help with seeing

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

I have been wearing glasses now for some years.  I don’t know if anyone has come up with a “perfect” solution as to which optical aids to use in the workshop.   I used to just have to wear reading glasses and that was relatively easy.   I wore them in the workshop and everything was quite close and easily visible.  I also had a headband magnifier for times when it was necessary to be more precise.

 

As time has progressed I now also have to wear long distance glasses and have opted for bifocals (only one pair to lose).  These are fine for general use as I have got completely used to reading by looking through the bottom part.   The problem comes when I try the headband magnifier.  I instinctively look through the long distance part of the glasses and to look through the “reading” part I have to tilt my head back at a stupid angle.

 

I intend to get some different glasses from the optician and would welcome any suggestions others might have as to how they have solved the problem of seeing properly.   I know I am inherently lazy and if I had powerful reading glasses I would keep them on all the time in the workshop which probably would not be good for my eyes.  What questions do I need to ask Mr Lim – the finest optician in Crouch End –  when I go to see him?

 

Thanks – Bob

 

 

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

I now have three pairs of bi-focals. All three pairs have reading lens’ at the bottom whilst the top lens is designed for specific purposes: 2’/600mm for the computer; 7’/2000mm for the telly; and some long distance value for driving/singing/general outdoors.

 

In the workshop, I tend to use the computer glasses (lazy like you) in conjunction with clip on magnifying lens (2.5x I think) and/or a small magnifying glass.  I most often use the total combination when attempting to look at tipped tools to see if they have chipped.

 

I had to insist on the telly glasses as the optician didn’t think I needed them – but they do help. The computer glasses were accepted straight away whilst the long distance glasses are a good few years old, and again there was no problem getting them. He is aware that I do lathe work, and what I use in additional lens’ but doesn’t say anything about them, and frankly, I am ok with what I do anyway. Probably the biggest problem is when I use the computer glasses with the clip on lens, and then try to move around the workshop when everything over a few inches away is totally blurred. Idle you see, but that’s my problem.

 

Good luck with your quest – I never thought 50 years ago that the day would come when I could no longer see each leaf on that tree 5 miles away (!), but it has, and I now have to make the appropriate adjustments. You have my sympathy.

 

Regards,

 

Peter G. Shaw

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

I know this is a personal thing, but I just can’t stand bifocals. It’s largely to do with driving – I can see the road fine through the top part, but the focal length of the lower part, while perfect for reading, makes the dashboard instruments a blur. So I go for separate reading and distance glasses.

I also keep a pair of reading specs from a few prescriptions back (I think they are eight years old), which give me perfect focus on the computer monitor, and are also right for the workshop. For checking tool tips, reading verniers, etc, I use either a 3x clip-on magnifier or a good, old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes type magnifying glass.

I guess it is a matter of sorting out what suits you best, but with the price of spectacles in the UK at the moment I can see the merit of getting it right first time!

 

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I have glasses for general walking about, driving, telly, etc. but still read/ do close work unaided. Trouble is I can’t see close with specs, or away without. I’ve tried headbands (cheap) and can’t  get away with them. My recommendations are get two for one offers, keep one pair just for workshop use, and mark them. Then you always have a good unscratched pair for best. Get really good lights, amazing the difference they make

[Peter GainParticipant @petergain89847]

Which ever prescription spectacles you buy, make sure that the lens are glass rather than plastic. Despite the claims of the optical firms, I find that plastic lens do scratch. Particularly when used in a workshop environment. Some well known optician outlets only offer plastic & do not always state this unless specifically asked. Contrary to what no doubt some will claim, I have not had a glass lens shatter in over 60 years of enforced spectacle wearing. (This includes youthful stupidity on motor-cycles).

Peter Gain.

[Roger WoollettParticipant @rogerwoollett53105]

I had a pair of bi-focals made specially for the workshop and fitted in frames with side guards. They have a non standard division with the bottom (close up) lens occupying about 2/3 and the upper (distance) lens about 1/3. This means I don’t have to peer over the top of the frame to walk into the house but still have the bulk of the lens to see through while working. I am still getting used to them and they are not perfect but I can use a cheap headband magnifier ok.

 

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I have gone for Varifocal lens which cover the whole range from distance to reading with a tilt of the head. However I would have liked the old “Pilot ” version which had a reading range at the top as well (overhead switches in the cockpit for the use of), but alas no longer available. I only get into trouble when I lean over the machine and want to read. Plastic lens seem to have taken over with a limited range available now in glass. Not troubled by the scratches, need a new pair too often anyway. [The so called hard coating does not stop the scratches!]

