In the Middle Ages- Wearing Glasses

[Red Sky]

I just got my first pair of progressive lenses today (bifocals with vanity) and am wondering for those that wear these type of glasses; do you learn where the "sweet" spot is for viewing near and far items, or do you just get use to the trippy warped aspect of looking at things?

[Ellen]

Hi Steven, I have those too and the trippy feeling ( in both senses of the word) only lasts a few days. It's surprising how fast one's eyes adjust. I'd of thought you too young for bifocals :)

[Red Sky]

Ellen- My arm was just not long enough anymore to hold fine details "at arm's length" so my optometrist said it was time. I attribute it to retinal burn from too much layer masking at close range! Thanks for the word; a neighbor told me she couldn't get used to them and went to the lined bifocals but I just wore them outside and didn't trip so I think I will adjust. I love updated prescriptions though; the clarity (upper zone) is almost overwhelming!

[PaulH]

Ellen- My arm was just not long enough anymore to hold fine details "at arm's length" so my optometrist said it was time. I attribute it to retinal burn from too much layer masking at close range! Thanks for the word; a neighbor told me she couldn't get used to them and went to the lined bifocals but I just wore them outside and didn't trip so I think I will adjust. I love updated prescriptions though; the clarity (upper zone) is almost overwhelming!

I've had both (for way too long). I never did adjust to them well.

I wear contacts most times w/ cheaters, I had a pair of safety glasses - plain on top and vari-focal readers and hated them.

I think it's because I wear the cheaters so much...

[BillBarber]

I had to get those a couple of years ago. Boy was it freaky! After a couple of days my mind, my eyes, and my glasses all adjusted to each other. Just watch out for steps in the meantime :D

[jo]

I've had mine (the kind with the line between near and far) for several months and decided it was easier to remove them when walking down steps. And my grandson always tells me to take them off when I hug him. :rolleyes:

[chas3stix]

Steve,
I've been wearing blended lenses for 17 years and wouldn't have it any other way. Stairs and ladders can be a problem.....there is a learning curve. Good luck.
Chas

[Pauline]

I got mine last summer. Yes they sure did feel strange and I thought I would never get used to them but I did. Word of advice.......be careful on stairs until you get used to them!! It's not good having that tippy warped feeling while going down a set of stairs! I find myself automatically adjusting my head now depending on what I am viewing. The only bad thing is that since wearing them......I now depend on them and find myself in trouble if I'm out and need to read something! :eek:

[LeeOtsubo]

LASIK is the only way to go. I've always been pretty nearsighted. In fact, when I volunteered to jump out of perfectly good airplanes, the colonel who examined me said, "Son, you're so blind that if you jumped out of an airplane, you wouldn't know which way to fall!"

Anyway, I had LASIK about 4 years ago and have been impressed with the results. I went to a fancy La Jolla eye doctor but you can get it these days for a lot cheaper. It will really improve your photography.

[NMarti]

Steven
I got mine when I was having all my eye problems last summer and the most important thing to remember is to point the tip of your nose at what you want to look at and you'll hit the sweet spot every time. That's what they told me and it does work.

[karen donnybrook]

One other thing Steven, make sure you adjust your computer chair so that you are looking down at the screen (through the bottom part of your glasses), otherwise you may end up with a crick in the neck and muscle fatigue across the shoulders.

Karen :)

[lindajay]

Good luck with them, Steven. In the past 16 years, I've tried them two times, and given up both times. Karen's advice is good. I always DID end up with the crick-in-the-neck problem, as I'm on the computer a lot. And I'm SHORT, so putting my chair high causes problems with cutting off circulation in my legs. Just wasn't working for me, BUT my mom has been wearing them (hers are TRIPLE progressive lenses) for years and years and absolutely loves them. Hope it works out that way for you.

[crljean]

I've had bifocals since I was 19! I've had progressive lenses for probably 15 years. You'll notice your peripheral vision may be wonky. Also, I got a crick in my neck when I was on the computer too long. I have a second pair of "office lenses" that have a much larger middle section and smaller distance vision and reading vision. I love them! Keep at it. You'll get the hang of it!

[Simone]

Hi Steven, thought I might chime in .... My situation is very much like Carol's (crljean). I've had progressives (tri) for many years, but I don't wear them all the time because I *really* didn't like moving my neck up and down. So, like Carol, I have a separate pair -- I call them my "desk" glasses which have only one correction in them, for computer-distance/reading/cooking etc. I only wear the progressives when I need distance such as for driving, running errands, movies, etc. etc. For doing the closer stuff, I always wear the other pair.... Yes it's a hassle to have 2 pairs but, for me, it works better than tilting my neck/chin all the time.

Just to share what yet another vision-impaired soul does... ! :)

[JulieM]

Steven: I've been wearing them for 6-8 years and adjusted in about a day. Never wore the "lined" kind". If you have problems adjusting to them, go back to your optometrist. I believe different manufacturers produce the glass to make the lenses and some are better than others. I went with my optometrist's advice and never had a problem...

[Byron Gale]

Steven,

When I went from single-vision to progressive, I got over the "swims" within a few days.

Before long, you will Just Know which portion of the lens to look through, depending on the distance of the object you're viewing.

Maybe I should have entered this post in "Easy Eye" type!! :p

Byron

[Bayla]

Steven,

I've worn 'varifocals' (is this the same thing as progressive lenses? - bifocals but you can't see the join:)) for about 5 years after wearing glasses since I was a kid. It took me two weeks to adjust to them. As people have pointed out, going downstairs can be hell - I kept feeling dizzy, and the other problem I came across was when driving. Every time I came to a junction and looked left & right before pulling out i felt like I was going to be sick! After a while it became second nature. (Although I still find myself unable to find the right spot for viewing the monitor!) Good luck with getting used to them:)

Bayla

Bayla

[Red Sky]

Thanks for all the words of wisdom, YOU TOO BYRON. I am getting pretty used to them, though they stay pretty much here by the computer. Looking low while turning one's head is about the only "tripping" I still do.

[ceejay3744]

Steven,

I have gone from those dumb half glasses perched on the end of my nose to no line bifocals to no line trifocals. I only had wavy vision for a day or so. But I have a second pair of single vision glasses for reading in bed. It's next to impossible to read laying on your side with trifocals. It was strictly a vanity thing. I didn't want people thinking I was old.