Bifocals and Progressive Lenses

[check 6]

I have worn trifocals for years and yes they do take getting use to. Progressives were never an option as they were not allowed in the military for pilots and still are not advised. the reason as some have noted is that with progressives their are some portions of the sense with no clear focal point and thus can induce vertigo as they are not clear. Just like for flying ( which I still do at 75) I would not recommend progressives if you operate heavy equipment or tow trailers .... but then I'm not a doctor

 

[Mace Canute]

I've had to wear glasses since I was a young boy (I'm myopic) and I was talked into bifocals once (the ones without the line) and they were terrible due to the work I did. Trying to focus on something which was close but over my head naturally meant I had to look through the "distance" part of the lenses which just didn't work. I went back to regular ones.

 

[check]

That occurred to me when they made my lens out of Lexan,, I can not wear Lexan. My vision is perfect with regular plastic. Different materials refract light differently, and apparently they do not vary the grinding to account for the material. With Lexan, I only have good vision in a small (~3/4") circle at the center of the lens. Outside the small circle, the Lexan bends straight lines into curves,,, for my prescription,,,.

Very interesting. I didn't know that. Will have to check it out next time I get my prescription renewed.

 

[Redneck in training]

Not all progressive lenses are made equal. Used to have no name progressive and those drove me nuts. Then I got Nikon. Way better. There is one thing though. They distort angles. What looks like a right angle might be little off. When I put stuff together I always use angle ruller to set it.

 

[KubotainNH]

Related: I got talked into coatings that darken in sunlight. Here's a good description I encountered looking for a specific name for this type to use in this post:

Photochromic Lenses: Transitions and Other Light-Adaptive Lenses

At any rate my point is: I used 'photochromic' (darkening) lenses for a few years and decided I couldn't stand them. Specifically, I couldn't see into shadows driving at night. Returning to clear lenses restored the night vision needed for night rural driving.

I wonder how many people lose night vision and blame it on age, when in fact it is the type of glasses they chose and is a reversible change.

That's a good point, when I was a teen and before I switched to contacts my glasses tinted in sunlight. When I got these progressives they talked me into the auto tint after saying it's way better and quicker than it was in the late 70's early 80's. I disagree, the tint is still as slow as I remember it being and often when cloudy it still tints. That is one feature I will not be suckered into again. I had clip on sunglasses for my old ones that used magnets, worked great. Of course those $300 add-ons are no longer an option so I can no longer use those sunglasses. Crazy.

 

[techman]

I too tried progressives years ago. After a week, I confirmed that they were not for me. Peripheral vision was distorted enough to make me question my balance. Going down stairs was the worst. Luckily I had an eye doc who had a free exchange to bi's if the progressives did not work. I have been using tri's for quite a few years. From computer work to distance is well focused without any distortion. My wife got progressives about 10 years ago and she had no problem adjusting to them .

paul

 

[IXLR8]

Well I needed a new pair of glasses and I think at 69 years old and using bifocals for most of my life that worked just fine, I shouldn't have taken a chance trying progressive lenses which I got today. Holding my head still and looking straight ahead far and near is OK, but in the periphery vision it's like looking through a fishbowl that shifts about if I move my head. Wife says I'll get used to it, but I'm doubtful and I don't believe I could drive safely with these. Anyone else have a similar experience with progressive lenses?

I tried progressives, had the same experience. I hated them, everybody told me I would get use to them... after 3 weeks I gave up and went back to bi-focals.

 

[Oaktree]

Well I needed a new pair of glasses and I think at 69 years old and using bifocals for most of my life that worked just fine, I shouldn't have taken a chance trying progressive lenses which I got today. Holding my head still and looking straight ahead far and near is OK, but in the periphery vision it's like looking through a fishbowl that shifts about if I move my head. Wife says I'll get used to it, but I'm doubtful and I don't believe I could drive safely with these. Anyone else have a similar experience with progressive lenses?

Like many others, I've been wearing glasses or contacts since I was a child. A couple years ago I tried progressives, it really got to be a pain in the neck with bifocals looking at shelf tags in a store or a computer screen because I'd have to tilt my head back so I could read thru the lower half of the lens. I love 'em, was a little weird for a day or so, but no different than just getting a new prescription. I don't have the issues you do with peripheral vision.

I wonder how many people lose night vision and blame it on age, when in fact it is the type of glasses they chose and is a reversible change.

I first got contacts in my early-ish 30s. It just knocked me over how much better my night (and color) vision became with them. My eye doctor told me it was because due to the thickness of the glasses only about 85-90% of the light made it to my eyes, but it was around 98% with the contacts.
Unfortunately, about 10 years ago I developed astigmatism that can't easily be corrected with contacts so it's back to glasses. Ugh. Maybe lens materials are more transparent now because I still have OK night vision...much better than my wife.

Wait until you try to back a truck using mirrors.

I'll have to remember that excuse. Couldn't do it worth beans before I got progressive lenses either. :confused3:

 

[jay3534]

what lens material is best ?

 

[check]

what lens material is best ?

Good question. The ones I get scratch quite easily. Any suggestions, guys?