Glasses

I wear Varifocals. I but the best lenses I can and have all the extras. Anti-glare, tinted, reactolite etc.

I really, really struggled with them at first and almost gave up. The choice was however to go back to a selection of glasses. This was just too much to contemplate so I just sucked it up and adapted. I wouldn't change. I take my prescription with me when I travel to the US and get my glasses made for me when I am there, about half the cost for the same thing. Now that the daughter person is training as an Optician, that may well change.

One thing that came up recently, my good lady suffers from really itchy eyes - turns out it is the result of arthritis. A combination of eye drops (I will get the name, readily available and very good generally) and arthritis medication has improved things no end.

They are the best thing I own.

graham.

I've worn Varifocus form the time they came onto the market, but I binned the Mk.I version as their field of undistorted vision was just too narrow. Made me feel sick.

As mentioned, it DOES take time to adjust, and it took me weeks of perseverance using the glasses, starting with short sessions then progressing to longer and longer periods.

THE most important thing when wearing Varifocus glasses is to MOVE your head in the direction you want to look, NOT just your eyes.

Moving eyes only means you are looking through that part of the lens that distorts everything, and that is what leads to the problems most experience with first use. I soon learned to do this with Mk.II versions of the lenses and have never looked back. It has become such a habit now, I find myself automatically doing so as well as tilting my head back to read even when I'm not wearing my glasses.

For trying to focus close-up looking through the top, long distance, part of the lens, I use clip-on magnifying lenses, so no longer have to find ways to do the job upside down now

Having had cataracts removed from both eyes, with long distance lenses implanted I only need to wear glasses for reading or workshop time.

Geoff - Carport 28°C but Workshop 23°C

Edit

PS

Graham,

The cost of Varifocus glasses here is a rip-off as you have proved.

Edited By OuBallie on 04/07/2014 11:01:12

I was sure that someone on this thread mentioned the brand name of a magnifying device they use but looking back I see no mention. They did mention 4x magnification (or was it 5) in the description. Can anyone remind me please?

Rik

Mistah Sho! You are thinking of OptiVisor mentioned in the tool thread. Anyway, the best place to get them is Cousins-UK the Horological supplies place. I think the 1.75 magnification would prolly be right for lathe work. At least, I hope so

graham.

Here is the Cousins page.

MichaelG.

Thanks chaps.

Rik

I also use varifocals all the time and agree with Bill that looking under machines and such can be difficult, also working upside down. But a bright light certainly helps me. When I had my first ones, if I swivelled my line of view whilst looking at a straight line then the vision went all wavy. When I spoke to the optician he said some versions of glass do that, unfortunately this meant I had to move to a much better quality of glass. Only problem is that it was quite a bit more expensive, but it did cure the problem.

Regards,

Colin

I love it!

rotfl

Hi All

I wear varifocals. I have to being quite long sighted so I need them for both short and long distances. Coated lenses are always offered as an option when you buy them. I am not sure they are so good They do scratch and when they do it is quite visible and rather distracting to look through. The last pair I ordered a couple of years back was not coated, they are no worse than the coated ones were and if anything clearer at this late stage of use. (I have been on several building sites doing design work) Lots of concrete dust. I am due for a new pair and I think I will order the same again. When they offered the last pair I was also offered a thinner lighter higher refractive index plastic lens, it was quite expensive so I declined it. That was a mistake, I had not taken into account the new prescription at the time required thicker lenses. They are very heavy, on the nose..... For the new pair I will order it for comfort.

When I got my first varifocals my biggest gripe was and is that I can no longer see vertical plumb and level within a few mm. very useful when inspecting work, before I got them it was no problem. The glasses distort the image. Very annoying. Now I need a bubble level.

Regards
John

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Just for info. Using High Refractive Index glass means that the same power of lens can be made with less physical curvature; and that's what gives the improvement.

MichaelG.

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Graham,

Not sure if they are the same drops but, the Hospital prescribed Celluvisc eye drops for me [active ingredient is Carmellose Sodium].

... Using these was, quite literally, a life-changing improvement.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2014 16:18:02

.... and when you have the anti-reflection coating, you can't have the scratchproof coating so the lenses scratch easier.

Regarding cost and its minimisation that has been referenced s few times: I long ago decided that my eyesight, its protection and improvement was not the worse place, by far, to sink my hard-earned cash and I no longer worry too much about it. If I need it I get it.

G'day all.

Sort of on-topic - many years ago, when the ME Ex was at Seymour Hall and also at Olympia there used to be a small stand run by a chap who looked like Col. Sanders. He had a little kettle on the boil and would demonstrate the misting up of glasses and then apply his remedy ...Clersite rings a bell?? He stopped attending before I did and I haven't been able to locate the product since. It certainly worked and the effect on old 'specs' was remarkable ... vision just like when first supplied. The stuff was sold in a tiny round pill-box like container and pink in colour, and PRICY!. Applied by finger and thumb and polished off by tissue. I suspect it was probably jeweller's rouge mixed with a soapy 'gunge'. Anybody remember same and/or come across it lately?

Rgds

Bill

I have both anti-reflection and hard coatings on my varifocals.

John

So do I, and they are reactolite, well, get darker in sunshine.

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 04/07/2014 21:41:40

Don't know how that works for you. In order to work at all, the anti-reflection coating must be on the outside - i.e. on top of the anti-scratch. The AR coating is (relatively) vulnerable to scratches. Granted these scratches are not on the lens itself (which is protected by the anti-scratch coating) but on the AR they are just about as noticeable as they would be on the lens (I'm looking through one right now ).

For that reason, my optician will not furnish both on the same pair of glasses.

Very interesting OMG, I'll have to ask about this on my next visit.

John

I have as I have aged, needed reading glasses and opted for the type where there is a lense glued to the bottom and I have no trouble using them. I also opted for the reactolite glasses and then went to work on the bees and as the Sun was out I could not see the bees as the glasses darkened so had to go back and get another pair just to work the Bees.

I work on things very close up like very small bearings that need regreasing( These are fitted to the ends of the footscrews on Tribrachs by some makers) The ball bearings are very small. Also I need to look at Glass surfaces for cleansing and to see dust specs. Machining I have no problem with measuring or seeing what I am doing.

Clive

I use varifocals, complete with reactolite built in and anti reflective coatings. Have had no problems at all except one which I will come to, and wearing them i find no bother at all, would not be without them. My wife has had a problem with hers, getting a double vision or halo effect over the top, but that might be due to the thickness of the lens for her.

The one problem I have had is with the reactolite. I not very often go welding, but when I do it is outside. Now my welding was never the best but I have found that using my usual glasses I really struggle as I cannot see what I am doing as the darkened reactolite due to bright outdoor light combined with the welding glass means all is very dark indeed. I have just got new glasses, plus a spare pair without the reactolite for when 'working'. I have yet to try welding with them, but am hopeful I will be able to see a bit more. Bit like Clive's comment seeing his bees I suppose!

Chris

I have 'rescued' a two year of pair of glasses using 'armour etch' to remove the crazed coating from plastic lenses.

1 never let your coated lenses in the bath!

2 never dry them with a towel!

3 when they go bad, don't use mechanical means to remove the coating.

My experience only you may have a disaster! - I'd only do this with a pair that was otherwise ready for the bin.

Neil