Spectacles For Driving
Discussion
I need glases for close-up work; readimg amd suchlike. Since I got them, about three years ago, my eyesight has, as is inevitable when you wear specs, got worse.
I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
Multi focal contact lenses? Never tried them, but I now wear varifocals with no prescription at the top.
How long sighted are you?
I find at +1.5, I can see all the dashboard in our four vehicles so generally don't wear any eye correction whilst driving now. ( I have had two cataracts operations in the last year or so, used to be really short sighted)
Mike
How long sighted are you?
I find at +1.5, I can see all the dashboard in our four vehicles so generally don't wear any eye correction whilst driving now. ( I have had two cataracts operations in the last year or so, used to be really short sighted)
Mike
mike9009 said:
How long sighted are you?
I find at +1.5, I can see all the dashboard in our four vehicles so generally don't wear any eye correction whilst driving now. ( I have had two cataracts operations in the last year or so, used to be really short sighted)
Mike
How long sighted? No idea. When I got my glasses, I told the optician I was finding it difficult to read at arm's length, and he told me I didn't really need specs. But now, having used them for three years, I definitely do.I find at +1.5, I can see all the dashboard in our four vehicles so generally don't wear any eye correction whilst driving now. ( I have had two cataracts operations in the last year or so, used to be really short sighted)
Mike
Without my glasses, I can't read the dials, or the nav screenin any of my cars, but I can read the etching on the corner of the windscreen. With them, I can see the interior fine, but not the etching.
I know that relying on flases made my eyesight worse. I know that's a thing. So I'm reluctant to go to varifocals, but I suspect bifocals (with a 'clear' top half) is probably the answer, and just keep them solely for driving.
But then what do I do when I need sunglasses? I need quite dark sunglasses, always have, even when my eyesight was 20/20.
I have the opposite problem as I'm basically short-sighted, but with prescription glasses I can read the dash - although to read a book I just take my specs off as that works better!
I get 10 pairs of vari-focal contact lenses a month which cover both scenarios, and mean I can use non-prescription sunglasses when I want to go for a longer drive on a sunny day.
I get 10 pairs of vari-focal contact lenses a month which cover both scenarios, and mean I can use non-prescription sunglasses when I want to go for a longer drive on a sunny day.
I've worn varifocals ever since I started to wear glasses over 25 years ago and I wear them all the time, like now with my laptop, when driving, doing D-I-Y, literally all the time I'm awake.
My eyesight isn't deteriorating fast, in February I had new lenses for the first time in four years even though I'm 70 so might expect more rapid sight loss. I've never heard that wearing glasses makes your eyesight worse, a quick Google suggests that's not correct.
My eyesight isn't deteriorating fast, in February I had new lenses for the first time in four years even though I'm 70 so might expect more rapid sight loss. I've never heard that wearing glasses makes your eyesight worse, a quick Google suggests that's not correct.
The eyesight getting worse thing is anecdotal, I admit, but I'veheard it from many sources. Essentially, as your lenses correct the problem, you don't have to work as hard to focus.
When I got my glasses, the optician told me my prescriptipn would be so slight, I probably didn't need glasses at all. Within six months, I definitely did - I couod read blurry stuff at arm's length without glasses before, and now I need my arms to be another foot longer.
When I got my glasses, the optician told me my prescriptipn would be so slight, I probably didn't need glasses at all. Within six months, I definitely did - I couod read blurry stuff at arm's length without glasses before, and now I need my arms to be another foot longer.
lemansky said:
Doofus said:
...my eyesight has, as is inevitable when you wear specs, got worse.
I wear glasses too and now I'm worried.Can you explain why your eyesight gets worse when you wear specs?
Doofus said:
The eyesight getting worse thing is anecdotal, I admit, but I'veheard it from many sources. Essentially, as your lenses correct the problem, you don't have to work as hard to focus.
When I got my glasses, the optician told me my prescriptipn would be so slight, I probably didn't need glasses at all. Within six months, I definitely did - I couod read blurry stuff at arm's length without glasses before, and now I need my arms to be another foot longer.
I have the same issues so use these bifocal sunglasses:When I got my glasses, the optician told me my prescriptipn would be so slight, I probably didn't need glasses at all. Within six months, I definitely did - I couod read blurry stuff at arm's length without glasses before, and now I need my arms to be another foot longer.
Prosportsunglasses Semi Rimless Bifocal Sunglasses With Blue Blocker Hd Vision, Yellow And Lenses. Mens Large Smoke https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CSH8VXC/ref=cm_sw_r...
The reading lens is quite low down, but fine for reading satnav etc.
My long sightedness 'should' be set now after cataracts operation.. Basically it is part of aging process, so when you first notice stuff is getting blurry your eye sight is on a journey of deterioration, so it feels like the glasses make it worse.
Eventually they will settle at a certain level, although as time goes by they do change again. I started wearing glasses at seven. Slowly deteriorated to the point I could see very little in my early twenties. Had to wear glasses or contacts just to get by. Then it settled for twenty years when I needed cataracts operations.
