Computer Glasses 2

[Latexman]

Calling experienced engineers (aged 40-60 or so).

I'm getting frustrated with my regular bifocal glasses when on the computer, which is about all day. It's too close for the distance sight and too far away for the bifocal. One of my three opthamologists (one for glaucoma, one for macular pucker, one for eye exams), suggested "computer glasses". I've googled and think I understand them. Does anyone have experience with them? Any testimonials? Any critique? I'd appreciate any input you may have.

Good luck,
Latexman

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[DRWeig]

TomDOT, I have puzzled about LASIK.

Can you tell us what the experience was like, and do you still need glasses after?

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[DRWeig]

JohnRBaker, LPS for the laugh. "Which wall is the eye chart on?"

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[Latexman]

I am not a candidate for LASIK.

Good luck,
Latexman

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[TomDOT]

Dave,

LASIK was one of the best personal decisions I've made. The process is VERY un-nerving, but at least it doesn't take long. You can find plenty of other personal experience stories by Googling. Pre-surgery, I was roughly -4.5 and -6.5 diopters spherical correction, 1.0 or less cylindrical.

I haven't worn glasses since before the surgery. I had some haziness, but was driving the next day. Haziness and point-source diffusion faded over time. One year after LASIK, I had 20/15 vision. Last year (14 years after) I had 20/20 vision. Probably would be better if I didn't spend so much time staring at a computer screen.

 

[DRWeig]

Thank you TomDOT!

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[ewh]

After years of getting a stiff neck staring at the tube through progressive bifocals, I bought a pair of single vision computer galsses and have never regretted it. The worse thing though is leaving work without switching glasses. I've turned around in the parking lot to go get my regular glasses more often that I can count.

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[cvg]

been wearing glasses since age 6. far sighted, with astigmatism and not a candidate for any sort of laser surgery. I have progressive computer/reading glasses, progressive normal glasses and progressive sun glasses. Since I am far sighted, I can actually watch tv or even drive relatively well without glasses or wearing the normal or sun glasses. But I cant see anything up close without correction and have to use the computer / reading pair for closer work. I prefer 150% or 200% zoom on my computer screen if possible and can't stand anything less than 12 point font.

 

[TenPenny]

My newest bifocals were done with the special 'computer cut', which means that there is a larger area ground for looking at a computer screen. I've had them a couple of months, and I really like them in the office.

I don't like them for driving, I find I have to tilt my head more so that things are in focus for driving. I got a pair of bifocal prescription sunglasses, which are the normal grind, and they are great, but at night especially, I do find the 'computer cut' to be a little harder to get used to.

 

[AELLC]

I used to use progressive lenses and hated them. It took months for the "technicians" at national franchise eyeglass store to even get them to fit right. They are over-priced and the stores always use bait and switch tactics to bleed your wallet.

I used to have 20/20 vision but am 65 yrs old so I need about +1.0 in one eye and +0.75 in the other eye for infinity, and about +2.5 to +3.0 for looking at the computer. I bought cheap non-prescription reader glasses at Wal-mart, and have been happy with them for years. I replace them frequently as they get scratched or damaged.

For me, the +2.5 works most of the time but if I am looking at paper drawings that have very small detail and print, I put on the +3.0.

 

[TheTick]

I used to use progressive lenses and hated them. It took months for the "technicians" at national franchise eyeglass store to even get them to fit right. They are over-priced and the stores always use bait and switch tactics to bleed your wallet.

I don't deal with franchises for eye care anymore. Bad news all around. Find a good private practitioner who takes her practice and patients seriously.

 

[MatthewL]

Just saw this post and wanted to chime in on the LASIK:
For anyone who can get LASIK done, I would highly recommend it. Been wearing glasses since I was 7 (second grade), and had the "coke bottle" variety until polycarbonate high index came out. My uncorrected vision was (doc's words) "counts fingers at 4 feet", meaning I could finally resolve fingers at 4 feet distance, since 20/XXX numbers don't really apply with -6.5 right, -7.5 left and bad astigmatism. I too needed to put my glasses on first thing in the morning and take them off last thing at night. I had LASIK (corneal flap method) done ~14 years ago, and I d%#$ near cried when I was able to read the menu when my wife and I stopped for a meal on the drive home from the office. The final result was 20/25 in the right eye and 20/30 to 20/40 in my left eye with some residual astigmatism in the left. I have resumed wearing glasses in the last two years, mostly to eliminate "squint headaches" from driving and too much computer/book work, but I can do without if I have to. I am about a year or two away from bifocals/readers but that is just due to age and the doc warned me it would happen before I had the procedure (I'm 42 now).

Matt

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[zdas04]

I'll be 60 this year and when I was 30 I resented having to wear glasses to drive, so I had RK (early adopter of RK, LASIK was still a couple of years out). After the operation I have to wear glasses to see. I just confirmed that my vision is slightly better than 4-fingers (I could count 4 fingers at 6 ft but not 7). Simple bifocals are not cutting it for me anymore so I'm going to have to do something. After reading this thread probably tri-focals or maybe still bi-focals with an extra pair of computer glasses. Getting old is definitely not for the faint of heart.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[IRstuff]

I had straight LASIK, because the "wavefront correction" couldn't be applied to my eyes because my lids were too close to my pupils. Because of that, I now have astimatism, and my night vision is noticeable worse than day vision. Nonetheless, my eyes have settled into a state where small text down to about 6 pt. is still readable, and far vision is tolerable.


One fascinating thing about eye exams is that if you can marginally and correctly guess more than 1/2 of the letters in a line, you get credit for that line. So, I still have 20/20 vision despite the fact that the letters are all kind of blurry.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[berkshire]

Yes memorising the eye chart helps your vision, doesn't it.
B.E.

 

[DerbyLoco]

Since I had my cataracts done I had similar trouble with the computer screen and I had a pair of glasses made up to suit the distance from the screen. These were OK but I found them difficult when moving away from the machine or when reading documents and I found changing glasses all the time really anoying. I then got some varifocal glasses and these have been very successful and are the only ones I wear for everything. Not everyone can get on with them but I find that I can focus on what I am looking at without conscious effort. The only problem I do have with them is for very close work which uses a very small part of the lower region of the lens - if I had to work on wiring light fittings this would be an issue.
As an aside the cataract operation was free on the UK National Health Service and I had it quicker than by going privately through my employers health scheme and with the same surgon. I have never seen a business card flashed so quickly when I mentioned private treatment at the initial consultation! To be fair I was putting off booking the private operation as I had some holiday due and he only did private work every two weeks.