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I've been near-sighted since I was 7 and wore glasses. My vision is currently 20/80. Until this past year, I could wear my glass all of the time and still be able to read books with them on. I've been experiencing headaches and finding it harder for my eyes to focus. Its reached a point where I had to take the glasses off so I can read a book or a monitor.
I put on my first pair of bifocals this weekend and I find myself having a tough time adjusting. I'm not sure if its just me or the lenses. On the eye doctor's recommendation, I got the progressive lenses instead of the lined ones.
While driving, if I look straight ahead everything is crisp and sharp. But if I move my eyes slightly to the left or right, everything looks warped and out of focus. Is this normal for bifocals? Looking down, I can see the speedometer on the pickup perfectly for the first time.
I'm also considering buying a pair of "computer" glasses. I can read books just fine right down to about 3pt text. But looking at a computer monitor things are readable but just very slightly fuzzy. I can feel my eyes straining to focus. My eye are about 24" to 30" away. Has anyone bought a pair just for computer use?
I wear progressives and have no issues looking side to side with my glasses (more round lenses). I also just turn my head most of the time so the eyes are more in the middle of the lens.
No on the reading glasses as I see just fine up close. No problems with the computer use either.
The adjustment to progressives or bi's for that matter has taken a little while to give it some more time.
Best of luck,
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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I have always ordered bifocals with a wide lower lens, it is very helpful when lettering. It may be what you need. If I am any further that 12 to 18 inches away from the computer screen, it is difficult to read. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I had been nearsighted since the late 70's and eventually ended up with the progressive bifocals like you have. They take some getting used to for sure. It's like tunnel vision having to move your head instead of just your eyes to keep things clear.
Fortunately, my distance vision has steadily gotten better over the years and now I just purchase drug store glasses at a couple assorted strengths. One for computer distance and another for close up work. I keep sets at work, at home and at my cabin. . . and in my truck.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1357 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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I don't like progressive bifocals because they mess with peripheral vision - requiring you to move your head if you want to focus on anything. The lined bifocals work better for me. I don't mind the line, which barely shows. and I get much better vision side to side.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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I have excellent vision, but my arms are too short! So ................... I have a pair of computer glasses and carry reading glasses for close up stuff!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
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siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Welcome to the world of aging. I've had progressive lenses for a while, and yes the view from the sides is somewhat blurry. If you speak to your optician they can help you pick out frames that will minimize that and I believe the lenses can be ground to reduce that as well. Working with power tools a lot I prefer the progressive because I like my fingers. I bought a pair of "office glasses" along with my regular prescription and I really do like them. The distance is set for about 15' before any "softening", which is fine for most of my shop work. I do find that I have trouble driving after dark with them, but other than that they are pretty versatile, so much so that I forget to switch back when it's time to go home. By eliminating the clarity at farther distances, it leaves a lot more real estate for the mid range and closer work. I think we each adapt to glasses in a different manner. My husband had a much more difficult time adjusting to his progressives.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Seriously, like the others have said, they do take some time to get used to. The strength has a lot to do with it too. My latest pair is a lot stronger than my old ones. It was awful there for awhile, especially on the computer...I couldn't see crap. It didn't help that I have mine set "close" for work. I have to sit a little closer to the monitor. I've had about ten pair of these and there has been a glitch with every single one of them. I remember the first pair and trying to go down stairs...like tripping on acid.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
I just got back from the eyewear center. They adjusted the frames so they sit a little lower which seems to help.
I'm starting to wish I had bought the standard lined bifocals. The technician said that progressive lenses have an hourglass shape to them which is why things are distorted from side to side. Lined bifocals don't have that issue nearly as badly she says and that it will take a week or two for me to get used to the progressives.
Like Bill said, my distance vision has actually improved. I went from 20/100 to 20/80 over the last 5 years. But I am having more difficulty getting my eyes to focus.
