I wore contact lens for 9 years. Slept in them, showered in them, swam in them.

I struggled so much with insecurity and my lens felt like “me.” At first, I was careful, and then one day I slept in them, and nothing happened. The next, I showered with them, then I went to the beach with them, and then I went to work abroad and I just never removed them. I went through airports with them. I had IDs taken with them. It kinda blended into me and I just went with it.

I’ve seen the horror stories and sometimes I tried talking myself out of it. I would take them out, like, once a year, for a day, but there were years where I didn’t take them out at all. I would even get prescription glasses still. I’ve seen different doctors, and for my visits, I would take them out. I wouldn’t open up about the lens use, and they never said anything about corneal scratches or found any signs that I wear lens. I still wear glasses on top of my lens.

I’m going through therapy now, though, and I can finally separate myself from my lens. I just went to therapy without it one day. I haven’t opened up about this stuff with my therapist, not yet. But I thought it was so noticeable when I no longer have them - turns out it’s not. I hope I wean myself off of it.