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#1
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Old Codgers Only - SubTitle: Trifocals in the shop
Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay
them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#2
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I've never been satisfied with progressives that I wear for driving.
It's hard to see images clearly in the side mirrors. I've tried bifocals for driving and that doesn't work out either; I can't see the dash (middle distance). My Sears bifocal safety glasses work well in the shop EXCEPT when I momentarily freak while looking at a "curved" edge only to remember that it's caused by the glasses. AFAIK, we're stuck with the distortion when wearing corrective lenses. Dave Swingman wrote: Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. |
#3
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:26:04 -0500, Swingman wrote:
Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Sorry in advance - I'm not an Old Coger. But I have had progressive lenses for a long time now. I don't know what a "progressive trifocal" is. In my case, I needed and got the equivalent of a bifocal. Correction for my near-sightedness at the top, and essentially no correction for close-up work at the bottom. Wouldn't a trifocal be the same - just a range of corrections? Anyway, I can say that it took me a LONG time to get used to using these things. I had only single-correction lenses prior to getting these bifocals, so I don't know what its like using "ordinary" bifocals. But I did have to figure out what part of the lens to use for various tasks. I must have looked pretty funny in the beginning, twisting my head all over the place to find a spot that would focus. My neck sure hurt for a while. And walking down steps was downright dangerous at first! Ordinarily (reading, at the computer, etc.), these glasses are OK. In the shop, these things are a PITA. I have fixed diopter safety glasses (cheap plastic) that I picked up at a WW show, that are at least as useful. As I don't need much or any correction for close work, I end up taking my glasses off a lot of the time. Its better than cranking my head back into an unnatural position in order to use the lower part of the lens. -- Art Greenberg artg AT eclipse DOT net |
#4
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"Swingman" wrote in message ... Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. I've standard lined trifocals, but I never wore glasses, so can't really comment on difference. These are all I've ever had. I have the center set for slightly less than arm's length - computer screen, originally, and the bottom for maybe a foot away were I used to have to solder and clamp leads on chips and such. Optometrist says the variables are not recommended for folks like me, only the bifocal folks. Middle distances are too sensitive, and get into arms versus eyes conflicts. No such choices with fixed focus. Sure do miss being able to see things under the car or tractor without screwing around with my neck or glasses, but what I miss most is being able to read while laying on my belly. Oh well, aging is not for sissies. |
#5
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"Swingman" wrote in message Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? When I first got progressive lenses it took a few days to get used to them. Now I'd not be without them. Progressive lenses are more restrictive in side to side eye movement compared to regular lenses or bifocals. Today, they have broadened the channel of sight compared to a few years ago. Mine are Rodenstock lenses and I'm going back later this year from my third prescription. I'd never go back to regular bi-focals again. |
#6
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:26:04 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:
Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Swing: I don't like mine a damned bit...but I still like them better than having three different pair of glasses. Had mine for the last two pair ('bout five-six years, I'd guess). The intent was to get something like my previous trifocals: driving strength, computer strength, tying on dryflies strength. They do that but they give me a stiff neck from bobbing my head up and down trying to get the right area in play. They also give me tunnel vision so bad that people think i'm ignoring them when I walk past them. Hell, I'm not ignoring them - I just can't see them. Still, I reckon they suck less than having to wear a fishing vest everywhere, in order to have enough pockets for all your glasses. I'm getting ready to order a pair of sunglasses and might go the way of the trifocals again - I don't think the tunnel vision was as bad with them. Good luck and congratulations on reaping one of the major rewards for living a long life. The old coots I know tell me there's plenty more on the way! |
#7
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"Tom Watson" wrote in message
Good luck and congratulations on reaping one of the major rewards for living a long life. The old coots I know tell me there's plenty more on the way! Thanks to all of you. I'll keep trying ... it's good to know that I am normal, in some respects, more or less. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#8
