My First Pair of Bifocals - They SUCK - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

davitk · 09-13-2009, 06:06 AM

First off I need to say STFU to all the young whippersnappers, you'll get old someday too.

The eye doc gave me a scrip for bifocals, went to the store and got set up with "progressives", the no-line bifocal that go from distance to near with progressive magnification.

The trouble is the change from distance to magnification begins at your pupil, so that if you look level into the distance, immediately below the horizon the vision begins to blur. Apparently this is the "intermediate" range of the lenses.

So for me to see something that is three to thirty feet away I have to actually tip my head down and look through the top portion of the lens.

It doesn't seem right to me, or safe for that matter as I "work in construction"

and am continually negotiating hazards, and it would help if said hazards were not blurry.

So a question for you old farts out there on CT, do you bother with bifocals or just say "screw it I'll squint"?

J F · 09-13-2009, 06:58 AM

great, I've got some progessives on the way...

I hope it's just a matter of giving it some time so you get used to 'em. How long ya had 'em?

davitk · 09-13-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J F

great, I've got some progessives on the way...

I hope it's just a matter of giving it some time so you get used to 'em. How long ya had 'em?

15 hours

I did some reading on line last night - apparently there is such thing as "Soft Design" and "Hard Design" progressives.

Soft provides a larger intermediate zone which I am not in need of yet (for age 50+). Hard Design provides a larger lens area dedicated to distance viewing. I'll have to call the shop Monday but I'll bet they sold me Soft.

J F · 09-13-2009, 07:16 AM

I went to the vision center at wallyworld and was shocked at the prices $400-$500 for the progressives, so I just got some single lense glasses for distance.

Went here http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php and ordered the progressives for $85 including frame and some prescrip. reading glasses for $17.

I'd heard good things about zenni on clark howard's show (consumer advocate) for quite awhile and did some research before ordering, so I'm looking forward to getting them in 2-3 weeks to see what I think.

mikec · 09-13-2009, 07:17 AM

I have the no line bi focals, and hate them to.

J F · 09-13-2009, 07:17 AM

How long ya used 'em mike?

davitk · 09-13-2009, 07:28 AM

I paid 301.97, that included an 80.00 frame and polycarbonate lenses.

I love listening to Clark Howard, thanks for the link to Zennioptical. I'll have to check it out to see what the cheap bustards are wearing.

J F · 09-13-2009, 07:30 AM

JonM · 09-13-2009, 07:48 AM

See, they were right...you do go half blind if you keep doing that....

J F · 09-13-2009, 07:50 AM

...yeah, and I've got hairy palms for some reason too

neolitic · 09-13-2009, 09:24 AM

The problem is, those things are made
for people with desk jobs.
I'm near sighted, always have been,
so I'm used to looking over the top
of them to see up close.
More and more things can be "too close"
though.
Anyway, the bifocals for me were like
I was walking around in a swimming pool.
When I first got them I was doing a
framing job, and walking joist, or
stepping off and onto ladders was a
real nightmare as everything was
a total blur down low.
I've just gone back to taking glasses off,
or wearing cheaters for really close work.
I've mentioned to folks who make glasses
that they should offer "upside down"
lenses, but they just don't get it.

Ebbo · 09-13-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J F

I went to the vision center at wallyworld and was shocked at the prices $400-$500 for the progressives, so I just got some single lense glasses for distance.

Went here and ordered the progressives for $85 including frame and some prescrip. reading glasses for $17.

I'd heard good things about zenni on clark howard's show (consumer advocate) for quite awhile and did some research before ordering, so I'm looking forward to getting them in 2-3 weeks to see what I think.

I was just going to mention that site, saw it on Clark Howards show also.

J F · 09-13-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

The problem is, those things are made
for people with desk jobs.
I'm near sighted, always have been,
so I'm used to looking over the top
of them to see up close.
More and more things can be "too close"
though.
Anyway, the bifocals for me were like
I was walking around in a swimming pool.
When I first got them I was doing a
framing job, and walking joist, or
stepping off and onto ladders was a
real nightmare as everything was
a total blur down low.
I've just gone back to taking glasses off,
or wearing cheaters for really close work.
I've mentioned to folks who make glasses
that they should offer "upside down"
lenses, but they just don't get it.

gotta ask...what's up with the haiku or whatever style of writing you've adopted recently?

J F · 09-13-2009, 10:15 AM

did you admire per's style in the festool and jlc forums?

neolitic · 09-13-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J F

did you admire per's style in the festool and jlc forums?

I don't drink Green Koolaid,
and rarely look a JLC forum.

J F · 09-13-2009, 03:27 PM

and?

neolitic · 09-13-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J F

and?

"Eye yam whut eye yam,
and that's all whut ey yam."

davitk · 09-13-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

The problem is, those things are made
for people with desk jobs.

I think you are right.

MALCO.New.York · 09-13-2009, 04:08 PM

Well.....................I sprung for LASIK Surgery 2 years ago.................

The "Morning After", I awoke in a NEW WORLD! One I had NEVER envisioned! Literally!!!

That is the way to go.

Went from 20/400 - 20/200 to 20/30 - 20/15!! In 12 minutes!!!

davitk · 09-14-2009, 05:45 AM

They still suck.

I think I'm going to return them today as there is no way to safely wear them at work.