Making a SPECTACLE

The beloved broadcaster's reflections on life

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You may have noticed that I wear spectacles. I've been wearing them since I was 14. Oddly, I now don't have to wear glasses. I had surgery about 10 years ago that, while sorting out some cataracts, corrected my short-sightedness.

There are three reasons I still wear glasses, even though I don't have to. My lenses are cunningly constructed so they fulfil the role of reading glasses, but most of the lens remains clear. Unlike standard reading glasses, I can wear mine all the time. I don't have to put them on to read and take them off afterwards. These lenses are brilliant.