Why do so many Germans have bad eyes?

[Lee-Clark 5]

Why do so many Germans have bad eyes? I dont know if it is the same in the U.K because i haven't lived there for 15 years, but here in Germany, nearly everyone is wearing either glasses or contacts.

 

I can remember when i was at school, that there was only 1 kid in our year that wore glasses. Here it seems like 9 out of 10 have a sight problem! ???

[Hellie 2]

I must admit that was one of my first thoughts when I came to Germany, there does seem a lot of people wearing glasses here. I've only been here for 10 months so in comparison to the UK, it does seem higher. Not sure if there is such a big difference but certainly one that stuck out in my opinion.

[Loopy 5]

I noticed that as well (glad it's not just me), and the majority of people I know who don't wear glasses wear contacts. Did make me wonder if there are just more people who wear contacts in the UK.

 

I can't find any stats for Germany vs. UK, but the general prevalance of people with corrected vision across western Europe is 45%-50% therefore there shouldn't be much difference between Germany and the UK.

[Rustic_Cockney 1]

I don't think there is a specific problem with eyesight here:

 

The same syndrome appears to be with childrens braces, never seen so many here either. I think a lot of people here seem to do what they are told when it comes to health issues.

 

Go to a dentist here with a tooth missing in the back row, and you get told better get a bridge done, or some other contraption, biting efficieny is so and so, and if you don't keep it right you'll suffer long term blah blah:

 

So I think in terms of eyesight there are a lot more people wearing them to get perfect vision (the perfect vision being dictated by some bod somewhere), rather than having bad eyesight. Thats not a bad thing if thats what you want.

 

The eye tests though do seem a bit more thorough, i had mine last year and my eyes got a real work out, which spot is nearer, which spot is overlaying which spot blah blah. Working in IT which is worse the thing for eyes, i did tell the tester that on fridays eyes are a bit sore, that did provoke interest such as "well take mroe breaks or we can give you advice on the best pair of ...

...

...

...

(don't tell me, i know you know the answer)

..

...

thats right, glasses!!!

[blue_puffin 7]

It's got to do with the German health system and the German profil-neurosis of correctness.

It's changed a bit now, but you used to get most stuff for free, especially when you're a kid.

Braces, glasses... whatever. They stuff you with wires and fluoride pills and intensely "advise" you on specs even if you're not halfway close to 0.25 diopter. And heaven help you, if you have axis curvature.

Straighten, flatten, sharpen...

I attended school in Germany and ALL of my class-mates used to wear braces or brackets. Even grown-ups do it now. I could just about dodge the glasses. (I had my teeth-fissures sealed though.)

Germany is a country of control-freaks and it's their most desirable ambition to be part of the flock. Little flaws make you distinguishable. So, if in doubt follow the crowd... just don't stand out.

Well, I shouldn't bash really, I'm probably quite grateful in a couple of years time, when it saves me the dentures. I just get the "Käfigkoller" every now and then. Bilingualism does have it drawbacks, makes me feel a bit of a waif sometimes.

P.S.: They're also big in expunging dyslexia over here. That's not to be put up with! You can either have nice little kinesiology treatments or go straight to handicap-school. I was quite astonished when I first enrolled at a British university at the amount of disabled and dyslexic students and interpreters for the deaf. They just got a bit of extra time to read and write stuff and everything was sorted. In Germany you wouldn't even reach a school that does A-levels with any of that. Let alone finding a t-switch equipped public building. <_<

[Slackmack 5]

 

Germany is a country of control-freaks and it's their most desirable ambition to be part of the flock

Hi Blue Puffin, welcome to the britboard.de. As for the that comment I'd say Jein, yes ref: the control freakishness, there are many of those, or we just percieve them to be so! As for the ambitious flock thought, well I'd say that their most desirable ambition is to be above the flock, to stand out in a commanding way!

Thats just my view.

I've got 2 teenage lads and 1 (he's 16) has never had a filling let alone braces and the other (14) has had 3 fillings and again no braces or glasses for either of them... can't say the same for their class mates.

[Guest]

 

I don't think there is a specific problem with eyesight here:

Go to a dentist here with a tooth missing in the back row, and you get told better get a bridge done, or some other contraption, biting efficieny is so and so, and if you don't keep it right you'll suffer long term blah blah:

And if you ask me, they are right with their keep it right warnings. The proof is very visible in many other EU countries where a few missing teeth, especially with the older generation, is not an uncommon sight.

