At this point my soles are so thick that i can't even pierce them with a sewing needle, i'm vastly more worried about stepping hard on a pebble and getting a blister than any sort of puncturing.
Maybe consider writing an article about how to do it safely, otherwise if the best Ive got is an idiot at Forbes and some brilliant but crazy ultrarunner, and there's no middle ground? Yeah I'm never trying it.
You probably don't walk around barefoot in a major population center I'm guessing?
I'm also plenty comfy walking around my suburban neighborhoods and nature trails barefoot but you better believe I'm putting shoes on in the city areas. Even if you don't step on something dangerous those streets are extra filthy
With glasses correcting vision to the degree they are intended to, you should be able to see individual leaves on a tree 1km away. That's generally my test for if I need to go in and get my prescription updated.
When they are doing the "which looks better?" part, take your time, don't let them make you feel rushed. When I was younger we didn't have much money, so we had to go to the eye care place inside the local wal-mart. They always made you feel like you were wasting their time, cuz they book too many people. My prescription was never great as a kid.
When I finally got my own money and went to a decent eye place with up to date equipment and no rush, the prescription I got then, and ever since have been literally miles ahead of the wal-mart crap.
My vision was worth the extra 10 dollars and additional 5 minutes. It's a pretty important sense. (Sorry to those who lack the option of sight, but I imagine even you guys have to feel bad for someone that could see perfectly, but has just never gotten the opportunity to).