What does minus eyesight look like? Seeing things from a shortsighted point of view.

Did you hear about the women who went hiking alone and lost her glasses down a cliff so couldn’t find the path back? #NewFearUnlocked. It’s actually happened to quite a few people, which really makes you think. 

When you’re wearing your specs or contacts and have perfect vision, you kind of 'forget' you have bad eyesight until something goes wrong. 

But if your glasses break, or a contact pops out whilst you’re on holiday, driving, or up a mountain and you don’t have any spares on you, you’re a bit screwed. 

Just being at home also comes with its hazards and frustrations - because naturally there are times when you’ll be commuting around your home without corrected vision. We’ve simulated some examples below using an iPhone’s AF/AE camera lock function and a -9.5 lens. This isn’t a full proof simulation (and we actually think they’ve turned out more like a -8) but gives you a good idea of what we’re dealing with.

Water on the floor 

A high myope is unlikely to be able to see spills and excess water on the floor, making the bathroom a trip hazard. Can you spot the puddle in this pic? Nope, didn't think so.

Wooden flooring with water on it with a -9.5 eyesight filter so it seems blurry

Medication lucky dip

Picture this - you’re finding it hard to fall asleep, so you creep out of your bedroom without putting on your specs, and get to the medication draw. You think you’ve taken herbal sleeping pills when in fact you’ve popped two laxatives, as they’re both in green boxes. 

And this story (based on actual Minus Eyewear team life events) could have been a lot worse. Many medications are taken last minute before bedtime, when it’s more likely to be dark and you’re in a rush trying to not wake anyone else. And because so many boxes look the same, it’s an easy mistake to make.

Two boxes of different green medication with a -9.5 eyesight filter so it seems blurry

Bottle bingo 

Speaking of packaging design, so many bathroom products are designed mainly white in colour, and in similar shaped bottles. Help!

White product bottles in a bathroom with a -9.5 eyesight filter so it seems blurry

Finding your glasses 

A favourite pastime of ours - trying to find your specs after you’ve taken your lenses out. 

Bedroom with glasses on the bed with a -9.5 eyesight filter so it seems blurry

Minus 6 classroom 

For comparison, here is Cooper Vision’s myopia simulator at minus 6. You can also compare minus 1,2,3,4 & 5. 

Classroom seen through the eyes of -6 eyesight

What have we missed? We'd love to hear from you.

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