I don't remember what it was like having clear vision without "aid".. meaning contacts or eyeglasses.. I was probably too young which means I took it all for granted.  Frankly I don't know when it started..all I remember is that I had to go the doctor because of frequent headaches and dizziness and then- bam!  I wore glasses!  It was a novelty at first but then when I went to school and the other kids started to look at me differently..I tried to get rid of them.. I lost 3 or 4 pairs (always for some reason)... and I managed without them..  but later on I found myself putting too much effort into seeing people's faces.  I couldn't tell whether they were looking at me or not..smiling or nodding to acknoweldge.. I felt alienated.  So I wore glasses again and then I could see.. it didn't take long for me to realize that people were already looking at me differently even before the first time I wore eyeglasses.  I just didn't see the stares because my vision was blurry!  Wearing my eyeglasses didn't make me different..it just made me see that I've always been different!  what a realization!.... different in what way? who knows... maybe I'll find out once i get my braces....