I have a confession to make – I’m a closet short sighted person who’s been wearing contact lenses for the past twenty years – and I’ve only just got a pair of glasses! I’ve seen the light! Mine is a cautionary tale for any spec phobics…….

I hated my glasses when I was little, they were always falling off or slipping down my nose, so I preferred squinting where possible. After several embarrassing occasions when I accosted strangers in the street, thinking it was my Mum etc, I finally got contact lenses, and I never looked back! Until a bout of conjunctivitis that is.

Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that some people call red eye – and mine certainly were, just in time for Comic Relief day! How seasonal! I was in agony and the doctor said that under no circumstances could I wear my contact lenses until the infection had cleared. My prescription glasses have a power of -6.00 – which means I can’t even cross the road without them.

I bit the bullet and visited an online optician. I phoned them for help and they were great. I ordered thin plastic prescription lenses, with a trendy plastic eyeglass frame. I was dreading the day they arrived, but at least I was able to see. I felt so self conscious – but I was amazed at how many compliments I got. The conjunctivitis finally went, but now I even wear my glasses for work, because I love my new look