Now my vision is 'set' for distance (no glasses) but still need reading glasses. I wear varifocals as it is more convenient.
Eventually they will settle at a certain level, although as time goes by they do change again. I started wearing glasses at seven. Slowly deteriorated to the point I could see very little in my early twenties. Had to wear glasses or contacts just to get by. Then it settled for twenty years when I needed cataracts operations.
Now my vision is 'set' for distance (no glasses) but still need reading glasses. I wear varifocals as it is more convenient.
In a previous job i used to occasionally takelong term/lifer middle aged/old cons from jail to optician appointments. Chatting with the optician he said for people who didn't need glasses when younger a common pattern was eyesight deterioration in their 40s which then stabilised. This has been true for me. Perfect sight until around 40. Still near perfect distance vision but close up gone to around +2. My vidsion changed over 4 years or so then stsabilised.
So for anyone followingf this pattern the intial eyesight issues would lead to specs being needed. If the eyes were still changing it could give the impression that specs had caused further worsening whereas it was natural age related change ongoing.
As for driving glasses. I wear bifocals and just forget I'm wearing them. I tried varifocals. For me they didn't work. The problem is that varifocals have an area in the centre in perfect focus which gets blurry towards each edge. Wearing varifocals I found I needed to noticeably turn my head to check the rearview mirror.
Up to that point as it is an ingrained habit I couldn't have said how frequent my mirror checks were. Turns out it was every 3 to 5 seconds and it was REALLY annoying when I had to turn my whole head and not just flick my eyes to the side.
But two caveats. The varifocals I tried were not top end. More expensive varifocals allegedly have wider areas in focus.
Two - Everyone is different. The ones I tried were on a try them for 30 days and return if they don't suit you. I returned them. But if you can get a trial no harm trying.
So for anyone followingf this pattern the intial eyesight issues would lead to specs being needed. If the eyes were still changing it could give the impression that specs had caused further worsening whereas it was natural age related change ongoing.
As for driving glasses. I wear bifocals and just forget I'm wearing them. I tried varifocals. For me they didn't work. The problem is that varifocals have an area in the centre in perfect focus which gets blurry towards each edge. Wearing varifocals I found I needed to noticeably turn my head to check the rearview mirror.
Up to that point as it is an ingrained habit I couldn't have said how frequent my mirror checks were. Turns out it was every 3 to 5 seconds and it was REALLY annoying when I had to turn my whole head and not just flick my eyes to the side.
But two caveats. The varifocals I tried were not top end. More expensive varifocals allegedly have wider areas in focus.
Two - Everyone is different. The ones I tried were on a try them for 30 days and return if they don't suit you. I returned them. But if you can get a trial no harm trying.
irc said:
In a previous job i used to occasionally takelong term/lifer middle aged/old cons from jail to optician appointments. Chatting with the optician he said for people who didn't need glasses when younger a common pattern was eyesight deterioration in their 40s which then stabilised. This has been true for me. Perfect sight until around 40. Still near perfect distance vision but close up gone to around +2. My vidsion changed over 4 years or so then stsabilised.
I made it to 46, and I'm 50 now.ETA. b
ks, I'm 51 
Doofus said:
I need glases for close-up work; readimg amd suchlike. Since I got them, about three years ago, my eyesight has, as is inevitable when you wear specs, got worse.
I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
Get glasses with really great lenses.I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
My eyes have been getting tired of late, so I had my eyes tested as I hadn't done so for about 4 years. I decided to get 2 pairs of glasses, 1 normal pair of specs and a pair of prescription sunnies. I opted for Oakley varifocal lenses in my sunnies and standard varifocals in the standard specs. I'm finding the Oakley lenses exceptional and last weekend I had a 3.5 hr drive whilst wearing the Oakleys. No tiredness, easy to switch between dashboard and road. The standard lenses weren't cheap but are definately an inferior product to the Oakley lenses ($$$ though!).
You pays your money.....
Doofus said:
I need glases for close-up work; readimg amd suchlike. Since I got them, about three years ago, my eyesight has, as is inevitable when you wear specs, got worse.
I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
My eyes got steadily worse after being in a police control room and focusing on a couple of screens for hours at a time. I had trouble reading books but driving was as clear as ever, as long as I didn't need to check my speed. I had my eyes tested and I got full varifocals. The deterioration of my eyesight all but stopped. I went about four years with only minimal change and I didn't bother to get a new pair until my glasses wore out a bit.I now need specs to see anything inside the windscreen of my car, but i don't need them to see outside. Are my only options bifocals or half-moons? I worry that varifocals will just enable my eyesight to deteriorate further, but I don't know if there's some fantastic alternative solution. A Fourth Way, if you will...
I can't afford a chauffeur, BTW...
Since then the norm is that I have an annual test - my mother had glaucoma. After about 2 years I will be told my eyes have changed a little, but not enough to require new glasses. There was a norm of a three year gap between buying new glasses for everyday work. I also have a pair for reading/computer, also varifocals, but don't update both the same year.