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"Swingman" wrote in message Thanks to all of you. I'll keep trying ... it's good to know that I am normal, in some respects, more or less. -- Forgot one detail. The first time I had them on I did not care for them. Went back the next day and they set them to sit 1 mm lower on my eyes and that did the trick. The progression starts that tiny bit lower for me over the "recommended" setting. Just something to think about and perhaps try. |
#9
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Hi Swingman,
I had a pair of progressive safety glasses made a year ago. I had the same parallelogram issue. It never lessened. The issue for me, I was told, is that the lenses glass at 3 mm thick was the cause. I then went to straight tri-focal. This eliminated the parallelogram issue, but were in the long run hardly any better. I then went to bi-focal with a small section at the bottom being the bi. This has worked ok for me. My wife just got her a pair of safety glasses with her prescription in a progressive style (as are her regular glasses) and she does not experience the same parallelogram issue. They are a plastic safety lens, though, so I don't know if that is the issue as they are thinner than my real glass pair was. The lab that made hers says that it was the grind on mine that made them unusable. So I will be going to her optometrist and try the lab they use in a week or so. If you would like to have me report my findings to you in a personal email, let me know. You will have to remove the space *@* space in my email address for a reply directly to me. I don't look at the forum very often but can come back here if you would prefer. Mike "Swingman" wrote in message ... Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#10
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David Merrill wrote:
The primary quality difference among makers of progressive lenses is the horizontal size of the 'sweet spot'. There are different lenses with different sizes of middle field of view... I too paid the extra for the "wider field of view". It's worth the money. Some folks might have missed that... That you can choose and pay for what you want. That point is worth emphasizing. Your post is excellent. ....I often use my "computer glasses" for up close wood work. Having tried a less expensive storefront brand once I now always insist on Varilux brand lenses, the original and still, apparently, the best. I also once tried to be clever and chose polycarbonate lens material, on the theory that it would provide some measure of 'safety glasses' protection. Move your head ever so slightly and watch a red flower turn purple before your eyes, severe chromatic aberration. Now I stick to the relatively new, 'high refractive index' plastic lenses, hard coated for improved scratch resistance. One's vision isn't the best place to economize. I'm also age 62, have always been severely nearsighted, and needed progressive (or bifocals) since age 45. I spent most of my working life at a computer; finally figured out that sitting for many hours a day with my head tilted back to bring the screen into focus was causing my neck and shoulder pains. So I unpinched the coin for a pair of prescription computer glasses and the problem went away. Having had conventional bifocal safety glasses issued by my employer, I hated them and preferred wearing safety goggles over my progressives. It takes awhile but, with progressive lenses, one learns to move one's whole head and look more directly at the object of one's attention. It eventually becomes automatic, like stick-shifting a car. Incidentally, I always wash my glasses under a hot water tap using non-additive liquid soap and when rinsed, switch immediately to cold water rinse. The sudden temperature change seems to aid in flushing away any oily soap residues. Wipe excess water from rims, ear and nosepieces with a towel and finally dry the lenses with lint-free tissues, if you can find them. (Fingers wouldn't be the best choice if hands were rough from manual labor.) I recently discovered Kimwipes EX-L "delicate task wipers' with anti-static properties and found them vastly superior to the Kleenex tissues I had always used. Times and products change. You may glean further insights from the newsgroup, sci.med.vision. David Merrill "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message news:5qube.5662$RD.1331@trndny02... "Swingman" wrote in message Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? When I first got progressive lenses it took a few days to get used to them. Now I'd not be without them. Progressive lenses are more restrictive in side to side eye movement compared to regular lenses or bifocals. Today, they have broadened the channel of sight compared to a few years ago. Mine are Rodenstock lenses and I'm going back later this year from my third prescription. I'd never go back to regular bi-focals again. -- Will Occasional Techno-geek |
#11
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Swingman wrote:
Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Progressive lenses aren't the same thing as trifocal lenses. The latter have three separate lenses, no gradation from one to another. ________________ Do you get used to these damn things? Eventually. Took me a week or two. You have to learn to move your head up and down to get the focus at a given distance, then move *just* your eyes side to side to see things at the same distance. It's moving your head from side to side that screws up stuff, becomes automatic not to do so. ________________ Are normal trifocals any better? Lord, NO! Tried a set when I was about your age...I always felt like I was a doll hanging from a Chevy mirror...my head was constantly bobbing up and down. Dumped them and went to a set of bifocals like this... Lens Focus range Left near lens ___ Right near lens ___ Left far lens ___ Right far lens ___ Worked OK - infinitely preferable to trifocals - even though only one eye is actually focused at a given distance but I eventually went to progressives. Like them better yet. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#12
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:26:04 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:
Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Well like you, my upcloes vision is great. I just cant see accross the room! ive thoughtof progressive lenses but for now i think i will just stick to my other method which is leave the glasses in the kitchen [ so i wont forget where they are!!!!] i dont need em for woodworking cause i see just fine at arms length. if my arms start growing im in deeeeeeppp s@#t. :-] skeez |
#13
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In article ,
Valued Customer writes: other hobby. Solution was to buy a pair of 1.75 Mag (plastic lenz)reading glasses from the local dollar store for close up work. Works so well I bought a bunch more of them ($1.00 a pr) and stashed them around my hobby areas .. keep losing them but with 3 or 4 pr on each bench I can usually find one set when I need 'em. I hang the progressive buggers around my neck on a cord until I need them. That's too funny. My dad (about 64) did the same thing only more. I think he bought a case or two from Costco. He's got 'em all over the house. Can't lose all of them... -- Chris Richmond | I don't speak for Intel & vise versa |
#14
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Perhaps the group should be renamed rec.oldcodgers as there seem to be a few
in here! "skeezics" wrote in message ... On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:26:04 -0500, "Swingman" wrote: Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Well like you, my upcloes vision is great. I just cant see accross the room! ive thoughtof progressive lenses but for now i think i will just stick to my other method which is leave the glasses in the kitchen [ so i wont forget where they are!!!!] i dont need em for woodworking cause i see just fine at arms length. if my arms start growing im in deeeeeeppp s@#t. :-] skeez |
#15
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I have been wearing progressive lenses for about 15 years now. I have
had several different glasses from several different companies. For progressive to work well they have physically fit you as they were designed. The placement of the different parts of the lens has to be fit to you. Work with the doctor or to get the glasses ground to fit the way you use them. Then take the time to get them fit to you. With my first set the doctor threatened me with multiple ground lenses for several years. Each visit he quizzed me on how and what I did. When I agreed to go with the progressive lenses he had them perfect, and I was able to put them on and had no problems. However with one set a different doctor did not understand how to fit them and after multiple trips and regrinding of the lens they never worked correctly. Point being if they are not working, work with your current doctor, if that does not work look for someone else Swingman wrote: Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. |
#16
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Swingman wrote: Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. my wife wears contacts: one lens for far, one for near. she doesn't have to wear reading glasses anymore. |
#17
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"skeezics" wrote in message
Well like you, my upcloes vision is great. I just cant see accross the room! ive thoughtof progressive lenses but for now i think i will just stick to my other method which is leave the glasses in the kitchen [ so i wont forget where they are!!!!] i dont need em for woodworking cause i see just fine at arms length. if my arms start growing im in deeeeeeppp s@#t. :-] I had to go to a separate pair of reading glasses three years ago for use with the computer. The optometrist told me that bifocals are generally long distance vision above and reading below which wouldn't help with the computer, so now I travel around with two pairs of glasses. Getting older sucks! |
#18
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Swingman wrote:
Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Can't comment on progressive lens but have worn std tri's for several years. Don't seem to have the problems you are experiencing; however, if this is your first pair of tri's, they are different. Lew |
#19
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"Upscale" wrote in message I had to go to a separate pair of reading glasses three years ago for use with the computer. The optometrist told me that bifocals are generally long distance vision above and reading below which wouldn't help with the computer, so now I travel around with two pairs of glasses. Had the same problem. Progressive lens cured it. Worth a try. Most still give a money back guarantee if you don't like them. |
