Hal, I am like you and can't see a foot in front of me without my glasses. Thankfully my prescription has been stable at -6.75 (right) and -6.25 (dur) for a handfull of years now. My eyes worsened progressively and quickly in my 20's and then leveled off (when you can't function without corrective lenses to begin with, your vision getting worse is mucho scary!).
< aside > I think Shani's got even worse eye's than mine and maybe Redlemon too (?) (and highthief's wife).
My insurance won't cover corrective surgery and I sure as hell can't pay for it out of pocket. I used to be jealous of anyone who could have it done, but then I started ruminating...
Having such bad vision, I sometimes like (need?) to take my glasses off and just rest my eyes from all the visual stimulation. Kind of a "check out" for a few moments. It's not the same as closing your eyes, but something like I think hearing aid wearers do when they turn them off, "tuning out" for a bit. It never lasts for more than a few because when I'm not working, cleaning or gardening...I'm reading.
So Hal, since it seems you had similar vision before the procedure, I ask you if you ever liked the "time out's" I do and if so, how do/have you dealt with not having that ability any longer? It's something I'm seriously concerned about if I am ever able to afford surgery.
As another aside, my hubby has such a weak prescription that when I put them on, I don't see any correction at all. When he put's mine on, he swears he get's a quick/short headache and can't see straight for a couple min's.
(they're not coke bottles for chrissakes!)