I'm in my dotage, and have been spending longer in front of my computer and the update rate dropped to two years last test although I'm typing this with a pair of glasses nearing 3 years old, and they still seem fine.
itsnotarace said:
lemansky said:
Doofus said:
...my eyesight has, as is inevitable when you wear specs, got worse.
I wear glasses too and now I'm worried.Can you explain why your eyesight gets worse when you wear specs?
"Someone down the pub says that wearing glasses ruins your eyes, so it must be true."
f
k's sake.It's not anecdotal. Stating that your eyes have got inevitably worse through wearing specs is not only plain wrong, but rather insulting to the people who work hard to make sure you have the best vision you can achieve.
Your eyes do not get worse as a result of wearing correctly prescribed and dispensed spectacles.And you - Doofus - are presbyobic.
Google it, it's not an insult.
lemansky said:
It's not anecdotal. Stating that your eyes have got inevitably worse through wearing specs is not only plain wrong, but rather insulting to the people who work hard to make sure you have the best vision you can achieve.
And you - Doofus - are presbyobic.
Google it, it's not an insult.
Thank you for the education. And you - Doofus - are presbyobic.
Google it, it's not an insult.
Perhaps you should Google 'anecdotal'.
Eyes. Such precious things. I worked with close-up stuff as a teen apprentice in the printing industry in the 60s. No problems picking up 6pt type (small) - others around me were all conspicuous with wearing specs. In the 80s I was being driven by a pal to pick up a car. We approached a road sign in the distance and he said 'ah, left to St Albans'. I didn't or couldn't read it at that distance. By this time I'd been sitting in front of the first Apple Mac Classics in the UK for a while, then other screens (fks your eyesight up). I started to wear glasses for distance. In the 90s I met A S (Archie) Jackson - he'd written the book on Pathfinder Bennett - Airman Extraordinary. Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett became renowned as a world authority on air navigation, and not so quite so well-known for his Fairthorpe car marque.
Bennett thought exercise of one's eyes was important. He was blessed with exceptional eyesight, useful when flying as he did, and right up to his death. When my eyes were getting slightly worse I pondered his old advice so tried it. I am well past retired now, don't wear specs to read although did for a while. I'd take them off and it was annoying needing a while to adjust back. I even recall a 'flashing lights' episode which was worrying. Opticians suggested bifocals or two pairs of glasses. I had probably been overworking at the pit face (the Mac screen). Then I started Bennett's exercise regime and it seemed to work so I left specs off - up till this day. I only do it when I remember. Like most things, if all is ok you tend to forget. Like exercises for back (disc) trouble I had years ago, when the pain disappeared I forgot the exercises.
Eyes tested yearly like most. Mum had glaucoma so had free tests for an age before retired. Yet I'm looking at close up stuff all day long (book publisher) - I just use my specs for driving.
Oh, nearly forgot. Bennett's exercise regime.
Don't sit on the loo reading car mags, he said, 'exercise your eyes instead.'
First by moving them in the horizontal plain, as far as they will go. Then the same in the vertical plain.
He thought opticians would be interested in his theory.
Don't think they were.
Right now, as I finished keying this, I do another of his suggestions (I believe) which is to look and focus on a distant object (not for long), then bring my eyes back to the keyboard. I have no idea if it really does anything, but seems no harm,
Other than the odd floater I have still no problems eyewise thankfully.
ks your eyesight up). I started to wear glasses for distance. In the 90s I met A S (Archie) Jackson - he'd written the book on Pathfinder Bennett - Airman Extraordinary. Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett became renowned as a world authority on air navigation, and not so quite so well-known for his Fairthorpe car marque.Bennett thought exercise of one's eyes was important. He was blessed with exceptional eyesight, useful when flying as he did, and right up to his death. When my eyes were getting slightly worse I pondered his old advice so tried it. I am well past retired now, don't wear specs to read although did for a while. I'd take them off and it was annoying needing a while to adjust back. I even recall a 'flashing lights' episode which was worrying. Opticians suggested bifocals or two pairs of glasses. I had probably been overworking at the pit face (the Mac screen). Then I started Bennett's exercise regime and it seemed to work so I left specs off - up till this day. I only do it when I remember. Like most things, if all is ok you tend to forget. Like exercises for back (disc) trouble I had years ago, when the pain disappeared I forgot the exercises.
Eyes tested yearly like most. Mum had glaucoma so had free tests for an age before retired. Yet I'm looking at close up stuff all day long (book publisher) - I just use my specs for driving.
Oh, nearly forgot. Bennett's exercise regime.
Don't sit on the loo reading car mags, he said, 'exercise your eyes instead.'
First by moving them in the horizontal plain, as far as they will go. Then the same in the vertical plain.
He thought opticians would be interested in his theory.
Don't think they were.
Right now, as I finished keying this, I do another of his suggestions (I believe) which is to look and focus on a distant object (not for long), then bring my eyes back to the keyboard. I have no idea if it really does anything, but seems no harm,
Other than the odd floater I have still no problems eyewise thankfully.
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