Did DD Know that Harry Would Need Glasses?

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 129429

 "gelite67" <gelite67 at y...> wrote:
> It seems odd to me that as often as Uncle Vernon gripes about how 
> expensive it is to support Harry, he never complains about the 
> cost of Harry's glasses.  Surely, Harry's prescription has needed 
> updating several times, since is he a growing boy.
> 
> Related to that, and more to the real point of the thread, I wonder 
> when Harry got his glasses and what prompted the initial visit to the 
> opthomalogist.  I don't think we've been told exactly what his eye 
> ailment is. Some have suggested that it is related to the scar, since 
> he was struck so close to his eyes.  This makes sense, but I wonder 
> if his vision problem is related to the scar, why hasn't all the scar-
> related connectedness b/w Harry and LV affected his vision?  
> 
> I know I read in some thread that Jo said either Harry's glasses were 
> the key to his vulnerability.  And I know she's said it is important 
> that Harry has his mother's eyes and that they are green 
> (which is also the color of the light when the AK curse is 
> peformed).  
> 
> Given all that, I wonder if DD guessed that Harry's vision had been 
> compromised by the failed AK curse and told the Dursleys in the 
> letter he left with Harry that Harry would need glasses.  This would 
> at least explain why Vernon never complains -  that would border on 
> discussing Harry's "condition" which Vernon can't stand to do.

Sophierom:

Fascinating questions. At the beginning of PS, we learn that Harry's
glasses are held together with tape, so we can gather from that
information that, even if we don't hear Vernon complain about the cost
of the glasses, he's not been keen on keeping them well maintained. 
(Or, I suppose we could also infer that Dudley's been punching on him
recently!)  

As for Harry's vision, didn't James Potter wear glasses?  While
Rowling has indicated that glasses and eyes are both important to
understanding Harry's vulnerabilities and powers, perhaps his bad
eyesight is due to genetics?

I wonder if Rowling's comment about Harry's glasses being key to his
vulnerability refers to the fairly simple fact that, should his
glasses be knocked away from him, Harry will be unable to see as well?  

Sight does seem to be an important theme in the book.  There's
Trelawney with her occasionally accurate sight (despite her fraudulent
ways and big, huge glasses).  There's also the basilisk in CoS, whose
sight is key to his powers. And I'm sure there are many more
references to sight and blindness (and many posts dealing with the
subject). Hmm, it will be interesting to find out how Harry's sight
plays into this!