Something was different about a recent hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. More specifically, Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was different. The octogenarian Iowan was wearing two pairs of eyeglasses.

After three decades in Washington, Grassley has excellent legislative vision. He sees everything from his perch in the Senate — spotting everything from biofuel reform to judicial nominees a mile away. So, why would Grassley double up his spectacles?