Glasses

[Stan]

What do you folks do if you need glasses to read but have fine vision for everything else. I've managed to get by without taking my glasses to the table, however it's getting harder to read the book etc. I'm trying to avoid "hey ref, put 'em back on"

Thanks, Stan

[IREFU2]

I wear glass and I went to contact lenses. I plan on moving up to the college level (Hopefully), and I was told that glasses are not acceptable. I tried doing it without my glasses, but once I got the contacts, I could see a whole lot more! Hope this helps. BTW, we have officials on our board that do officiate in glasses.

[JRutledge]

Glasses are usually not accepted. It might be OK at the HS level, but beyond that it could hold you back if you do not get contacts. I have been wearing contacts for years. I have now moved to the daily disposal kind. I only wear them for officiating and not in any part of my life. I get a pack of 90 (one for each eye) and they last me almost the entire season. I wear them once and I throw them away. No cleaning. No cases. No real fuss. But I am also near sighted and I have no problem reading small print.

Peace

[dblref]

I wear glasses for reading. I always have them in my jacket pocket when I go to the table so I can check the numbers. Sometimes the table personnel look at me kind of funny when I put them, but I usually make a joke about them and continue on. There are 4 or 5 of us in the association that wear glasses at the table.

[Adam]

I've always refed with contacts, until the last two games. I've had two lenses rip on me in the last couple of months, and until my new lens comes in, I'm going 4-eyed.
Last night's game, I called a lane violation on the shooter (I hate doing it, but it was obvious to everyone), and the home crowd started crowing about my glasses. It was actually kind of funny.

[mick]

Originally posted by Stan
What do you folks do if you need glasses to read but have fine vision for everything else. I've managed to get by without taking my glasses to the table, however it's getting harder to read the book etc. I'm trying to avoid "hey ref, put 'em back on"

Thanks, Stan

Soft, bi-focal contacts.

[ChrisSportsFan]

99.9% of the times it's contacts, but those few occasions when I'm out of time, gotta sport the specks. (and that's not RecSpecs)

[Hoosier]

Stan,

Send your partner over to check the book. If it's a new official, he/she probably hasn't had too much opportunity to go to the table in a pregame situation. If it's an experienced partner they'll understand anyway. Nobody other than the crew knows who the "R" is or really cares.

[rainmaker]

Stan -- I wear contacts for reffing, glasses the rest of the time. When I go to the table, I have reading glasses that have very small lenses. I keep them in the pocket of my jacket, as someone else said. i've never heard any comment or joking about them at all. Maybe I look old enough that everyone understands the "reading glasses" thing.

[Stan]

Originally posted by rainmaker
Stan -- Maybe I look old enough that everyone understands the "reading glasses" thing.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Rainmaker, I appreciate your comment, that may ring true in my case.

[mick]

At 41 the eyes go.
At 51 the skin goes.

[Stan]

Originally posted by mick
At 41 the eyes go.
At 51 the skin goes.

Every year the players are getting bigger, faster and stronger. The officials get-----a year older!

[tjones1]

Almost like everyone else, I wear contacts as well and I love them. By the way, on a side note, has anyone else noticed the phasing out of the comment "Come on ref, you need glasses" or "Come on ref, where'd you get your license at, Wal-mart?"

[DownTownTonyBrown]

LASIK will set you free!

Well it has worked well for the last few years but I am past the 40 mark and the eyes are a changin'

It may be time for a tune-up or some subtle, soft lenses.

[Stan]

Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
I am past the 40 mark and the eyes are a changin'.

I'm start'n to worry about the 51 thing Mick was talking about.