#20
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 11:26:04 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:
Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Whe I first needed bifocals I tried progressive lenses. At the time I worked at a defense plant with lots of security guards on the gates and in the building lobby. I picked the glasses up during my lunch hour. I drove back to the plant and when I got out of my 4X4 Suburban I damn near fell down. I staggered into the lobby hoping like hell that the guards did take me for someone who had a liquid lunch. I had a "no-cost free evaluation" that I immediately took advantage of. I wear regular bifocals that I don't often use in the shop. For most things I don't need them and for closeup work I use an Optivisor magnifier. |
#21
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I enjoyed that post Swingman - I know what you are going through. Thought I
would let you know that its nothing to worry about. It will take a couple of weeks for your head to reformat itself then all will be fine. Great stuff Cheers Bill Daly, New Zealand "Swingman" wrote in message ... Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#22
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"Charles Spitzer" wrote in message
my wife wears contacts: one lens for far, one for near. she doesn't have to wear reading glasses anymore. Wore contacts for 35 years (still do on stage when I play) and tried that .... it worked fine until the sun went down, or the lights were low, then I couldn't see a damn thing. I was surprised because when I was younger and kicking around the world I often lost one lens and had to go for months before I could get to a part of the world where I could order a replacement, and it never bothered me then ... AAMOF, in five years the army never snapped to the fact that I wore contacts. I even passed the eye exam of a flight physical in OCS, but they got me on the color blind test. Growing old is like trying to keep an old car running ... about the time you fix one thing something else breaks. Not bitch'in mind you, I am more or less proud to have come this far. Edwin's fix seem to help quite a bit. I wore these things in the shop for about three hours this afternoon and for awhile there I forgot I had them on .... that's progress, and the master plan, IIRC. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#23
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snip
Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. Swing: I don't like mine a damned bit...but I still like them better than having three different pair of glasses. snip I can deal better with three different pair of glasses than I can with the headaches that come from trying to foucs through the various distortion zones in the 'corrective' lenses. And so I do. What I wear for woodwork is also what I wear for use at the computer. People in the office think I'm ignoring them, but they are just fuzzy- looking, most of the time, beyond easy recognition if more than 30 or 40 feet away. Good luck finding what suits you. Patriarch |
#24
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:40:49 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:
Wore contacts for 35 years (still do on stage when I play) OK Swing, what is it that you play? I'm a converted Telecaster Jockey who runs a Martin D-28 these days (for about thirty-five years). I brought the bottleneck with me from the Telly but don't use it as much as I once did - except when I see that little red headed girl, who gets me all fired up again, in several ways. I've always been hoping that you were a gittar man (not a bass player) and certainly hope that you are not a keyboard man or a nasty percussionist (if you are - I have a lot of jokes to irritate you with). The last place that I recorded at was Sigma Sound in Philly, and the Boardman was a gittarman, so things worked out just fine. Of course, that was back when people still had eight tracks in their cars. sigh... It'd be OK if you were a drummer - a little disappointing - but Id'a wished that you was a real musician... Tom Watson - WoodDorker tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email) http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website) |
#25
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On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 17:56:04 GMT, the inscrutable "David Merrill"
spake: The primary quality difference among makers of progressive lenses is the horizontal size of the 'sweet spot'. Having tried a less expensive There is no such thing as quality in progressive lenses. They're all 80% bad. Only the "sweet spot" has correction. The rest is a blurred mess. BTDT, traded them in for bifocals + single-lens reading glasses. storefront brand once I now always insist on Varilux brand lenses, the original and still, apparently, the best. You mean "least bad", don't you? My trial pair was from Varilux. Never again! (See my post from a year or two ago for details.) It takes awhile but, with progressive lenses, one learns to move one's whole head and look more directly at the object of one's attention. It eventually becomes automatic, like stick-shifting a car. This is extremely anti-ergonomic on the lesser side, extremely dangerous on the other, such as while driving. They effectively blur your peripheral vision, making the spotting of oncoming cars or any vision through the side mirrors impossible. No Effin' Way! I'd rather use a cell phone while driving. It's less dangerous. Bottom line: I abhor those $400 vision-limiting MoFos. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Do. Or do not. * Stylin' Web Design Services There is no try. --Yoda * http://www.diversify.com ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#26
