Are your eyeglasses trying to kill you?
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https://www.aarp.org/publications/bulletins/aarp-bulletin-october-2024/page12/
The danger lurking in bifocals and progressive lenses. I'm no longer at risk because of my cataract surgery permitting me to live without glass except for reading glasses, but I remember when I first got bifocals how I was misjudging my steps at stairs and curbs.
Big Al
Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.
Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro
A lifetime of experience will change a person. If it doesn't, then you're already dead inside. -MarkJ
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Paywall/AARP membership login required, but can access using reader view in order to read...off to read...
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@wtg can you remind me of how to access reader view? Also, does it work on a PC, does it have to be a tablet?
Re progressives, I haven't fallen yet (and I've been wearing progressives for probably 15 years, my astigmatism is really bad) But I do notice on the stairs, so I may a point to hold the railing.
When Mr SK switched to progressives this year, I drove him crazy telling him to be careful!
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On a pc there’s an icon the looks like an open book. In Edge it’s just to the left of the Favorites star.
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I'm using it on Brave on a PC. I'm pretty sure it works on a tablet, too.
It's usually a book icon up in the area where the URL is at the top of the screen.
edit: cross-posted with @Mik
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Definitely a problem. Like @ShiroKuro , I hang on to the handrail when navigating stairs.
I use the Costco progressives, which aren't too bad, but I miss my Varilux Definity lenses. The design of the lens is much better. But they are three or four times the price of the Costco lenses.
Definity lenses have an area at the bottom that makes the stairs be more in focus. Or your golf ball, if you're a golfer. I recall seeing their marketing campaign that was geared towards golfers.
The Intermediate portion is also wider than what you find in other lenses. Less swim off to the sides.
I kind of like the idea of having a pair of single vision glasses to use for outdoor activities but that would mean a third pair for me. I swap out my regular progressives and use the Costco multifunctional when I use the computer or play the piano. It's a progressive that has bigger mid-range and near areas. Distance correction is only good for about 6 feet.
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The opposite problem crops up when I try to work on something like a ceiling electrical box. I can’t tip my head back far enough to focus on what I’m doing.
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I understand that problem. I had it with shelf tags on the top shelves in the supermarket.
I used to know a telephone company worker whose duties were primarily in the central exchanges. He had some bifocals with an extra small lense segment right at the top to let him read cable tags and equipment labels above his head.
Big Al
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A buddy of mine will flip his glasses over to work on something overhead.... I tried it, but mine won't balance well. I have a few pairs of clip-on magnifiers that help with this. Progressives actually helped my golf swing when I first got them to keep my head down and still!
I don't notice any issues on stairs anymore, I get my glasses from Zenni online - I bought one pair as a back-up and got lucky with a frame that hit everything in the sweet spot better than the glasses from Warby Parker. I guess I'm married to this frame from now on! Went with the faster transition lenses this time and am happy with that choice as well. -
@Steve-Miller I replaced a couple of overhead fixtures in my house this year and was SO frustrated because I felt like I couldn’t see properly. I didn’t think about my progressives being the problem!
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When I was working I kept a special pair of glasses handy just for overhead work.
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Put plastic lenses on my sunglasses that work as strong bifocals for tying flies when standing in a stream. I have to make an effort to when going down the bank to the river with the dog.
Think I will take them off. The fish can relax. -
For electricians. Of course it still has the problem outlined in the original article that @Big_Al posted.
Double D Flat Top 28
Presbyopic patients may have occupations that require accurate near vision above, as well as below, the eye level. If regular bifocals are prescribed, these patients must bend their necks back to an uncomfortable position in order to see in the near zone. Some examples of this are auto mechanics, carpenters, electricians, and painters.
The Double Segment can be ordered with both flat top segments in equal powers, or with the top segment’s power at approximately 62% of the power of the bottom segment.
Other specialty lenses described here:
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I couldn’t see well with any kind of glasses before my cataract surgery; I had 3 pairs of glasses depending on what I was doing, and had to keep switching all day long. Ugh. (I had a -13 correction, could see clearly 4 inches in front of my nose, but no further. I miss that super-power.)
Post-surgery, I still have 3 pairs, but I can actually see! One is Costco progressives, no correction, progressive down to readers. I have these so I don’t have to keep putting on/taking off readers all day long. These are my regular glasses now.
Costco multi-function for computer/piano, so I have a bigger field for mid-distance, and closeup. They can stay at home for specialized use.
A pair of cheap readers for reading phone or kindle in bed. Stronger than my regular glasses.
Because my vision was so bad before, I kind of ignore the “glasses trying to kill you” effect; I’m good at ignoring bad input!
I used to take pictures of things I couldn’t see, and then zoom in on my phone. When I had to start doing this in the airport to get my gate info, I knew it was time to have my cataract surgery. It was pretty ridiculous.
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Probably.
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@AdagioM said in Are your eyeglasses trying to kill you?:
I could see clearly 4 inches in front of my nose, but no further. I miss that super-power.
I was also very nearsighted before my cataract surgery and would resort to removing my glasses to see very small print or details at close distances. That trick doesn't work anymore with my vision corrected to near normal after surgery, but I still find myself trying to use it by reaching for nonexistent glasses.
Big Al
Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.
Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro
A lifetime of experience will change a person. If it doesn't, then you're already dead inside. -MarkJ
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@Big_Al said in Are your eyeglasses trying to kill you?:
@AdagioM said in Are your eyeglasses trying to kill you?:
I could see clearly 4 inches in front of my nose, but no further. I miss that super-power.
I was also very nearsighted before my cataract surgery and would resort to removing my glasses to see very small print or details at close distances. That trick doesn't work anymore with my vision corrected to near normal after surgery, but I still find myself trying to use it by reaching for nonexistent glasses.
Big Al
It was quite an adjustment getting used to having distance vision instead of closeup vision! Everything is backwards.
