Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 20, 1999 09:35pm | #1

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   Don't I wish there was a practical solution to this problem that most of us share after 40.

   Time machine, longer arms.

   Maybe if our bi-focals where designed to have only the centre normal and the lower and upper thirds graduated to our prescription needs.

   Like everything else in this world it takes time to invent something that makes practical sense.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 20, 1999 10:25pm | #2

   *try a trifocal lense with the same prescription at top and bottom or have your optimologist reverse the prescriptions (corrective at top and normal at bottom)20/20 hindsight,Pete Draganic

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 20, 1999 11:06pm | #3

   *Bill, Have I got the possible solution for you...I had the same problem when I turned 40 ( about 12 yrs ago) and I got a pair graduated bifocals. That first pair was a dog, not done properly and I found that the part of the glasses that hold the lens itself was far too big in diameter. With the latest styles, the actual round portion of the glasses has gotten much smaller and when they install graduated bifocals into this smaller fram opening, the "sweet spot" if you will, is located closer to the middle portion of the lens. One caveat, I had to go through two optometrists before I got a person who was up on the latest styles and had an assistant who could fit the glasses to my face properly. If you even think your optometrist is poor quality, find another or get recommendations from some other four eyed blind person over 40.These newer smaller styles look much better than the older, clunky, ones I started out with and there are several graduated bifocals on the market today ie. Verilux is one and I believe there are two more manufacturers, 3M is another and so is Corning. At any rate, they are not cheap and you really need to go to an optician (optometrist) or ophthalmologist (MD)that knows their stuff. The MD is good to get perscriptions from since they can also find and diagnose problems of the eye much better than optometrists, but both are good. If you need safety glasses at work, get the smaller glasses I talked about above with plastic lenses and a scratch resistant coating. Then get a set of plastic safety glasses, with side shields, from your local safety supply. I suggest that you try a set of North (Norten 180 Eyewear) since these can be worn directly over your regular glasses without too much trouble. The safety glasses alone are about $3.50 a pair and last quit a long time before they need to be replaced but they do scratch easily...get 3-4 pair as back-ups.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 20, 1999 11:14pm | #4

   *No solutions, but I know i'm getting old. I'm soon to be 37 and for the last year I've really noticed how I can't focus on things closer than a foot from my face. I've alsways had good eyes, I guess old age is kncking on the door.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 20, 1999 11:32pm | #5

   *Sorry J.D. but old age is not on the other side of the door, it's our youth, and it has locked the door on us so we can't return.

2. 
   Guest_ | Feb 21, 1999 12:45am | #6

   *Gabe,not only did "YOUTH" lock the door, it did it so quietly I didn't hear it leave.Does this mean I am "middle aged"? OUCH!

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 21, 1999 12:59am | #7

   *Sorry Stephen middle age can only be calculated after we die. We take the final age a divide by 2.So don't worry about being middle age when we don't really know when the middle is.

4. 
   Guest_ | Feb 23, 1999 04:13am | #8

   *Gabe, Now you got me really scaird. maybe I already passed "middle aged" and I am already old?I hope I don't see my name in the obits tomorrow. Paranoid, Stephen.

5. 
   Guest_ | Feb 23, 1999 08:55am | #9

   *I knew something was up a couple of years ago when people making noise in the neighborhood late at night pissed me off. I mean it wasn't to many years ago I thought being loud, drunk, stupid and pissing behind someones bushes was the norm after a fraternity party. Now I'm that cranky old guy yelling out the window that people are trying to sleep.

2. 
   John_Wells | Feb 23, 1999 10:45am | #10

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   I have a pair of bifocals for computer work.
   The upper portion is in focus at one arm's length (me to screen). The lower portion is in focus at 8".

   Then I have a pair for the Outside World where the focal lengths are longer.

1. 
   Will_Stanton | Feb 28, 1999 07:29pm | #11

   *I have the same problem- solution is safety prescription glasses with what is called an occupational bifocual (sp). There are two bifocual lenses, one at bottom, one at top with the distance prescription in the rest of it. Works great but is expenseive! Especially in glass lenses which are required beause plastic scratches! Only other problem is presecription changing too often!

3. 
   Guest_ | Mar 01, 1999 11:49am | #12

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   I have the same problem but have been unhappy with the graduated(no line bifocals)because the in focus spot never seems to be where I want to look.

   Steve C. Can you give any tips to help my local folks do a better job?

   In the meantime what I've gone to is a single vision lens with the bifocal prescription in the entire lens. This lets me see very well within about 3 feet and adequately enough to walk around without it being a hazard. If I need to do more i either take off the glasses or change to other safety glasses. A real pain. But lacking a better pair of graduated lenses the best I've found.

   Too bad the eyes are the first, well maybe the second, thing to go. Transplant anyone?

4. 
   Bill_Caverlee | Mar 01, 1999 11:52am | #13

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   As a cabinet maker, over age 40, I need glasses for up-close work. This has become a major pain. I've tried dangling a pair of reading glasses around the neck. I tried flip-down reading glasses over a pair of safety glasses. Bifocals don't work for ceiling molding, etc. Trifocals are impossible. Has anybody found a solution to this problem?