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I'm 56 and wear regular tri-focals. I tried the progressives for 2 days
and took those pieces of **** back. Didn't cost me a cent luckily. They were terrible and drove me crazy driving and walking. My regular trifocals took no getting used to, for me anyway and I've been wearing them for around 8 years now. Had bi-focals before that. Grandpa John Swingman wrote: Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. |
#27
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Sounds like you need tri-focals. I could read fine and see distances
fine but when I went into the library and was scanning the shelves I either was right up to the books or backed up against the rear shelves. Told the Dr on my next appt, she nodded, stuck my head in the machinery, held up a newspaper and said "Read this." I did and she said my intermediate vision was poor and that tri-focals would do the trick. She was right! Grandpa John David wrote: I've never been satisfied with progressives that I wear for driving. It's hard to see images clearly in the side mirrors. I've tried bifocals for driving and that doesn't work out either; I can't see the dash (middle distance). |
#28
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"Swingman" wrote in message ... Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. OK - casting the sabers of the past aside since this is an old fart's issue and on that we are in common. I've had progressive trifocals for almost 10 years now, after over 40 years of never needing glasses. I'm far sighted so I need the reading prescription most and my mid and long range prescriptions are less radical. Having said that - I do need to wear them for just about everything now. I can drive without them as long as I don't try to read the guages in the dash or some other equally irrelevant task. As for getting used to them - yeah and no. I still have to turn my head to be square on to what ever I'm looking at. You just can't look out the sides of them. The distortion is ridiculous. Not to mention one eye seeing one degree of correction and the other eye seeing something totally different - or perhaps none, if that eye is looking "around" the lens. Very disturbing and something you never get used to. When I turn my head to check for a car before making a lane change, I actually have to close one eye and look out of the other. You get somewhat used to some of the distortion in that you learn over time that the parallelogram you're seeing is really a square, but you never get used to trying to sight down a line and seeing a curve. Substitution becomes your friend. You learn to give up practices that used to work and adopt new ones in their place. The mid range prescription is both a blessing and a curse. Yeah - you need it, but it can still get in the way for me from time to time. You do learn how to look through the lens correctly for the distance you need, but every once in a while you find that damned mid range and it takes seconds to get things back in sync. You've got 10 years on me so maybe it will take you more than just seconds... I guess in the end, they're better than a sharp stick in the eye, but they aren't completely natural. Just wait until you do the stairs... You learn real quick to look right down at the steps as you make your way down. That's only in the beginning, but it does get your attention. I think that after having worn them now for as long as I have, the real big complaint that I have is that they do force me to look square on at everything and I can't just move my eyeballs to see what I want to see. -- -Mike- |
#29
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"Mike Marlow" wrote in message As for getting used to them - yeah and no. I still have to turn my head to be square on to what ever I'm looking at. You just can't look out the sides of them. The distortion is ridiculous. You get somewhat used to some of the distortion in that you learn over time that the parallelogram you're seeing is really a square, but you never get used to trying to sight down a line and seeing a curve. Substitution becomes your friend. You learn to give up practices that used to work and adopt new ones in their place. Everyone's eye are different, but I've never had those problems. I'd be looking for a new lab if I did because I don't have the problems you describe. I'm nearsighted 20/800 or so and have a strong prescription. YMMV. About 15 years ago I had a problem with my new glasses. The eye doctor swore it was OK and would not correct them. I went to a different ophthalmologist and he called the first one who fixed things rather than answer to a review board. |
#30