Edited By KWIL on 08/09/2010 16:55:17

[FunnyturnParticipant @funnyturn]

You could look at:

 

https://www.glassesuk.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

 

They do prescription safety specs: single vision, bifocal and varifocal

 

I have a pair with plain lens and flip down close lens which works well, giving full field a view. Down side they are a bit heavy and top heavy with lens flipped up!

 

 Makes one feel ones age….

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Until I was 48 I managed without glasses at all. I then realised my arms weren’t long enough so had to resort to ready readers.

[john jennings 1Participant @johnjennings1]

As I have aged my eyes have become increasingly reluctant to focus over a wide range, particularly very short distances, so that fine graduations become unreadable.

 

A first try at a solution was a pair of bifocals: top  focus 2-3 feet , bottom focus 1-2 feet.

They had merits but the overall range was limited and the interface between top and bottom often tricky.

 

My current “solution”  is  essentially Peter G Shaw’s computer varifocal pair. Sold as “Office Varifocals”  they give a blurred distance vision.  They also cope with an inflexible neck requiring less articulation to select the optimum sightline.

 

For close viewing of detail I recommend the Kaiser pocket magnifiers with integral led light .

[maurice bennieParticipant @mauricebennie99556]

Hi Bob

              I think  that I  have an answer  that works for me

              I wear vari focals from getting up to going to bed ,one pair reading glasses and in

              the workshop a headband with  X3 lens and on the bench a five inch magnifier with               light on a flex arm .this seems to cover everything.

               I can see distance,dashboard and read label in shops

               reading glasses ,very comfortable for book reading

               In workshop I only use reading glasses with flip up headband the lens on the

               flexible arm I can see with the work further away .

               hope this helps

                Maurice B 

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I have the frustration of short sight (3.5 dioptres of it) as a yong botanist I never needed a hand lens. Middle aged loss of accomodation so I have a ‘hole’ between extreme close up without specs and arm’s length.

 

I have some ‘weak’ glasses prescribed for computer work I never used more than twice, but now invaluable for reading!

 

I must say I am tempted by reading glasses for extra close-up work!

 

Interestingly the weaker glasses were a response to persistent headaches for several years. Nine months ago I went on lisinopril for blood pressure and only two headaches since!

 

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 08/09/2010 20:47:18

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Have worn Varifocals for about 8 years now as my near point wondered away. There are quite a few different  permutations of focal lenths possible. Last time I went for a pair  with a wider reading region which gives the reading part much better focus. Although it cost a bit more the better focus is a great improvement , wished I had changed sooner.

 

I used to have polycarbonate lenses rather than glass however the polycarbonate lens are much more prone to scratching than the “crystal” resins now used so have gone resin lenses. Don’t like the thought of glass windows. I use illuminated magnifiers and sterio microscopes a lot as most of my work is small. 

On the headaches front, CRT displays with low refresh rates are very bad news for some. Years ago I switched over all the displays at work to LCD, many office people noticed a great improvement in end of day tiredness.

 

If you still like or use CRT’s then check that the refresh rate ( in display settings)  is set as high as possible- equal or above 75Hz. The efects of the high frequency flicker are not directly felt but do cause longer term tiredness and headaches. Some even have problems with the 100Hz flicker from ccfl and conventional overhead lighting. Mixing in some tungsten or DC led lighting can help.

 

Regards,

Alan.

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

Thanks to everyone – it seems not simply to be my problem!  Once again this forum has come up with some really good ideas and I will try them out on the optician in a week or so.

 

Bob

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

If you decide to go for clip-on-the-glasses type magnifying lenses the type with a stalk between clip and lens are much nicer to work with.  The stalk puts the extra lenses a couple of inches or so in front  of the glasses lens making a proportionate increase in working distance when compared to the type which touch or pretty much touch your glasses.  I got a set of those and a cheap, stalk-less, set at a London Model Engineer Exhibition some years back.  The stalked variety were “gulp” expensive (especially for a guy who buys his glasses special offer from Spec-Savers) but the longer working distance lets me do fine bench work when normally seated.  The stalk-less ones are fine for on the machine jobs where close up peering is fine.  Good under the car too.  I’m a lot happier risking scrape or lubricant damage on a few quids worth of close in lenses than getting on for £50 (I think) for the nice ones.

 

The stalk type has a relatively large box so not good for carrying in the pocket but the close in type usually fit in a slim wallet.  I shift a pair into the pocket of whatever coat I’m wearing when I go out. Hafta haunt the Sunday supplement freebee catalogues for the cheapo close in clip-ons as there doesn’t seem to be a regular supplier.  Current set came from EasyLife and are a nice compact “half lens” design.  Should have got extra sets as they went out of the catalogue for a while and re-appeared in new improved full size lens format.  Much less convenient.  But I do need an extra, workshop set.

