You've got to hide your myopia away: John Lennon's contact lenses

Lennon’s Vision and Iconic Glasses

• Discussion notes how late in his career Lennon adopted the now-iconic round “Lennon glasses,” and that their small, round shape is ideal for strong prescriptions.
• Some speculate stage sunglasses were likely prescription due to his level of myopia.
• Several mention the trauma-focused cover of a Yoko Ono album featuring his bloodied glasses, which some readers found grotesque or had never noticed before.

High Myopia, Astigmatism, and Contact Lens Types

• Multiple users with very high myopia report excellent results with modern soft lenses versus thick, optically compromised glasses.
• Others with astigmatism describe better clarity from rigid gas permeable (RGP) or hybrid lenses than from soft lenses, though RGPs can be initially uncomfortable and risky for sports.
• Toric soft lenses for astigmatism are discussed in depth:
  • Some say lenses have orientation marks and weighted geometry; they self-align but may take time.
  • Others report rotation problems, limited axis options, or poor comfort, leading them back to glasses.
  • Several note that mild astigmatism is often left uncorrected in contacts.

Refractive Surgery: LASIK, PRK, ICL, RLE

• Many describe LASIK or PRK as life-changing, with freedom from glasses/contacts and only mild, manageable side effects (dry eyes, halos).
• Others report serious or long-lasting issues: poor vision post-op, long recovery, night artifacts, or eventual regression, leading them to avoid surgery.
• There is debate over complication and long-term failure rates; one commenter cites low success rates, another calls that selection bias and asks for peer-reviewed data.
• Implantable collamer lenses (ICL) are highlighted as reversible and, according to some, safer or with fewer side effects; others say searches suggest higher infection risk than LASIK. Long-term data is described as limited and risk tradeoffs as non-trivial.

Glasses vs. Contacts: Comfort, Cost, and Lifestyle

• Strong divide: some find glasses comfortable and simple; others complain about fogging, smudging, narrow field of view, and problems with sports, outdoor work, and sex.
• Contacts are praised for full field of view and activity freedom, but criticized for rotation issues, risk of grit, and infection.
• High prices of glasses are attributed to a global frame/lens cartel; several recommend low-cost online vendors.

Presbyopia and Multifocal Solutions

• Aging users note needing to remove glasses to read or add readers over distance correction.
• Multifocal and monovision contacts, plus new presbyopia eye drops, are mentioned as options, with mixed success reports.