Eyes

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,930
I am one who wears "mixed" lenses. They are not for everyone, and take a couple of weeks to adapt. I have one for distance vision, which must be your dominant eye, my other is for nearer vision, which allows me to glance down and read speedo etc.


Specialist eyewear for reading swimming trunks !! :laugh:
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I'm looking at getting my eyes laser end this year. Stay away from the High Street laser treatments as they are not worth the money. Especially when it comes to your eyesight. Get a proper consultation and find out what will be the best for you (there are loads of laser options these days), you will only get offered one or two at the likes of Vision Express.

Alex had her eyes lasered about 8 years ago, and now has to wear glasses.

I've worn contact lenses since I was 15, (almost 30 years) and my eyesight changed about 15 years ago by 1/2 a measure.
And I'm now -3.

That's the other thing to consider, if your eyes have changed significantly in the last year you'll have to wait until your eye sit stabilises.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
I needed distance vision glasses at 20, then switched to contacts, settling on daily disposable contacts which were great (including sometimes getting through two or three pairs a day if napping, flying long distances or staying up late). Interesting to hear about 'all week' lenses being available now.)

I started to need reading glasses (WITH the contacts, but not without) at 50, and trouble was that I really needed TWO pairs - one for close up, and one for the computer screen, and I VERY quickly got tired of that.

Considered surgery, but didn't like the risks. Tried different strength contacts in each eye, and the variable contacts, and couldn't get on with them - vision was legal, but not satisfying.

Now have just varifocal glasses, with long distance vision correction at the top, screen distance at the middle, reading at the bottom. I have a regular pair and a sunglasses pair (reactive ones don't work in the car, and make you look like a paedo). Sunglasses are NOT polarized, as I want to be able to read the Sat-Nav.

Get on with them fine, and generally can see everything when and where I need to. One set of replacements were a bit 'swimmy' at first, but was easily fixed by the optician bending the frames to change both the tilt and the 'flatness' of the lenses. Every winter, because of rain and steamy pubs I consider going back to contact lenses for distance, PLUS varifocal specs with neutral tops and two levels of 'reading' (near and very near) in the middle and bottom, but haven't done it yet - probably will when I lose or break the sunglasses.

Useful varifocal tip from my father: when lying on the sofa watching TV, you are looking through the wrong (bottom) bit of the glasses. Rather than perching them on the very end of your nose, to look through the distance part, just turn them upside down.
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,444
+1 for varifocals, but you get what you pay for. Try and get the widest field of vision as you will then experience the least wierdness when wearing them.
Oh and go to an independent optician who really know what they are doing with these. They are not cheap so you want to really make sure that the various regions are spot on for you and presciption is exactly what was requested.
Eb
 

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
I had glasses through childhood mostly because of one weaker eye. I gave up wearing them as a teenager mostly because of vanity.

46 seems to be the age most develop age-related degeneration. It was for me too, I had to give in and have a test.

Everyone's experiences are different but having tried the disposable readers for a while, then a pair of prescription readers for a while, my distance sight started to degenerate too necessitating varifocals.

I can categorically say varifocals are the best solution for me. I've treated myself to a pair of https://lindberg.com titanium frames, not cheap, (turn it into a gear buying opportunity) which are so light and comfortable you simply forget about them. I say this as someone who has worn all sorts of frames through childhood. Put them on in the morning, take them off going to bed, otherwise forget about them. They work brilliantly, it's a joy being able to read the smallest text on a menu, or on packaging, without faffing. They fit comfortably under my motorbike helmet and inside ski goggles - it's like having 20 year old eye-sight again.

My optician tried to do the hard sell on varifocal contacts, they sound good but I don't think they are for me.

I wouldn't rush into laser work, one thing I've learnt is age-related deterioration continues until about aged 60 then it's supposed to stabilise (I'm not there yet!). I would hate to have to attack my eyes twice.

I'm very happy with varifocals.
 

Panicracing

Junior Member
Messages
376
I needed distance vision glasses at 20, then switched to contacts, settling on daily disposable contacts which were great (including sometimes getting through two or three pairs a day if napping, flying long distances or staying up late). Interesting to hear about 'all week' lenses being available now.)

I started to need reading glasses (WITH the contacts, but not without) at 50, and trouble was that I really needed TWO pairs - one for close up, and one for the computer screen, and I VERY quickly got tired of that.

Considered surgery, but didn't like the risks. Tried different strength contacts in each eye, and the variable contacts, and couldn't get on with them - vision was legal, but not satisfying.

Now have just varifocal glasses, with long distance vision correction at the top, screen distance at the middle, reading at the bottom. I have a regular pair and a sunglasses pair (reactive ones don't work in the car, and make you look like a paedo). Sunglasses are NOT polarized, as I want to be able to read the Sat-Nav.

Get on with them fine, and generally can see everything when and where I need to. One set of replacements were a bit 'swimmy' at first, but was easily fixed by the optician bending the frames to change both the tilt and the 'flatness' of the lenses. Every winter, because of rain and steamy pubs I consider going back to contact lenses for distance, PLUS varifocal specs with neutral tops and two levels of 'reading' (near and very near) in the middle and bottom, but haven't done it yet - probably will when I lose or break the sunglasses.

