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Bifocals

J

JimS

Member
I have never had bifocals before. Is it tough to transition to them? I am largely far sighted.

I prefer the Buddy Holly safety glasses, because they have a flat lens. Many of the curved safety glasses have a distortion to them that drives me nuts. Also, years ago, I tried roping with glasses on. I never realized how much I use my peripheral vision. Things going in and out of focus really messed me up. I now rope without my glasses. I also tried contacts; one for near, one for far. This also was unpleasant.

It is for these reasons that I am a little concerned about bifocals. I am thinking of just having two glasses, one for normal use and one for reading. These are the options the doctor gave - bifocals or two glasses. Also, I gather there is a difference between the blended bifocals and the ones that have a sharp line.

Thanks for any advice or help.
 
I've had the no-line bifocals forover 10 years. Yes they take some getting use to but I didn't want the line type. Having that distorted line was less appealing to me. With the no-line you have to point your nose at what you want to look at.

Having two pair of glasses I would think would be a hassle. Then forgetting where you left the one pair would be all it would take for me. I try to minimize my daily troublesomes sort of speak.
 
I have two pair of safety glasses with 2.0 diopter bifocals. I have normal vision but at 67.9 years old, my close focus is 20 inches. They really help dramatically. The only issue is going down stairs one must get used to not looking through the lower part while descending. Really no issue, Just a quirk. Do it Bifocal. Changing specs all the time is a drag, it also jeopardizes the pair not on your face. Jim
 
Tell your eye doctor/optometrist that you want try the line less bifocals. They take a little getting used to, but after that you will not want the regular ones with the dividing line. I have had them in the bifocal and now the trifocal configuration. The only problem I have found was that some times they make a vertical line appear skewed,but that is not much of a problem considering they are seamless in the transition from near to close to reading strengths
 
I got my first pair of bifocals last month. Took them back three days later and, after a heated discussion, was refunded my money. They were the type without the lines. I have 20/20 close up vision. My distance vision is not terrible but needs correcting. I had a LOT of trouble with the bifocals. They never told me about the "sweet spot" and how I was going to have to point my nose at whatever I wanted to see. I had terrible peripheral vision with the things. I had a lot of trouble moving wider equipment like the combine. Where I would normally turn my head slightly and use peripheral vision, I now had to whip my head right and left. Also, every time I moved my head it was like watching a crowd do that wave thing there was so much distortion. They told me I would get used to them. I told them I would get used to living without them.
 
I think the longer you wait the harder it will be to get used to them. I started wearing no line bifocals at work shortly after age 40. We had to wear safety glasses all the time anyhow, and they paid for them, so why not see properly! I needed to be able to read a micrometer, sizes on drills and taps. I worked with guys that fought it and struggled to see properly, and I think I made the right decision. I notice it now when I am hiking in the mountains, like Jim said, coming down stairs is kind of strange, and a 500 ft mountain worse, hard to judge distance.
 
I started out with line bi-focals and got along just fine. Then I thought I wanted to try no line. After a few days I hated them. Constantly moving head up and down to get in the right spot. With the lines you know instantly when you are in bi-focal. I went back with them to trade them in. Doc said you will get use to them. I said maybe but I don't want to. Had lines ever since.
 
Go for progressive (no line) bifocals!

My first pair (employer provided safety glasses) we're traditional lined bifocals. They were "OK" for me but gave me troubles descending stairs, etc.

I opted for progressives for the next pair. The optician said I'd hate the first few days. But after 2 weeks I'd be fine with them.

His advice was right on. I love 'em now and would NEVER go back to traditional bifocals. Same also with all my brothers and sisters, my wife, and now even my oldest daughter.
 
Any thing hanging in front of your eyes is going to take some time getting used to. I have trifocals, with progressive lens. It took a while, but am doing ok now. Going down stairs (ladder for you x sailors) is where I really need to be careful. Stan
 
Be aware that some people can't wear the progressive lenses so make sure they will refund your money to pay for the regular bifocals if you can't wear them. I tried them years ago and coulden't. There was one spot dead center about the size of a pencil I could see out of and nothing else. Had to have that pencil sized dot pointed exactly where I was looking to see anything. No peripheral vision whatsoever. The optometrist talked me into trying them for three weeks and they weren't a bit better after three weeks than they were the first day. Took them back and wore my old solid glasses until the new bifocals were made.
 
(quoted from post at 21:35:10 01/05/17) I have never had bifocals before. Is it tough to transition to them? I am largely far sighted.

