I think I assumed everyone saw trees as they're commonly drawn and painted: as just a blob of green

That's funny, I didn't have nearly as bad eye sight, but also distinctly remember first noticing leaves on trees when I got my glasses around that same age.

I remember that first "OMG people can see things further than 20 feet away!?!" revelation.

Supremely curious: as a 12 y/o, did you assume everyone struggled getting around, always?

Yep!

I had an eyetest in primary school, I couldn't read anything. Looking back on it years later I assume she thought I was joking or else just royally cocked-up!

It left me with some strange cognitive coping strategies - like I would always dictate what the teacher was saying rather than reading it off the board.

The offshoot is I have very poorly formatted but fast handwriting!

wow the system really dropped the ball on this one