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"John" wrote in message ... Perhaps the group should be renamed rec.oldcodgers as there seem to be a few in here! "skeezics" wrote in message ... buncha snippage Well like you, my upcloes vision is great. I just cant see accross the room! ive thoughtof progressive lenses but for now i think i will just stick to my other method which is leave the glasses in the kitchen [ so i wont forget where they are!!!!] i dont need em for woodworking cause i see just fine at arms length. if my arms start growing im in deeeeeeppp s@#t. :-] skeez Didn't we all have this conversation a few months back? Had to go to tri's when I was still driving OTR. SWMBO talked me into going to Varilux. +)_(*()^^&%$#$# Learned immediately that when I was trying to bend the trailer around a corner to get into the dock that I couldn't see a darn thing!(leaning out the door looking back, as trailer end is already out of mirror range) Take 'em off and throw 'em on the passenger seat until done! Biggest problem now is getting a crick in the neck trying to tilt head back far enough to see the monitor. I've been thinking about getting a pair of those reading glasses just to leave by the computer. -- Nahmie The greatest headaches are those we cause ourselves. |
#31
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I started wearing bifocals seventeen years ago. Regular trifocals came six years later. If you participate in an activity that requires a non standard focal length of middle lenses, TELL your doctor. They can design/order a special lense. I am in a musical group where the music is 28 inches from my eyes, this is considerably different from the standard fifteen inch focal length of middle lense. I have never experienced the problems mentioned in this thread. Find a good doctor that will custom design what you need. It usually takes at least a week for lenses to come in. You won't get these types of prescriptions with the one hour service labs. Bill in WNC mountains |
#32
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Norman D. Crow wrote:
[snip] Didn't we all have this conversation a few months back? Had to go to tri's when I was still driving OTR. SWMBO talked me into going to Varilux. +)_(*()^^&%$#$# Learned immediately that when I was trying to bend the trailer around a corner to get into the dock that I couldn't see a darn thing!(leaning out the door looking back, as trailer end is already out of mirror range) Take 'em off and throw 'em on the passenger seat until done! Biggest problem now is getting a crick in the neck trying to tilt head back far enough to see the monitor. I've been thinking about getting a pair of those reading glasses just to leave by the computer. That's called "bifocal lock". I finally bought a pair of glasses ground to my bifocal prescription. They work great. I leave them next to the computer. mahalo, jo4hn |
#33
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In article ,
"Mike Marlow" wrote: I think that you are confusing two things. There are tri-focal lenses that are split into three zones. There are progressive lenses that have no noticable division between the focal areas. Some people adapt to progressive lenses and many others find them very difficult. The progressive lenses have a continuous variation in power. The effect is that there is a very narrow range of suitable power for any viewing distance but there is some optimal power for every distance. Dick OK - casting the sabers of the past aside since this is an old fart's issue and on that we are in common. I've had progressive trifocals for almost 10 years now, after over 40 years of never needing glasses. I'm far sighted so I need the reading prescription most and my mid and long range prescriptions are less radical. Having said that - I do need to wear them for just about everything now. I can drive without them as long as I don't try to read the guages in the dash or some other equally irrelevant task. As for getting used to them - yeah and no. I still have to turn my head to be square on to what ever I'm looking at. You just can't look out the sides of them. The distortion is ridiculous. Not to mention one eye seeing one degree of correction and the other eye seeing something totally different - or perhaps none, if that eye is looking "around" the lens. Very disturbing and something you never get used to. When I turn my head to check for a car before making a lane change, I actually have to close one eye and look out of the other. You get somewhat used to some of the distortion in that you learn over time that the parallelogram you're seeing is really a square, but you never get used to trying to sight down a line and seeing a curve. Substitution becomes your friend. You learn to give up practices that used to work and adopt new ones in their place. The mid range prescription is both a blessing and a curse. Yeah - you need it, but it can still get in the way for me from time to time. You do learn how to look through the lens correctly for the distance you need, but every once in a while you find that damned mid range and it takes seconds to get things back in sync. You've got 10 years on me so maybe it will take you more than just seconds... I guess in the end, they're better than a sharp stick in the eye, but they aren't completely natural. Just wait until you do the stairs... You learn real quick to look right down at the steps as you make your way down. That's only in the beginning, but it does get your attention. I think that after having worn them now for as long as I have, the real big complaint that I have is that they do force me to look square on at everything and I can't just move my eyeballs to see what I want to see. |