I prefer the Buddy Holly safety glasses, because they have a flat lens. Many of the curved safety glasses have a distortion to them that drives me nuts. Also, years ago, I tried roping with glasses on. I never realized how much I use my peripheral vision. Things going in and out of focus really messed me up. I now rope without my glasses. I also tried contacts; one for near, one for far. This also was unpleasant.

It is for these reasons that I am a little concerned about bifocals. I am thinking of just having two glasses, one for normal use and one for reading. These are the options the doctor gave - bifocals or two glasses. Also, I gather there is a difference between the blended bifocals and the ones that have a sharp line.

Thanks for any advice or help.
Click to expand...

I've had bi-focals (with lines) for about 30 years and never felt the need for 'progressive' lenses - I remember that stairs took a bit of adjustment but was no big deal - I have 2 pair, one normal pair and the other with the close-up bifocal at the TOP of the lens for working on things that require a look upwards. They are called 'mechanic's glasses' and are especially useful when working under a vehicle hood - like working on a carburetor or distributor. 8)
 
My eye doctor put me in bifocals first and in a little over 6 months he put me into trifocals because I could see distance and read perfect but couldn't read dash of semi tractor. Me driving driving truck my doctor would not put me in progressive lenses.Like you said no peripheral vision with progressive lenses.
 
I tried no-line bifocals, and as others have said, you have no peripheral vision. I had to move my head back and forth to read a book! Took them back and got lined bifocals. Fine for close up and distance, but I had to have a separate pair of reading glasses for looking at my computer screen about 3 feet away on my desk. So now have lined trifocals, and like them fine.
 
It depends on individual prefferances if you will like them ornot. 10 years ago I went from perfect vision to darn near blind at arms length in a matter of a year. Past the end of my arms my vision remains excellent. Eye doc said I just needed reading type glasses but I quickly tired of putting them on and off and falling out of my pocket. My first set of bifocals had zero correction in the upper, LOL. I have had both types of bifocals and to tell you the truth there is little to choose from. A person soon enough gets used to ether type.
 
I had one pair of bifocals; couldn't stand them so went to progressives. Also opt for the transition glasses that get darker in bright sunlight (necessary in AZ)
 
I have the no line bifocals. I like them. I hated the transition auto darking sunglasses.
 
I tried progressive bifocals once and could not see anything except right in front. Kind of like looking through a crack in the barn door. I went with lined bifocals until forced to go with lined trifocals. Those took some getting use to. As I appraoached Geezer status I developed cataracts about seven years ago. That is one of the best things about getting old. Had them removed and now I get along fine without glasses except I need cheaters when reading in dim light or extra fine print. TDF
 
I never did try the lined bifocals. I started off with the no line and didn't have any problem adjusting to them once I found someone that could make them right. The first place I went kept making the bifocal too high to where I hand to tip my head forward and look through the top of the glasses to see at a distance. They made the lens three times before I gave up and went elsewhere.
 
I'm a trim carpenter. Got the progressive (no line) bifocals with my first glasses six years ago! HATED them for most of the first year! Imagine setting a reveal having the 'train track' effect! Drove me nuts! Next glasses I got the traditional bifocal-thinking that would correct it-it did not! Very distracting especially driving at night! Now I have only the progressive and must have gotten used to them because I'm lost without them!
 
i started out with bifocals for about 5 years now i have trifocals both were no lines.i never had a problem with either.i kinda adjusted to them right away.i must be a lucky one seems most people have problems with them.i do have to wear reading glasses when i weld just cant get the welding helmet and the lower part of the bifocal to line up together but thats no big deal to me i dont weld everyday for a living.
RICK
 
Jim,
Lense replacement, as is done in cataract surgery, is now very common & routine.
You don't have to have cataracts to have this procedure.

Find a surgery center in your area -- like an eye & laser institute -- & book an evaluation session with them.
Ask the eye doc about ReSTOR bifocal lenses.
Total costs for me was about $6K per eyeball, out-of-pocket.
 

Whatever you do, when they go to do the measurements for fitting, make sure they do it with the glasses where you're going to wear them. The nice lady at my eye docs fit mine so they are right up tight to my face, so close my eye lashes are touching the lens. I don't wear them that way, they end up down my nose a ways, so they are out of focus 90% of the time and useless.

I got no line bifocals last time. Hate them. Next time I'll just get readers and not worry about far off stuff that I can see pretty well anyways.
 
If you have had trouble with all your glasses before, its not going to be any different now glasses are different you have to get accustom to them things change in life.
 
