All,
I need to get new lenses, does anyone know a shop that can make lenses upper
half ground for distance, lower half ground for close work. LensCrappers did
a poor job on my first pair, I would like to find a shop that does good
work. Anyone here know a lens shop that does good work?
Thanks,

Kent

Kent Frazier writes:

I need to get new lenses, does anyone know a shop that can make lenses
upper half ground for distance, lower half ground for close work.

http://www.19dollareyeglasses.com/

Don't laugh. Good stuff and very cheap. Just takes a few weeks to get
mailed from Hong Kong.

Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
penny/cent.
Regards
GeoffH
Norfolk - UK

On Mon, 01 Mar 2004 02:05:35 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

Kent Frazier writes:

I need to get new lenses, does anyone know a shop that can make lenses
upper half ground for distance, lower half ground for close work.

http://www.19dollareyeglasses.com/

Don't laugh. Good stuff and very cheap. Just takes a few weeks to get
mailed from Hong Kong.

"GeoffH @hotmail.com" nospam wrote in message
...
Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.

I have used these since I have needed bifocals. They require a time
investment to get used to them, but it is worth it for most people. You
have to learn to point your nose directly at what you are looking at, and
nothing will look square for a while. Eventually, the brain learns how to
put everything back in its place and all is well and everything is always in
focus. I wouldn't be without them.

Vaughn

Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every


Man this is definitely a YMMV statement. I'd tried them, for two months. I
HATED them. If you want to do close work you have to quit moving your eyes
and move your head to whatever you look at. Kind of like peering through a
tunnel.

This is one of those things you've got to shop around for. Me, I found the
optician at Sears would listen to my situation and then give me JUST what I
needed. With an AARP card, you get a good deal on glasses at Sears.

The only problem I'm having with this pair of specs. is pits from grinder
sparks. I know, I know, you're supposed to put on another pair of specs to
do this. But what a PITA to just sharpen a drill bit or knock the bur off
something.

Karl

On Mon, 01 Mar 2004 13:59:33 GMT, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:

=== Go for Varifocus.
=== The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
=== Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
===
===
===Man this is definitely a YMMV statement. I'd tried them, for two months. I
===HATED them. If you want to do close work you have to quit moving your eyes
===and move your head to whatever you look at. Kind of like peering through a
===tunnel.
===
===This is one of those things you've got to shop around for. Me, I found the
===optician at Sears would listen to my situation and then give me JUST what I
===needed. With an AARP card, you get a good deal on glasses at Sears.
===
===The only problem I'm having with this pair of specs. is pits from grinder
===sparks. I know, I know, you're supposed to put on another pair of specs to
===do this. But what a PITA to just sharpen a drill bit or knock the bur off
===something.
===
===Karl
===
===
For quite a few years I went through the trouble of bifocals. Then
on my last visit to a different eye doctor, he asked me if there was
any particular reason I had bifocals. I replied yes, my previous eye
docs said I was at that age and my eyes needed bifocals........well
he just laughed, and now I have been bifocal free for over 4 years and
don;t miss the dam things one bit. I have no problems seeing close up.
Its when things are a good distance away is when I need corrected
vision. I rarely ever wear glasses anymore.

IMHO the worst thing you can do is allow a eye doctor to read the
perscription of your old glasses. Why does he need it anyhow. Your
paying him to tell you what perscription you need if any at all. Get
his perscription and compare, you may be surprised your eyesight did
not change after all. I trust eye doctors about as much as I trust a
used car salesman or Lawyer.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wifes,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Hello Karl,

Man this is definitely a YMMV statement. I'd tried them, for two months. I
HATED them. If you want to do close work you have to quit moving your eyes
and move your head to whatever you look at. Kind of like peering through a
tunnel.
How long ago did you try them?
The first pair I tried where the 1st generation and they where
useless, as the field of vision was only about 20 degrees.
Lasted about a month with me.
Yikes - everything was distorted so much I felt physically sick.
The 4th generation are much much better.
As Vaughn says you do have to adjust to them and learn to point you
nose at everything.
But this slight inconvenience is OK.
Absolutely ideal for computer work as it's so easy to read instruction
book and then flick to the screen (yes I know manuals are only meant
for door stops, but heck I do have to read them when stumped)
Regards
GeoffH
Norfolk - UK

On Mon, 01 Mar 2004 11:21:32 GMT, "Vaughn"
wrote:


"GeoffH @hotmail.com" nospam wrote in message
.. .
Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.

I have used these since I have needed bifocals. They require a time
investment to get used to them, but it is worth it for most people. You
have to learn to point your nose directly at what you are looking at, and
nothing will look square for a while. Eventually, the brain learns how to
put everything back in its place and all is well and everything is always in
focus. I wouldn't be without them.

I had 'em and hated 'em. Reading a book was like watching a
pingpong match.

Roy wrote:

IMHO the worst thing you can do is allow a eye doctor to read the
perscription of your old glasses. Why does he need it anyhow. Your
paying him to tell you what perscription you need if any at all.