Useful varifocal tip from my father: when lying on the sofa watching TV, you are looking through the wrong (bottom) bit of the glasses. Rather than perching them on the very end of your nose, to look through the distance part, just turn them upside down.
Great tip on the upside down watching tv, just tried it and works a treat.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk
 

Panicracing

Junior Member
Messages
376
I had glasses through childhood mostly because of one weaker eye. I gave up wearing them as a teenager mostly because of vanity.

46 seems to be the age most develop age-related degeneration. It was for me too, I had to give in and have a test.

Everyone's experiences are different but having tried the disposable readers for a while, then a pair of prescription readers for a while, my distance sight started to degenerate too necessitating varifocals.

I can categorically say varifocals are the best solution for me. I've treated myself to a pair of https://lindberg.com titanium frames, not cheap, (turn it into a gear buying opportunity) which are so light and comfortable you simply forget about them. I say this as someone who has worn all sorts of frames through childhood. Put them on in the morning, take them off going to bed, otherwise forget about them. They work brilliantly, it's a joy being able to read the smallest text on a menu, or on packaging, without faffing. They fit comfortably under my motorbike helmet and inside ski goggles - it's like having 20 year old eye-sight again.

My optician tried to do the hard sell on varifocal contacts, they sound good but I don't think they are for me.

I wouldn't rush into laser work, one thing I've learnt is age-related deterioration continues until about aged 60 then it's supposed to stabilise (I'm not there yet!). I would hate to have to attack my eyes twice.

I'm very happy with varifocals.
Agree on the Lindberg, had my titanium ones ones for 18 months now and luv them, even selected the frame colour very similar to the Maserati MC victory blue.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
+1 for varifocals, but you get what you pay for. Try and get the widest field of vision as you will then experience the least wierdness when wearing them.
Oh and go to an independent optician who really know what they are doing with these. They are not cheap so you want to really make sure that the various regions are spot on for you and presciption is exactly what was requested.
Eb

I went to Boots, and was 95% happy. No weirdness. About £500 for top-end lenses, in super thin rimless frames for glasses and Ray-Ban frames for sunglasses. Only slight issue is that I do need to take care to look through the very top of my specs for best focus for driving and other long-distance stuff.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
My optician tried to do the hard sell on varifocal contacts, they sound good but I don't think they are for me.

A good optician will let you try varifocal contacts for a couple of weeks, to see if you get on with them. (Not for me.)
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
I have had free eye tests at vision express, confirmed the strength of reading glasses I needed, but if you go into Boots the Chemist, they have a board on the wall with a reading test, you can try different glasses until you are comfortable. I buy the £20 a pair rim less boots reading glasses and they are fine, I don't get expensive ones because my glasses get a hard time, scratches, dirt, sat on, stuffed in pockets so if I get cheaper ones I can just replace them when i need to. Watch the super cheap ones as the time I went to vision express I was having some trouble with reading (thought my eyes were getting worse) and it was some super cheap reading glasses that were the problem.
I have thought about surgery but i am under the impression my eyesight will continue to decline at my age and so i will get limited benefit as it will need done again and I don't think regular laser surgery is a good idea.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I've been wearing specs since I was 14, bar a brief period of contact lens wearing in my 20/30's. I'm shortsighted then recently found that I had presbyopia and needed reading glasses.
Specsavers have three levels of varifocal glasses and I went for the best and I've honestly not had any focal issues, no nodding dog syndrome as I find a suitable focus!

I've even tried varifocal contact lenses. Now these are a revelation, they have two concentric focal lengths, for distance you use the outer ring, for near field you use the inner field. They take some getting used to, but your brain does the switching after around 5-15 minutes. As with all contacts they can only be worn for 12 hours or do before disposal.

Nonetheless, I'm averse to surgery, purely because I rely on my eyes for work and pleasure and the outcome of a failure is not worth it, despite the risks being extremely low.
 

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
I’m late to the discussion but have been wearing reading glasses for about 12 years now. I started off getting a proper prescription and £300 glasses, have since gone down the Specdavers route (about £100 for two pairs). More recently, I’ve just been buying off the internet at next too nothing. While I don’t particularly like having to wear reading glasses, I’ve got used to it. My long distance vision is still pretty good. I would never have surgery for something that can be rectified so easily and cheaply. I’ve only got one pair of eyes and don’t want to risk them. Just get some glasses, my far the easiest route.
 

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
A good optician will let you try varifocal contacts for a couple of weeks, to see if you get on with them. (Not for me.)

Yes he did suggest that. He was proud of the volumes he sells and confirmed he has my prescription in stock, extending an invitation to try them out any time I want.

I'm not too bothered about the hassle of putting them in - I'm confident I could cope with that - it was more the running cost of them which surprised me. I can't remember the figures off hand but I do remember making a quick calculation and thinking 'gulp'. I guess, like most things, once you know about more about them, have the prescription in your hand, know which the reputable brand names are, you can probably source them on the 'Net for a fraction of the high street costs.