Talk to a Varilux seller. They have wide angle lens that work for me.
My first pair of blended bifocals ,I had to turn my head to read accross a page in a book.
You will have to ask for wide angle , they have several different models.
 
get the progressive lens.

like anything it will take a little getting used to. BUT you have to just WEAR THEM! After a bit you'll get used to them and you won't know how you got along without them. GET THE BEST options your glasses place offers. there are a couple tricks/options that they can do to improve quality and get the best field of vision. don't skimp on bi-focals.

I have lined bifocals too as my work safty glasses at work. I guess you could get used to them too but you have a much larger and more flexible field of view with the progressive/no line bi-focals.
 
I have had no line progressives for about 10 years. Hate the things. When working, welding and or home remodeling, they spend more time laying to the side than on my face. The magnification is upside down. If working on something up close that's above your head you look through the long distance part so it is out of focus.
 
If you can see far ok; try the stick on cheaters and try 'em out on regular safety glasses. You can move them around for up or down work. If you do a lot of up work you can get the near correction at the top of the lens in progressive. Some correction is in the form of a T shape so you can focus with an up/down or side to side movement; helpful if you have neck pain. The auto darkening lens will be disappointing in the cab of a truck; the UV does not pass through the first layer of glass.
 
I need bifocals but they make me sick as a dog. I'm very prone to motion sickness, and the change from near to far doesn't work for me. I've tried lined and progressive; neither works. I've sort of adapted to creating my own bifocals by tipping my regular glasses down on my nose for closer work, and for really close work I get right on top of it without glasses and can read 1-point type clearly. Good luck with bifocals if you can adjust to them.
 
I have the progressive style now. Missed too many bottom steps of ladders with lined bifocals. The comment not stated is to make progressives work you will need to turn your head to get the clear focus,wide angle might help but you will find there is a sweet spot where it is the most clear.Sharing something that is being read you have to hold whatever it is because when the other person moves you have to move your head to keep up and have it clear.Driving in snow storms with progressives is almost too much visually because your peripheral vision will go bonkers with snow seemingly coming at you from all directions, I keep a pair of regular distance range glasses for that but seeing the dash is rough.With lined glasses if the area in the lower window is not moving they work the best but if you are in bleachers or stadium seating they will drive your eyes wild.Two pair only work if you are not doing close up work at the same time as needing far vision. If I am working on something too close to my head in a cramped spot the glasses have to come off because you can't get anything in focus.Size of the glass height and width dictates progressive strength.Too small and gets radical in the amount of movement it takes to get focused. Hopes this helps.
 
I had those transition glasses and they do not work, When I needed them dark they stayed clear, when I needed them clear they would stay dark. Would not turn dark in a car at all and that was a main time I needed them dark as in driving in bright sun.
 
I use no lines for my normal day to day activities. For use at work, I have company provided eyewear. We get ours through 3M. and I get what is called an occupational lens. That is a lens with the bi-focal correction on the toop and bottom of each lens, with whatever distance correction in the middle. Is only available in lined versiion. works better for welding, and programming the CNC mill that I use, as I am not trying to tilt my head back all of the time. Any glasses will take some getting used to, but continually putting readers on and taking them off was not practical to me.
 
Your statement "with the no-line you have to point your nose at what you want to look at" tells me that they were not made correctly. If you had that problem then you could never renew your drivers licence as you DO have to hold your head stead and look to the side to pass the vision test. You cannot turn your head during that test. 2 licences ago I almost did not get mine renude because of that problem. Been probly over 30 years since I went directly to byfocals, the, 20 years ago tryfocals and now my sunglasses have the lines, the regular do not and I can switch over from one to anouther without problems. They did have to remake both to get them correct. So better get used to holding head straight ahead and turning your eyes or you will not get your next drivers licence.
 
Your brain will program itself to adapt to whatever type of glasses you have, but for that to happen you have to put them on and make yourself wear them, which is not always easy.
At one time I had both progressives and lined trifocals. I could switch back and forth between them whenever I wanted, which everyone said couldn't be done.
The pair I have now is progressive lenses. I have no problem with peripheral vision. This was not always the case, which tells me that all progressive lenses are not created equal.
 
A lot depends on how much correction you actually need. A small correction is easier to get used to and is what you normally start out with. If you wait too long and need more correction, it will be more difficult. I have been wearing trifocals for over 30 years, started out with bifocals for about ten years. Things like shoveling snow or raking the lawn still mess with me a little. Can't live without them though.
 
I know others have already said it but be careful going down the steps and stairs. Had mine for about a week misjudged the steps going off my deck and ended up with broken ribs.
 
When I got my first pair the doctor made it a point to caution me about stairs. His exact words---"You've been going up and down stairs for 40 years without looking at your feet--DON'T START LOOKING AT THEM NOW!!"
 
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