 

The eyes thing on the other hand is often ott. Some Germans, including my twatty brother-in-law, have got themselves glasses simply because the muppets reckon glasses make them look intelligent :excl:

However, beauty is only skin deep. :doh:

[jumpsuit27 8]

I reckon there's a bigger story to this. Here's my theory: Germans see everything as a fashion opportunity.

 

Bought a new bike, maybe a flashy mountain bike?

 

Go out and buy all the fancy helmets and the wraparound glasses and skintight panties (even if you are overweight and look a total fool)

 

Going a bit bald?

 

Shave it all off or better still, buy one of those big stetson type hats that go really well with the beard and wacky glasses!

 

Eyesight failing?

 

An opportunity to buy some totally daft looking assymetrical IT consultant glasses that make you look really intelligent

 

And so on

 

 

Germany is a country of control-freaks and it's their most desirable ambition to be part of the flock. Little flaws make you distinguishable. So, if in doubt follow the crowd... just don't stand out.

Yes I agree. Whatever you do, don't do anything out of the ordinary (unless its officially sanctioned, like Karneval).

 

Brush the street even tho there's nowt to brush just to keep the neighbours happy!

 

Watch Tatort on a Sunday night and don't dare to phone a German while the Tagesschau is on!

 

I could go on for ever, but the pros still outweigh the cons.

 

Ben

[rick_de 826]

 

I reckon there's a bigger story to this. Here's my theory: Germans see everything as a fashion opportunity.

 

Going a bit bald?

 

Shave it all off or better still, buy one of those big stetson type hats that go really well with the beard and wacky glasses!

I used to have one of those disguise-kits when I was a 7 year old :D

[yamyam 3]

no youve all got it wrong its cus they wank too much.

[Jonnyboy 9]

Kettle, meet Pot - I believe you know each other

[Hannah 8]

when my partner moved to Germany he did not use to have glasses but he knew that he might need some. But somehow he never managed to go to an "eye doctor" or optician in UK nor in Holland.

Now he has some, they are not to strong and he only wears them to drive the car or watch telly on a small telly and he is really happy with them actually.

 

I never used to have them but some day I noticed that others seem to see better than I do. Since I hate glasses on my nose, not coz of the look, I wear contact lenses now.

 

My Partners mom has glasses since ever (real old fashioned model in my opionion ) and she knows she actually needs stronger ones but never manages to get them for some reason neither.

 

Another thing (already hiding before I'll type it ):

I think loads of Brits (but Americans too ) wear real old fashioned looking ugly glasses. The most ppl in Germany wear nicer ones

 

Hannah, last name Control Freak :P

[Hannah 8]

 

I could go on for ever, but the pros still outweigh the cons.

 

Ben

good to hear

Hannah

[bbulldog 6]

I'll go with the 'want to look intelligent' theory :ph34r:

[Guest]

 

Another thing (already hiding before I'll type it ):

I think loads of Brits (but Americans too ) wear real old fashioned looking ugly glasses. The most ppl in Germany wear nicer ones

 

Hannah, last name Control Freak

Go Hannah! Go Hannah! Go Hannah!

(or may I say, Frau Farbissina??) ;)

[andrea 19]

 

I think loads of Brits (but Americans too ) wear real old fashioned looking ugly glasses

That's because they never went to Specsavers :lol:

[Hannah 8]

well, guess I can live with this. As long as you don't call me Angela (by the way, one reason what I like about wearing contact lenses is, that you can wear usual sunglasses just above them and if you go swimming you still can find the water and see what you might step on in the sea) :)

[far-lands 11]

There are loads of germans too that like to wear a "Kassenbrillengestell".

Frames are not expensive these days. And if you look for the offers...

I paid 1€ for mine, and they included magnetic clip on sunglasses. You can't even tell that they are clip ons.

I can't wear contacts, as I had a little mishap when an apprentice. A tiny metal shaving got cought in my eye, and caused some damage, and contacts keep rubbing against the scar and hurts.

[Hellie 2]

1 euro!!! Where on earth did you find some for that price??? The local flöh markt??

[far-lands 11]

APOLLO OPTIK

 

Was a great deal. And there is a voucher you can print out on their website...

My glasses cost me 120 EUR in the end, and the insurance paid for them, so that was great !!!