Discovering Race Bias While Shopping for Glasses
We had no idea our daughter was having trouble seeing at a distance.
At her annual eye exam, we were shocked when they told us she needed glasses. Her vision had always been 20/20. Now a teenager, her eyes were changing, and she developed myopia which is more commonly known as nearsightedness. My daughter is Asian, and according to the National Eye Institute, East Asians show the highest prevalence of myopia, with 69% having the condition by the age of 15.
Since my daughter is 13, the doctor recommended glasses instead of contacts. She was less than thrilled to know that if she wanted to see, she would need glasses.
A New Experience in Glasses Shopping
I’ve worn glasses since I was 10 years old, so I understood that glasses are not the most exciting thing to pick out. I took my daughter shopping to find a pair she would wear. My daughter’s friend got her glasses at Warby Parker, and that’s where she wanted to shop too.
She tried on pair after pair, but for some reason, nothing looked right on her face. Her eyes were never centered on the lens, and were up too high which created a weird effect. I couldn’t figure out why. We finally asked a salesperson for help.