 

On a related note, glasses case juggling and carrying can be a major irritation if you can’t use / don’t like bi or vari focals due to inadequate pocket space in normal trousers or (yuk) jeans.  I switched to Rohan “Bags” ages ago as the double side pockets are an effective answer to such problems.  The zipped inner pockets are inconspicuous but very useful.  Second glasses and mobile phone to the left, coins safely zipped in to the right and I’ve still got the normal complement of pockets free.

 

Clive 

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Just a cautionary . I will never use glass spec. lenses again. Had two break over the years, one needed hospital visit. Modern plastic much better than old stuff. Anti-scratch coating is fine ,until it gets scratched, then worse than normal uncoated. Hence my advice to get two pairs, and keep one pair for “clean use” only.

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

As a follow-up to my earlier post, I have deliberately avoided vari-focal lenses for two reasons. I’d be interested to know what other people think.

 

Firstly, I have heard bad reports from drivers where the varying focal length has resulted in difficulties with distance judging. As a result I have stuck with bi-focals and ok, I do have the problem where the dashboard is out of focus with the lower lens, but it doesn’t take much to slightly lower the head for the top lens to be satisfactory. But see second note below.

 

My second problem is that I have ankylosing spondylitis which has now resulted in limited neck movement, hence I am concerned about the constant neck movement required to obtain the correct focus. I’ve also had operations to limit the worst effects of Meniere’s disease in one ear, but this has had the unfortunate side-effect that head movement and indeed vibration can cause slight involuntary up and down movement of the eyes – due I understand to the deliberate damage done to the semi-circular canals.

 

As I say, I’d be interested to know if anyone else has had these sort of problems, and how they go on. And sorry for hi-jacking the thread.

 

Regards,

 

Pater G. Shaw.

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Peter

Perhaps you need medical advice on this one. Vari and bi focals do take a bit of getting used to. Some people adapt immediatly ( my SHMBO did), others have great problems looking down when walking. When you consider how the mind needs to adapt so that you -without thinking- ‘look and see’ what you want but you have different focal lenth lenses in  the way the adaptation is remarkable. But it may come after a period of strain during the adaptation to the optical changes.

 

Gordon’s experience with glass reflects mine. I now tend to wear a visor type face shield when doing dusty or chipping work. I have a Trend visor with a fan and filter which is great for dusty work or for avoiding coolent aerosols. Some of the marks that can be found on visors well justify their use. It is only too easy to wipe spec lenses with a  cloth that may have some grit or swarf that you can’t see because of dirty glasses!

 

Incidentally, floaters, hairy string and other unidentified floating objects are perfectly normal with aging. They are blood cells that have clumped together floating in the fluid near the retena. If however you see bright spots of light and perhaps a dark line across the visual filed then go to an opthalmic hospital as soon as possible. The spots are not the same as the jazzy lines during migrane.

 

regards,

Alan

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Peter, I,v often woundered if perhaps a head up display as used in some aircaft flight decks would be a help in cars, I,v got a sneaking suspition I’m quite a few years too late for this to be a new idea, but not being a driver don’t take that much interest in cars, and head up is all I get on the bicycle.Ian S C

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

One of my local pound shops sells glasses(spectacles) for yes £1. They are available from many outlets for just a little more. You can try before you buy and they are ideal in the workshop. If you scratch em, bin em you wont break the bank. I have a couple of pairs that live in the workshop in cases. I like many spectacle wearers have a large collection of redundant glasses cases. Why do we get rid of the glasses and keep the cases? 

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Alan, I think I may have spoken to my optician about varifocals, but is was a long time ago if I did. Perhaps next time I’ll see what he says.

 

Know all about floaters & jagged lines & iritis& hence the importance of getting urgent medical treatment. Trouble is that on one occasion, I pressed the panic button on a Good Friday only to be told by the emergency doctor that he couldn’t see it! The following Friday I ended up with an emergency appointment with the consultant! 

 

Ian. Like it, but what would be the cost? And could people actually cope with it? Anyway, let’s not get bogged down on that one.

 

Regards,

 

Peter G. Shaw

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

The earlier post  about mentioning points of light and dark lines is that it might help someone who reads this post. 

If you get a lathe then you can get the manufacturer’s handbook and read lots of books about turning. However the issue of a pair of eyes is not associated with an owner’s manual. You normally find out about bad things too late. Hence the comments which can be signs of serious retinal problems that can be contained if treated early.  It happened to someone close recently, we are glad we went to Moorfields in London.

 

Trivial detail… Benjamin Franklin is credited with having two lenses of different focal lenths cut in half then cemented to produce the first Bifocals.

 

The varifocals avoid Franklins join and don’t tell everyone that you are wearing them! But as said it’s what you can adapt to. Specsavers seem to have a very good policy on helping those who find the adaptation not so easy, after trying the others that’s where we go now.

 Regards,

Alan.

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