Speaking of Vision -- How 'bout Progressive Bifocals?

Jay Honeck wrote:

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck,

I agree with his verdict, but for a different reason (I wasn't flying
when I had 'progressives'). I found that the cone of correction is
-narrow-; I found it necessary to move my whole head side-to-side in
order look left and right across a page (or my computer screen, etc.); I
couldn't just move my eyes because left or right of center, acuity
suffered. The vertical angle also is, or seemed to be, small.

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.

I chose bifocals (a few years ago), and as my eyes 'hardened up' I went
even to trifocals. I did have to play with the location of the 'lines'
since that equates to the vertical angle where the correction changes.

I'm very pleased with 'lined' bifocals and now trifocals (I've required
glasses since I was 14, almost 50 years now, so I was already accustomed
to the limitations spectacles impose).

george

gyoung wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck,

I agree with his verdict, but for a different reason (I wasn't flying
when I had 'progressives'). I found that the cone of correction is
-narrow-; I found it necessary to move my whole head side-to-side in
order look left and right across a page (or my computer screen, etc.); I
couldn't just move my eyes because left or right of center, acuity
suffered. The vertical angle also is, or seemed to be, small.

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.

I chose bifocals (a few years ago), and as my eyes 'hardened up' I went
even to trifocals. I did have to play with the location of the 'lines'
since that equates to the vertical angle where the correction changes.

I'm very pleased with 'lined' bifocals and now trifocals (I've required
glasses since I was 14, almost 50 years now, so I was already accustomed
to the limitations spectacles impose).

Yup. Tri-s are the answer. My mother was an avid bridge player. She
pointed out the value of the intermediate zone in trifocals for looking
at the bridge table. The instant I put them on, I said, "This is
right!" Looking at the instrument panel is the same distance as the
bridge table.

Any prescription for bifocal lenses can be used for trifocals. They put
the middle zone half way between the distance and reading prescriptions.
You can play with the vertical placement of the lens structure.
It's easy to go back to bifocals if you don't like trifocals.

On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:31:45 -0400, gyoung wrote:

Jay Honeck wrote:

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck,

snip

I chose bifocals (a few years ago), and as my eyes 'hardened up' I went
even to trifocals. I did have to play with the location of the 'lines'
since that equates to the vertical angle where the correction changes.

I tried the tri-focals, but hated them with a passion. I do too many
things and the lines were never in the right place. After a couple
weeks I told them I wanted to go back to bi-focals. It only took a
couple days to get used to the bi-focals. I was never able to make the
blended bifocals work for me, but it was the tri-focals that were by
far the most aggravating.


I'm very pleased with 'lined' bifocals and now trifocals (I've required
glasses since I was 14, almost 50 years now, so I was already accustomed
to the limitations spectacles impose).

You youngsters just adapt faster than those of us who have been around
for a while. :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com


george