If you have prism correction and it's working,
it's important not to change it. Twice I've
had to take back an otherwise good set of glasses
because the Doc thought he could improve my
prism correction.

I tried them and hated them as well. I need to be able to look by mving my
eyes not by pointing my head.
Kent
"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

"GeoffH @hotmail.com" nospam wrote in message
...
Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.

I have used these since I have needed bifocals. They require a time
investment to get used to them, but it is worth it for most people. You
have to learn to point your nose directly at what you are looking at, and
nothing will look square for a while. Eventually, the brain learns how
to
put everything back in its place and all is well and everything is always
in
focus. I wouldn't be without them.

Vaughn

On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:39:35 +0000 (UTC), GeoffH
brought forth from the murky depths:

Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
penny/cent.

I was nauseated for 2 weeks trying to get acclimated
to some of the Varilux lenses and SWORE AT THEM.

The opto office didn't tell me that the center of the lens is
the only place on the lens which has the proper correction.
I have astigmatism in both eyes so whenever I looked
anywhere but in the fully focused area, I got ended up
with headaches and nausea. they were so out of focus
for seeing anything from the rear view mirrors that I
couldn't drive while wearing them without turning my head
to bring the mirror into focus. That's downright dangerous.
My peripheral vision was nil with those lenses and the
distortion at the sides was horrible. Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
I have never been as mad at a medical person as I was with
that salescritter at the optometric office.

Anyone who is active and alert/aware will have trouble
wearing these lenses unless their prescription is very,
very mild. People who have astigmatism will have trouble.
Sedate single-taskers may love them.

While your mileage obviously varied, I don't think I'll
be trying them again soon. Not in THIS lifetime.


..-.
Better Living Through Denial
---
http://www.diversify.com Wondrous Website Design

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:39:35 +0000 (UTC), GeoffH
brought forth from the murky depths:


Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
penny/cent.


I was nauseated for 2 weeks trying to get acclimated
to some of the Varilux lenses and SWORE AT THEM.

The opto office didn't tell me that the center of the lens is
the only place on the lens which has the proper correction.
snipped...

I tried them and hated them as well. If you
use your peripheral vision and/or need most
of your field of vision sharp, don't waste
your time with them. If you do decide to
try them, they have to be *very* carefully
fitted to your eye position.

My wife loves hers, but it took 3 trys for
her opto to get them right.

"Jim Stewart" wrote: (clip) My wife loves hers, but it took 3 trys for her
opto to get them right.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
How would anyone know whether the difficulties are due to not having it
right yet, or just being unable to use them? I have had experience with an
optometrist who was reluctant to replace the lenses, and tried very hard to
con me into keeping the original glasses (normal bifocals, not varifocals.)
It turned out that the problem I was experiencing was covered in a Consumers
Reports article, and was well known, but this doc "seemed" to know nothing
about it. Needless to say, I haven't been back there.

I have a pair of Varilux Safety glasses, bought for me by my previous
employer's (Weatherford)
buy-you-one-pair-of-prescription-safety-glasses-every-two-years plan.
I find that they are wonderful wear-in-the-store glasses, or go to
meeting glasses, but when you are working on mechanical things...
straight lines are curved, you have to wiggle your head around all the
time to focus, you have to point your head at the moon to focus on
something really closely.

No good for the mechanical type. Back to the dollar store glasses.
Cheap, throw them away when they're damaged. I'll keep the Varilux for
family reunions, looking for the Cereal boxes etc.

Jim Stewart wrote in message ws.com...
Larry Jaques wrote:
On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:39:35 +0000 (UTC), GeoffH
brought forth from the murky depths:


Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
penny/cent.


I was nauseated for 2 weeks trying to get acclimated
to some of the Varilux lenses and SWORE AT THEM.

The opto office didn't tell me that the center of the lens is
the only place on the lens which has the proper correction.
snipped...

I tried them and hated them as well. If you
use your peripheral vision and/or need most
of your field of vision sharp, don't waste
your time with them. If you do decide to
try them, they have to be *very* carefully
fitted to your eye position.

I tried them and took them back for regular bifocals after two weeks.
I fly for a living, and the loss of peripheral vision was just too
dangerous.

Dan

Leo Lichtman wrote:
"Jim Stewart" wrote: (clip) My wife loves hers, but it took 3 trys for her
opto to get them right.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
How would anyone know whether the difficulties are due to not having it
right yet, or just being unable to use them?

I honestly don't know. I know I hated them and when I
told my opto why, he didn't push it. My wife, on the
other hand, *wanted* the lenses and made it work.

I have had experience with an
optometrist who was reluctant to replace the lenses, and tried very hard to
con me into keeping the original glasses (normal bifocals, not varifocals.)
It turned out that the problem I was experiencing was covered in a Consumers
Reports article, and was well known, but this doc "seemed" to know nothing
about it. Needless to say, I haven't been back there.