#34
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In article ,
"Norman D. Crow" wrote: Computer glasses are great. Get a single power. you may be able to pick a suitable pair from the local drugstore. Just be sure that you are checking them for the proper distance. I got my computer glasses through an optomitrist as the needed power is greater than the drugstore glasses. Dick Biggest problem now is getting a crick in the neck trying to tilt head back far enough to see the monitor. I've been thinking about getting a pair of those reading glasses just to leave by the computer. |
#35
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Somebody wrote:
Computer glasses are great. Get a single power. you may be able to pick a suitable pair from the local drugstore. Just be sure that you are checking them for the proper distance. Years ago, my former boss developed an interest in poker. He had a special pair of poker glasses made for use at the tables in Las Vegas. Lew |
#36
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"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message news:%cAbe.649
Had the same problem. Progressive lens cured it. Worth a try. Most still give a money back guarantee if you don't like them. But when you're reading, aren't you looking down? If so, that would make them not usable with a computer where you're looking ahead. |
#37
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In article ,
"John" wrote: Perhaps the group should be renamed rec.oldcodgers as there seem to be a few in here! That's why I come in here...so I can feel young. |
#38
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"Swingman" wrote in message ... Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. snipped I have worn glasses since 17... now 57. Went through bi-focal, no problem adapting. Went to tri focal a bunch of years ago, no problem adapting. My eye guy talked me into trying progressive lenses (ultimately from two different Mfg.s) wore each about a month... MAJOR problems! First I had to become like a "bobble head" moving my head while reading, etc., not just my eyes. Next it seems that style of lens induced astigmatism, which normally is not one of my visual defects. I finally went to the "Ray-Ban aviator" shape lens, with fixed segments for the three distance ranges and I have zero problems (and they are polycarbonate for safety) except the usual... sweat dripping on them while I'm looking downward. All said and done, I like my "lines", they provide a fixed reference point and cause no difficulty... and in this shape and size of lens allow for adequate latitude of horizontal and vertical range within each segment to allow for a more normal movement of eyes only. YMMV Tom |
#39
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Hi,
Recently I got my first pair of prescription glasses at age 49. They are trifocals and at first I could not get used to them either. Then one day at dinner my mother saw me struggling to use them and said the key to their use is to position the object you are reading far enough away so you can read it by moving your eyes only, not your head. As soon as I tried this the glasses were far easier to use. Hope this helps, Bob "Swingman" wrote in message ... Here lately (fast approaching 62) I have to take off my regular glasses, lay them down somewhere in the shop to do close work, read a scale, etc. then can't find the damn things because they're under something, or have fallen down behind a tool, or I just can't see the things, ad infinitum. Just got a pair of progressive lenses trifocals yesterday and would almost rather be half blind if the past two days is any indication. Turn your head slightly and a square turns into a parallelogram, the middle distance part is worse than being blind, and my neck hurts from twisting it like a horny turkey to focus instead of just being able to move my eyeballs. Do you get used to these damn things? Are normal trifocals any better? What do some of you more experienced old codgers do for in-the-shop eyewear? I am about ready to throw in the towel on these expen$ive mutha's for shop work. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 4/25/05 |
#40
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"Upscale" wrote in message ... "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message news:%cAbe.649 Had the same problem. Progressive lens cured it. Worth a try. Most still give a money back guarantee if you don't like them. But when you're reading, aren't you looking down? If so, that would make them not usable with a computer where you're looking ahead. The distance from the screen to my eyes is grater than from a book to my eyes. Just using my arm to screen, my elbow is just slightly bent. Pivoting to where I'd hold a book, it would be below my knees. That is why progressive is better in that the distance changes and so does the lens at that viewing angle. Works for me, could vary with different eyes/prescription combo. |
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