And then yesterday morning I woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that I had burst a blood vessel in my right eye. That's the first time its ever happened. I'm going to be a sight for the next couple weeks. Gag!
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I wear progressive trifocals, just takes a while getting use to.
I also have wet AMD in my left eye, now thats difficult getting used to! Getting old really sucks at times.
-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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I had tried them for a few weeks and never worked for me. They were making me sick and were to dangerous. I was up in the bucket and with no clear peripheral vision almost hit a power line as I was focused on the sign. And forget climbing a ladder with out looking down.
So I just went to 3 pair of glasses.. One for standard vision. Driving ect.. Computer/reading Glasses. Then I Had a pair made with some stronger magnification for close up work when working on the glass.
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My progressives drove me crazy when I first got them. Now I don't notice any distortion. I don't remember how long it took me to get used to them but I did and now I love them.
But.... they don't work well on the computer because I have to tilt my head up to hit the right area for proper focus on the computer screen. I bought a pair for work where the upper part of the lens is just right for the computer which is also perfect for working. My monitor is the same distance from my face as my hands are for doing almost everything. The lower part is for normal reading so these shop glasses go on at the shop and stay on almost all day.
[ February 14, 2011, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Like several people here...I intially got the progressive lens...like Glenn...they were the recommendation of the eye doctor...he said they would give an extra point of focus more than the bifocal...I wanted the best so that is what I got...but I absolutely could not stand them...no peripheral vision...I'm surprised I didn't have a wreck...didn't like the tunnel vision...after a month I went back and traded for the lined bifocal...seems strange to me that we put a man on the moon but cant figure out how to make progressive lenses that don't distort on the sides.
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I started wearing glasses at age 4. Around 50 I needed bifocals and just got the regulaer lined ones. It took a couple weeks to get ues to them but soon they were second nature.
The only problem I experienced was after a month or so I developed some sever pain in my neck. I went to a massage therapist a couple of times and after that everything was fine. Seems it was from tilting my head back to see the computer through the bottom part of the lenses.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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Wear progressive also mine are small glasses can't wait to order bigger and wider glasses, don't know why I listen to my gal telling me I look better then with big glasses lol I need to see lettering better lol geez
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I got progressive lenses and wore them probably two hours total. They told me I'd get used to them, but obviously it was going to take more time than I could stand. I just use store bought readers for the first few feet, although I need to get stronger ones each year. My distance vision is fine.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5089 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had the same problem Dave G. had: pain in the neck from using the bottom lense of the bifocal for computer. Now I have a pair of single-vision glasses just for the computer, nothing else. They have really made a difference.
If you do painted bulletins, bifocals can be dangerous. You can only tilt your head back so far when you're standing on a walkboard. But you can have a pair of bifocals reversed, so that the closer vision is on top, but then lettering below your eye level can be uncomfortable. Here's what I did, at a doctor's suggestion. I had a pair made with close vision at both top and bottom and far vision in the middle. The middle part was fairly narrow, so I could letter above my head or below my head without a lot of head tilting. The doctor called them contractor's lenses, and they made a world of difference in terms of fatigue. I also had them made rather large, and with the heaviest photo-sun tint available, to avoid "wall blindness."
-------------------- Brad Ferguson See More Signs 7931 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO 64111 signbrad@yahoo.com 816-739-7316 Posts: 1230 | From: Kansas City, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The experience I had with those type lenses is that everything seemed like a cockpit of an airplane.Signs don't have that kind of shape.they're flat & straight.I'd say you'll never get use to them.Lay them aside and go to Dollar General and get you some line byphocals.I did..they are cheap..they work great.
-------------------- Bill Wood Bill Wood, Sign Artist 3628 Ogburn Ave., NE Winston-Salem, NC 27105-3752 336-682-5820 Posts: 397 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: May 2006
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It took me a long time to get used to my progressive lenses.I had to play around with the computer monitor to get it at the right height so it wouldn't look blurry. I've got it about 6" above the top of my desk - sitting on a channel letter.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1267 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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