking for
fights, but as a man with a girlfriend, I'd like to feel confident I
can defend her physically if I need to should the occasion arise.

So I wear glasses. What are the options? Is there anything I'm
overlooking. First: Contacts. I have really 'dry eyes', so I have
never been able to wear them comfortably. In the future will this not
be an issue? Second: Wearing glasses and getting into fights. Is there
some kind of glasses that somehow would be more durable, and able to
withstand being hit in the face? I realize you can get sports glasses,
but I'm thinking more in terms of walking home from a bar, a situation
where obviously I would not wear them. And Laser Eye Surgery - I'm not
willing to do that.

I'd appreciate any insights you might have, as thorough as possible,
as I feel it is my responsibility not to shirk from physical
confrontation.  Thanks -

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 16 Feb 2006 12:04 PST

What about Karim Abdul Jabbar style glasses?

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 16 Feb 2006 12:04 PST

Not that I condone violence ;-)

1: Carry a gun (or maybe two) displayed prominently in a gun belt.

2: Buy a HUGE dog of a breed that's famous for its ferocity and take
him everywhere.

3: Hire a Bodyguard or preferably two. Big, strong guys with tattoes
on their faces, heads, arms, etc.

4: Don't go out after dark.

5: Avoid night clubs, drinking dens, speakeasies, etc.

Follow these guidelines and you should be OK.

Good luck!

I have been nearsighted (myopic) for a while now myself, and I don't
really mind wearing glasses. I can understand some of the problems
that you are facing, however.

There is a newer treatment that recently obtained FDA approval that
might be of use for people who don't wish to have major corrective
surgery. The basic idea is that a special type of lens that is worn at
night can slowly- though not permanently- reshape the cornea- the
outer lens, and provide some visual improvement without surgery.  This
special lens is worn at night and it, in effect, flattens the shape of
the cornea. By flattening it, entering light is less focused, allowing
the inner lens to more correctly focus light at the appropriate focal
length on the retina.  (If you have ever gently pressed on your eyes
with your palms and noticed a temporary improvement in your distance
vision, this is what is happening with these lens, except that the
effect lasts longer and the lenses are custom fit to the shape of your
cornea).

Please visit the following website, which provides some important
information about the general procedure, called orthokeratology. Eye
doctors will more likely be familiar with a specific procedure called
Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT), a type of orthokeratology, and "CRT
lenses".  You should ask your eye doctor about CRT and CRT lenses.

To reiterate, you will have to wear a special set of contact lenses,
but this is only at night, so that you won't be dealing with the
contact lenses during the day when you really need your eyes.  This
may also remedy some of the problems you have with dry eyes- or at
least lessen the problem.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/orthok.htm

The main web page also contains useful information about your eyes in
general and other corrective procedures.

Additionally, you might find that limiting your near point visual
tasks might lessen the work your eyes have to do. Many people with
underlying nearsightedness will find that temporarily taking a break
from working up close, such as at a computer, and just simply looking
away towards a distant object, or closing their eyes for a minute or
two, will help relax their eyes and lessen visual fatigue. Most things
we look at on a computer screen have much poorer resolution that
"real" objects, and our eyes have to do that much more work to focus
and process computer images.

I hope this is of help to you.  Good luck!

The smart advice for physical violence is don't do it.

If you look evil, or have a reputation for being evil, one seldom has
a confrontation - looking evil is just ... looking competent.

One old established trick is a keyring, another is a closed Swiss Army
knife used as a hammer.

In your case I would suggest buying some small weights, using them
inventively, and working out how to slap a septum into the cerebellum,
flat hand slap, never make a fist, also how to break and dislocate an
arm while falling 'victim' to the floor.

As an extra embellishment, there is a neat trick for getting someone
to strangle you, thumbs in their mouth and they get their face ripped
appart.

I must confess that most of that is copyright to the UK Army, circa
1940, passed on to me when an old c*nt reckoned I was a wimp.

Mostly, if you look pretty capable of looking after yourself, people
are either friendly - or look for easy pickins - elsewhere.

The odd thing about this, is people know if you are 'trained up',
somehow they can smell it, I guess it is like old domesticated Marines
meeting meeting the young ones.

Best avoided, but good fences perfuse lousy neighbours

Contacts are perhaps much better than the last time you tried.  I have
dry eyes too, and wore Acuvue 2 for a long time without problems.  I
recently switched to O2 Optix because they allow more oxygen into the
eyes and thus keep the eyes healthier, and these aren't itchy or dry
at all.
Another option may be just wearing them when you go out - if you only
wear them for a couple hours, they are much less likely to feel itchy
or dry.

Take probonopublico with you.  With his wit and charm, he will have
your opponent eating out of his hand.

And while he is getting his palm slobbered all over, you can sneak away.

Extraordinary advice from
Digs

Thnksalot, Digs!

(You used to be among my favourite GARs)