How did you know you needed reading glasses

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 74-911

Because my arms were getting to short for me to read I realized I probably needed reading glasses. The issue was forced one night at a very nice restaurant when I couldn't read the menu (low light, small print).
Best solution for me for years was monocular contact lens. One eye for reading, one eye for distance vision. After I retired I just went back to readers ... until I failed the vision test for TX drivers license renewal and then came the bi-focals.

One thing about readers, the quality is all over the place... some worked great, some I couldn't stand to wear.

Go get your eyes checked and get good quality readers

I tried the monocular contact thing and went back to progressives.

One thing about monocular contacts, long term can degrade depth perception.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I tried the monocular contact thing and went back to progressives.

One thing about monocular contacts, long term can degrade depth perception.

I tried the progressives but the constantly looking back and forth from monitors to documentation, etc. just didn't sit well for some reason. I ended up with bifocals for normal wear and use prescription higher powered full frame readers when at the computer.
However, since I don't code anymore I will probably try progressives again. (As someone stated re: bifocals , you do get tired of pissing on your shoes ).

The monocular contacts definitely affect depth perception when wearing them. Just had to pay a little closer attention when driving. That was the only time I really noticed it.

I wonder if they still do monocular contacts.. haven't heard anyone mention them in years ?

[wayner]

Originally Posted by 74-911

I tried the progressives but the constantly looking back and forth from monitors to documentation, etc. just didn't sit well for some reason. I ended up with bifocals for normal wear and use prescription higher powered full frame readers when at the computer.
However, since I don't code anymore I will probably try progressives again. (As someone stated re: bifocals , you do get tired of pissing on your shoes ).

The monocular contacts definitely affect depth perception when wearing them. Just had to pay a little closer attention when driving. That was the only time I really noticed it.

I wonder if they still do monocular contacts.. haven't heard anyone mention them in years ?

Ask for task specific progressive lenses for working at a computer or in a board room where you have to read but also have to look up a lot. They enlarge the mid working area of the lens

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 74-911

I tried the progressives but the constantly looking back and forth from monitors to documentation, etc. just didn't sit well for some reason. I ended up with bifocals for normal wear and use prescription higher powered full frame readers when at the computer.
However, since I don't code anymore I will probably try progressives again. (As someone stated re: bifocals , you do get tired of pissing on your shoes ).

The monocular contacts definitely affect depth perception when wearing them. Just had to pay a little closer attention when driving. That was the only time I really noticed it.

I wonder if they still do monocular contacts.. haven't heard anyone mention them in years ?

I work in software dev so I’m looking at multiple monitors all day long.

I hated my first pair of progressives because I had to do the point your nose at what you want to read thing.

Thats when I tried the monocular thing.

Hated that.

Went to contacts plus readers.

I’m not a candidate for dailies and the nightly cleaning grind got old real fast so I decided to try progressives again.

This time they offered lens choices that had a much larger window / field of correction.

Made all the difference.

I don’t even realize I’m wearing progressives, they feel like a normal pair of glasses.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

You probably wouldn't care what I have to say on it then.


Once I broke down and started using glasses I find I use them more and more as I get used to them. You can say I need them more because my eyes got lazy, but I think I use them more because I now realize how poorly I was seeing without them.

^^ This!

I was a bit farsighted most of my life and at 50 I really needed some reading help. By waiting, suffering, and squinting, we actually cause astigmatism to get worse. I used cheapie $10 readers too long when I really needed prescription glasses.

As explained to me by the Doc, everybody's eyesight ages at nearly the same rate and us farsighted types need to reach for readers first. Once you develop significant astigmatism, it's time for real glasses. The vision in my right eye is now significantly improved after being properly corrected. I now have prescription readers and progressive lens sunglasses.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I work in software dev so I’m looking at multiple monitors all day long....

This time they offered lens choices that had a much larger window / field of correction.

I don’t even realize I’m wearing progressives, they feel like a normal pair of glasses.

Been there, spent the better part of 40 years in software development. (EasyCoder, Fortran, COBOL, etc. anyone ?) Now, just e-mail, Pelican, spread sheets, etc.

The prescription readers work great when using the computer. The issue I have now is when driving or working on things I have to look up to see and neither focal length work for that distance. (when driving (particularly the 911) the gauges are just a blur unless I lean way forward).

Based on you and Wayner's experience, appears I need to take another look at progressives. It was 20 years or so the last time I tried them.

[GH85Carrera]

I wear my glasses when I leave the house, mostly because it is a real handy glasses holder. I wear progressive glasses. When I first got them i was a real brain twist. The view is very distorted. I happened to be in my 911 when I got my progressive lenses. I sat down in the driver's seat as usual, and looked at the steering wheel. The bottom of the round wheel was all bent forward. I thought for a second someone had tried to steal my car and bent the wheel. Then I realized how totally stupid that sounded even to my panicked brain. I took off the glasses and all was normal.

It took my brain two weeks or so to adapt to the new view. Now I can put the glasses on, and not even notice the warped view, as my brain puts things back in the proper place.

Sitting at my computer, I take off the glasses. I don't need them to see the monitors or stuff on my desk. Only if I have to read some small text do I wear my glasses.

[GH85Carrera]

This is very much the experience of trifocals or progressive lenses. A very funny bit, back when Cosby was a good guy.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

A very funny bit, back when Cosby was a good guy.

Probably back when everyone thought he was a good guy.