Speaking of Vision -- How 'bout Progressive Bifocals?

I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

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.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

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 had a pair of progressives -- operative word=had. I didn't like them
for any purpose from planting seeds in the garden to driving and flying.
On the other hand, I have a pal who swears by them. I accused him of not
wanting to admit he screwed up when he bought them which made his resolve
even stronger.
Take a couple weeks of your 30-day trial and try them.

Let's go FLY!!

Casey

Casey Wilson wrote:

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...

I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

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 had a pair of progressives -- operative word=had. I didn't like them
for any purpose from planting seeds in the garden to driving and flying.
On the other hand, I have a pal who swears by them. I accused him of not
wanting to admit he screwed up when he bought them which made his resolve
even stronger.
Take a couple weeks of your 30-day trial and try them.

Did you replace them with conventional bifocals or go back to single
prescription lenses and just deal with the near vision loss?


Matt

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

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.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I have reading glasses (now mandated by my medical...) that have relatively
small frames and are very light in weight. When I need them, I simply put
them on over my sunglasses and just slip them down my nose to where I look
over them to scan outside and can just glance down to read something.

Works just fine for me as my distance vision is still solid...it's just that
as I passed 40 years old, my arms started to get shorter and shorter.

Jay B

I have reading glasses (now mandated by my medical...) that have relatively
small frames and are very light in weight. When I need them, I simply put
them on over my sunglasses and just slip them down my nose to where I look
over them to scan outside and can just glance down to read something.

I don't think that's an option for me, as I am incredibly near-sighted.
I need glasses on ALL the time for distance -- so swapping (or adding)
glasses in the plane really wouldn't help the situation.

It's really frustrating, as I've got excellent close-vision -- with a
focal length of about 6 inches from my nose. Thus, removing my glasses
has become my preferred way of viewing sectionals, but that makes
maintaining any kind of a scan (inside OR out) impossible.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On 2 Jun 2006 15:11:16 -0700, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

Thus, removing my glasses
has become my preferred way of viewing sectionals, but that makes
maintaining any kind of a scan (inside OR out) impossible.

I once knew a guy who had Ben Franklin glasses, distance vision high
up, nothing below.

(Not clear glass! He read beneath the wire frame, or maybe they were
frameless.)



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

Howdy!

In article om,
Jay Honeck wrote:
I have reading glasses (now mandated by my medical...) that have relatively
small frames and are very light in weight. When I need them, I simply put
them on over my sunglasses and just slip them down my nose to where I look
over them to scan outside and can just glance down to read something.

I don't think that's an option for me, as I am incredibly near-sighted.
I need glasses on ALL the time for distance -- so swapping (or adding)
glasses in the plane really wouldn't help the situation.

It's really frustrating, as I've got excellent close-vision -- with a
focal length of about 6 inches from my nose. Thus, removing my glasses
has become my preferred way of viewing sectionals, but that makes
maintaining any kind of a scan (inside OR out) impossible.

That sounds a lot like my eyes.

My current glasses are my first bifocals, and I got progressive lenses.
My opthalmologist recommended that I get the mid-grade Varilux lens,
whose model name I can neither recall nor discover. I spend about $300
on the lenses themselves.

I still look over the top for really close work, but the lenses worked
exceptionally well for me. It took mere seconds to adjust to them,
although your mileage may vary. The lower corners of the lenses are
where the correction is imperfect, but I don't find it to be a problem.
Neither do I have problems working at the computer. The far correction
is sufficient for my normal screen viewing distance, so I don't need
to play "lean my head back" games to read the screen.

I suspect that you will find these lenses will take care of your
vision woes without too much pain. You don't want to scrimp on the
lenses, though.

yours,
Michael


--
Michael and MJ Houghton | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
| White Wolf and the Phoenix narrowwares
Bowie, MD, USA | http://whitewolfandphoenix.com
Proud member of the SCA Internet Whitewash Squad

I suspect that you will find these lenses will take care of your
vision woes without too much pain. You don't want to scrimp on the
lenses, though.

So far, so good. No nausea, and I'm really liking being able to read stuff
without taking my glasses off again...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Beckman" wrote

I have reading glasses (now mandated by my medical...) that have
relatively small frames and are very light in weight. When I need them, I
simply put them on over my sunglasses and just slip them down my nose to
where I look over them to scan outside and can just glance down to read
something.

I remember seeing some flexible plastic lenses (on a link from someone on
rec.aviation. something) that you trim to the size you need, and stick them
on your sunglasses, regular glasses, safety glasses, or whatever you want
to.

That would be a good thing, to find out what size of close in lens you need
to have, for the best results.

I have line bifocals, and I would not want to consider anything else. The
thing is, you get to choose where the line goes on the glasses, as to how
far up on the lens the transition is placed. I also have the auto darkening
kind, and love them. I always have my sunglasses when I need them.

I have my line pretty far down, since as a carpenter, I want to have my far
vision to be in effect without looking down, so I can see what I am walking
on while up high in the air on a beam or floor joist. There is a trade-off,
since if you get it too low, and too small, you really have to tilt your
head back very far to read a display, or read a book.

Bottom line? Personal preferences. Try some, and if you don't like it, try
the others. It's only money! g
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in message
...


I have line bifocals, and I would not want to consider anything else. The
thing is, you get to choose where the line goes on the glasses, as to how
far up on the lens the transition is placed. I also have the auto
darkening

You can pick where the progressive stuff starts as well, but I assume they
will take up more room on the lens...

I have my line pretty far down, since as a carpenter, I want to have my
far vision to be in effect without looking down, so I can see what I am
walking on while up high in the air on a beam or floor joist. There is a
trade-off, since if you get it too low, and too small, you really have to
tilt your head back very far to read a display, or read a book.

Bottom line? Personal preferences. Try some, and if you don't like it,
try the others. It's only money! g

I like the progressives (at least, as far as having bi-focals goes, eh?)

Just be careful on stairways for the first few days. (or on any beams.)

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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