Eye Glasses - progressive graduated bifocals

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Far-sighted
Eye Glasses - progressive graduated bifocals

I just got a pair of new glasses, my old ones were single vision lenses for reading and computer use. The new ones (progressive/graduated bifocals) are supposed to be on all the time.

Eye strain and age have gotten the better of me, but the "sweet spot" of these new graduated bifocals is about the size of a silver dollar on my computer screen. I don't think it's supposed to be this way.

When I turn my head or just my eyes from side to side more than one inch or even 1/2 of an inch it's all blurry...............its driving me crazy and it's just been a couple of days with these darn things.

When I take back the glasses, should I ask for new glasses or keep these for reading, driving and all uses except the computer and get a dedicate single vision pair just for 24 inches away from the screen?

These glasses are fine for reading but 90% of my use on on the computer, and these totally suck for that.

74-911 · 03-03-2008, 07:48 AM

I had exactly the same experience. After giving the progressive lens bifocals one week, I traded them from standard spllit lens bifocals. The progressives were ok for driving but drove me crazy (and nauseous at times) when on the computer (which was 8-9 hours a day).

The best solution I have found is the standard bifocals for driving, everyday use and a pair of standard reading glasses (as you detailed) for the computer. Get the full lens (not 1/2 lens) with the power which gives good sharpness and clarity at the distance you sit from your computer. I just use the off the shelf reading glasses from Target/xMarts. Using bifocals at the computer results in seriious neck aches from looking up.

frogger · 03-03-2008, 08:23 AM

I have progressive lenses and they work fine for nearly everything I do. I have higher quality (price) lenses as I couldn't wear the crap lenses that Lenscrafters offers. I couldn't even walk with the cheaper progressive lenses because I couldn't get focused on the ground. Working on the computer wasn't happening either, IIRC. Anyway, it's been about 5 years that I've been wearing them without problems.

74-911 · 03-03-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

I have progressive lenses and they work fine for nearly everything I do. I have higher quality (price) lenses as I couldn't wear the crap lenses that Lenscrafters offers. I couldn't even walk with the cheaper progressive lenses because I couldn't get focused on the ground. Working on the computer wasn't happening either, IIRC. Anyway, it's been about 5 years that I've been wearing them without problems.

They drove me crazy but my wife has them and thinks they are great ??

pwd72s · 03-03-2008, 09:49 AM

I tried them as well...first time I picked up a chain saw and looked down, I knew they wouldn't work. So, I'm back to 2 pairs...one reading, one distance.

oldE · 03-03-2008, 09:57 AM

I too appreciate them for driving, but for reading and screen work all day, I suspect a pair of optomised focal length lenses might serve you better.
It took me about a week to get used to the progressive 'bi's (Funny, I wasn't 'bi' before.)
My wife said it drove her crazy, watching me nod my head up and dowm, searching for the 'sweet spot'.
Now I still drive her crazy, just for other reasons.

Les

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Give them time. It takes a week or so to adjust. I've been wearing some full time for 5 years +.

Ian

frogger · 03-03-2008, 10:01 AM

I just looked up my lenses. They are Carl Zeiss T58 (polycarbonate). I've had them in the last three pairs of glasses and they are great. I twice tried to get progressive lenses in glasses from Lenscrafters, and they were horrible. Lense choice makes a huge difference. I didn't have to "give them time," either. They were right, from day 1. YMMV.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74-911

standard bifocals for driving, everyday use and a pair of standard reading glasses (as you detailed) for the computer.

Reading distance measures out as 18" and on computer as 24", still use the same pair for both short distances?

Frogger

Quote:

I have higher quality (price) lenses as I couldn't wear the crap lenses that Lenscrafters offers.

Does it make a difference if Polycarbonate or plastic?

Yes, I went to a discount place and have plastic lenses...............can you name a major retail chain as an alternate?

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Oh & I agree . . . Lenscrafter sucks. My last pair from them was scratched in a week & I could barely use them after a year. I now have some from Pearle Vision which are as good as new a year later.

Ian

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

I just looked up my lenses. They are Carl Zeiss T58 (polycarbonate). I've had them in the last three pairs of glasses and they are great. I twice tried to get progressive lenses in glasses from Lenscrafters, and they were horrible. Lense choice makes a huge difference. I didn't have to "give them time," either. They were right, from day 1. YMMV.

Cool, thanks for the info......................guess there is no cheap way out.

frogger · 10:12 AM

Not IMO, but everyone's different.

George, I bought my glasses/lenses from smaller shops, as the retail chains are most likely to get the cheaper brand lenses. I cannot say what's available in your area at a decent price. My glasses weren't cheap, but they work great.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

I returned the glasses, refunded everything but the exam. I'm not the first one to return a pair of progressive bifocals.

I called the other shop a local shop which has taken good care of me in the past, their prices are only a little more and they are very select which labs they use - or so they said so on the phone.

QUESTION: Are polycarbonate lenses better quality in general, or just lighter and thinner?

If I reuse an old frame with an exposed top edge I'll have to upgrade to polycarbonate, which is the way I'm leaning.

I had a headache, a fever and was real crabby today (a little crazy I was told) - I had to go home early and crash for a while - the eye stress was that severe.

frogger · 03-03-2008, 04:35 PM

Dunno about quality, but they are thin and light.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

And light & thin is important if you have them stuck on your face for 15 hrs or more.

Ian

targa911S · 03-03-2008, 06:10 PM

I too have the Zeiss progressive lenses and they were right from day one. The only criticism I have of them is working close overhead, like painting a wall or hanging a picture. I just take them off for that stuff. I have worn them for 10 years now. make sure the tech fit them for you properly, they have to sit just right on your face.

74-911 · 03-03-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kach22i

Reading distance measures out as 18" and on computer as 24", still use the same pair for both short distances?

I use the bifocals for normal reading as opposed to the computer glasses. I can't comfortably read close up text with the computer glasses 24" viewing. The computer glasses lens are what wouldl probably be the power of the middle lens of tri-focals. I don't remember what power the bifocal/reading or computer lens are unfortunately.