"Jim Stewart" wrote in message
s.com...
Leo Lichtman wrote:
"Jim Stewart" wrote: (clip) My wife loves hers, but it took 3 trys for
her
opto to get them right.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
How would anyone know whether the difficulties are due to not having it
right yet, or just being unable to use them?

I honestly don't know. I know I hated them and when I
told my opto why, he didn't push it. My wife, on the
other hand, *wanted* the lenses and made it work.

I have had experience with an
optometrist who was reluctant to replace the lenses, and tried very hard
to
con me into keeping the original glasses (normal bifocals, not
varifocals.)
It turned out that the problem I was experiencing was covered in a
Consumers
Reports article, and was well known, but this doc "seemed" to know
nothing
about it. Needless to say, I haven't been back there.


I had the same experience a few years ago. I thought the lenses were just
ground wrong, and told the doctor that. Ended up trading for regular
bifocals and reading glasses. Still using the reading ones.....Paul

On 2 Mar 2004 07:24:21 -0800, (Dan Thomas)
wrote:

Jim Stewart wrote in message ws.com...
Larry Jaques wrote:
On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:39:35 +0000 (UTC), GeoffH
brought forth from the murky depths:


Hello Kent,
Go for Varifocus.
The best invention since sliced breat. Well OK one of the best.
Not cheap, here in the UK at least, but what is, but worth every
penny/cent.


I was nauseated for 2 weeks trying to get acclimated
to some of the Varilux lenses and SWORE AT THEM.

The opto office didn't tell me that the center of the lens is
the only place on the lens which has the proper correction.
snipped...

I tried them and hated them as well. If you
use your peripheral vision and/or need most
of your field of vision sharp, don't waste
your time with them. If you do decide to
try them, they have to be *very* carefully
fitted to your eye position.

I tried them and took them back for regular bifocals after two weeks.
I fly for a living, and the loss of peripheral vision was just too
dangerous.

Dan

I sure like mine, for the most part. I am at the computer a lot, and
they are no problem there. I drive a fair amount. Being able to read
the instruments and see ahead is a great bonus. I don't legally need
glasses to drive yet, but I fi nd them good for seing details like
reading street signs before I've passed them.
I had NO trouble getting used to them for normal everyday use - BUT my
"optical micrometer" has gone out of calibration to the point I can no
longer trust my eyes to say "that's 1/4"" or "that's 5/16"".
I can also not trust my eyes to say something is perfectly straight -
but that's what I have micrometers and digital verniers and straight
edges for. With my "invisible bifocals" I can read them, and still see
where I left them when I put them down on the bench.

Wouldn't have anything else (but I DO keep a set of regular "reading
glasses" around for when everything I am working on is close-up.

What I HAVE noticed is, with the antiglare coating, at night I do not
see as well with my glasses on as with them off when driving. They
seem to "absorb" some light - making it brighter with them off???
Optometrist says non coated would be even worse and is surprised I can
notice the difference.

straight lines are curved, you have to wiggle your head around all the
time to focus, you have to point your head at the moon to focus on
something really closely

When I grew old enuf to need bifocals I got mine in the "Executive" style.
That is the strong part of the lens was on the bottom 25-30% of each lens,
straight across. Great-I don't have to move my head much.

I let an "authority" talk me into getting a pair of standard bifocals (len is a
circle). Money pooooorly spent. So the "Executive" lens is a tad heavier, my
nose caan stand it..



Paul in AJ AZ

I am with you on this. I bought a pair of this type but they were poorly
made. I asked this question originally to find an optical shop that was
competent
Kent
"Pep674" wrote in message
...

straight lines are curved, you have to wiggle your head around all the
time to focus, you have to point your head at the moon to focus on
something really closely

When I grew old enuf to need bifocals I got mine in the "Executive" style.
That is the strong part of the lens was on the bottom 25-30% of each lens,
straight across. Great-I don't have to move my head much.

I let an "authority" talk me into getting a pair of standard bifocals (len
is a
circle). Money pooooorly spent. So the "Executive" lens is a tad
heavier, my
nose caan stand it..



Paul in AJ AZ

Pep674 named the grind style ( I had forgotten the term ) executive.
This type of lens give the best peripheral vision availability.
Does anyone know a competent lens shop that can make this lens type? Lens
Craapers did a poor job on my first pair, the dividing lines being at
different positions on each lens which is bad enough but they aren't
parallel either. Aparently this is a type that is hard to make and thus has
gone out of fashion either for this reason or vanity, there is no doubt that
these are bifocals.
Kent
If you
use your peripheral vision and/or need most
of your field of vision sharp, don't waste
your time with them. If you do decide to
try them, they have to be *very* carefully
fitted to your eye position.

I tried them and took them back for regular bifocals after two weeks.
I fly for a living, and the loss of peripheral vision was just too
dangerous.

Dan

I had 'em and hated 'em. Reading a book was like watching a
pingpong match.
LOL
Good description.
You do have to get used to this.
A bit off putting at first though.
GeoffH