In September 2005, I started working at a historic museum. The job has provided me with information that helps me in reducing my garbage production, and I am quite happy there. Part of my position involves dressing like Victorian servant and giving tours of the house. My glasses are not at all Victorian,so I take them off and work blurry-eyed. As soon as I got the job, I started thinking about contact lenses and trying to find out information about the environmental effects of contact lenses compared to glasses. I searched and searched and found nothing. Fast forward to this year on my birthday- a good friend contacted other friends and family to collect a "get Sarah new glasses fund" as my glasses have been on their last legs (arms?) for almost two years, since I fell off my bicycle and cracked the frames. I finally had time, and money (thanks to the fantastic gift) to make an optometrist appointment last week. I found one very close to my house:
M Daalderop OD

986 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON (0.25 miles away)
416-654-6443

I think he may be retiring soon, which is unfortunate, because I like him so much. He did a great job, was very good at explaining things to me, kept the needs of his patients in mind, and not only answered my environmental questions but told me I made his day for asking them!
I got to my appointment early, and was reading in the waiting room when a woman about my parents age came in with her father. He was very old and dependent. Wren the doctor finished with his patient, the woman and her father were called. As soon as they went, the receptionist apologized profusely and explained that she wouldn't usually let someone butt in like that, but the man had eyelashes stuck in his eye and it wouldn't;t take long to remove them. I told her it was fine and I wasn't;t worried ( I mean really who would complain about a 90 year old man going in front of them?). She told me that I was a sweet heart and many people had complained in the past. When Dr. Calderon came out, he also apologized to me and we went through the same song and dance. I didn't think the apologies were called for, but I was impressed that the recognized me a valuable customer. So, i did all the eye tests and discovered I do need a new prescription because my astigmatism has gotten worse. I asked if that meant I could have contacts, and he explained that used to be the case, but now there are special disposable contacts for a astigmatism. After he explained how they work, I asked if they were only available in the disposable format and he said yes. In my very non eloquent way I said " well what happens to them after-I know they are not very big, but are there any options other than going to the land fill and will they leak harmful chemicals?" He paused and looked at me before asking " Are you asking me about the ecological effects?" and I said "Yes". He replied, rather astonishedly " I have been an eye doctor for 25 years and no one has ever asked me about this, but I think about it all the time. Thank you for asking" and then he launched into a well thought out and precise answer. I was also shocked because I'm used to people looking at me like I'm an alien and saying they have no idea. Anyhow I decided to go with the contacts. The disposable ones actually end up being more earth friendly than the permanent kind because of chemicals and the amount of solution needed.
I also learned some dangerous info about John Fleur shoes. I have been really wanting tall boots and have been looking around for sweat shop free-also scouring the second hand stores. I went to the Fleuvog website www.fluevog.com
and discovered that they have very morally sound labour practices. Good for the world, bad for my wallet, as Fleuvogs cost about $300 and I love them. Fortunatly I am satiated for the time being with boots I got for free at Friday night's clothing swap. Yaaaaay!