Glassy Eyed

[Ships_Cat]

There was a thread along similar but not same lines to this some months ago in which I found the views to be useful.

I have worn contact lenses (short sighted) for about 35 years and as age has caught up I now have the choice between going for good long vision but poorer short or vice versa, or a compromise with neither long nor short perfect. Whichever way, the compromise in vision is not yet sufficient to make bifocal contacts worthwhile.

What I have done in the last few weeks is go for excellent long sight (bottom line no problem and can identify sparrows at 20 miles /forums/images/icons/smile.gif) but at the cost of some minor correction using specs for reading smaller prints or in low light eg charts (only 1.00 dioptre correction at this stage).

Part of my reasoning was this I felt was the best compromise for boating - I wonder what views other bespectacled boaty ones might have on the best trade off.

Thanks for any comments

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[BrendanS]

I gave up on contacts years ago, as they were just too much hard work.

I'm thinking of going back to them for rough weather and wet conditions. Day wear thingies. Beats glasses hands down when there is spray,

Not great for night driving though, IMHO

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Iota]

I have worn hard lens for years and these days can be found with a pair of gold framed half glasses on a string around my neck. My backup pair of specs are bi focal and a real pain but I don't think it is worth the cost of varifocal specs.

Iota

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[Twister_Ken]

Everyday, now, wear distance glasses almost all the time and swap to prescription reading glasses when reading small print or in dim conditions. Can't be bothered with bi-focal or vari-focal. But for sailing I've long used disposable contacts for distance, and I keep a pair of over-the-counter reading glasses by the chart table that correct my contact-lens-amended vision .

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[Ships_Cat]

<<<But for sailing I've long used disposable contacts for distance, and I keep a pair of over-the-counter reading glasses by the chart table that correct my contact-lens-amended vision>>>

OK Ken, that is the choice I have made (but I have always been hard lenses and wear them all the time). A bit like snap because in my bag to take to the boat tommorrow is also a spare pair of over the counter reading glasses to leave at the chart table.

Short in sight long in tooth, John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[ChrisE]

I, too, wore contact lenses for 20 years but now wear varifocals. Like all of us ancient mariners focussing on things close is not what it used to be, so the choice was stick with the contacts and wear reading glasses for close work or varifocals. I reasoned that as I would have to wear glasses for a fair amount of the time it was the moment to dump the contacts.

The new high refractive index plastic, no frame, no hinge jobbies are a delight and for really close stuff like threading fishing line through the eyes of a size 20 take glasses off and now I have really good magnifying vision.

I still keep some diposable contacts for backup but all in all I'm glad to see the back of all of those bottles and bits of plastic.

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[boatmike]

When you have solved that one (I wear trifocals by the way cos I can't get on with varifocals) try telling me how to not get dazzled by the sun and still read charts down below. Currently have prescription sunglasses to wear on deck and clear below. The reactalite ones don't change fast enough so they are no good and I keep forgetting to change from one pair to the other. This results in me either wondering why the sun is so bright all of a sudden or why I can't read my charts anymore.....
As I get older my memory deteriorates faster than my eyesight...... Doh!


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[Ships_Cat]

By the time I get below I have forgotten what I went below for- has been known to happen /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif.

One of the reasons I stick with contacts Mike is that it is easy to then just wear conventional sunglasses which solves the sun thing. Of course all the other reasons like rain, spray, salt, etc count too. Starting to use specs a bit for reading now reminded me (can remember 35 years ago but not yesterday!) to learn again about not breathing out when drinking a hot drink - they get about as foggy as my brain.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[boatmike]

Tried them once but when I took them out I could not find them again..... Not sure if this was because I forgot where I put them or because I was half blind without them...... Sad old fart either way I suppose.....

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[Twister_Ken]

If you haven't tried modern disposable lenses it's well worth a go. Any decent optician will let you try out a pair before committing. Compared to reusable lenses they're much easier on the eye and don't need any 'breaking in' time.

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[boatmike]

Actually Ken if we are being serious here (which comes with difficulty) I am fortunate in that my eyesight is pretty good for a 62 year old. I don't really need glasses for seeing at distance and often (like when its raining) don't wear them and can often pick up bouys etc before anyone else does. What I do need (as most of us do when we are older) is reading glasses for chartwork etc. which I would need anyway so CLs don't do a lot for me. The sunglasses thing is just a pain. I get eye strain in the glare off the water and can see better when wearing polaroids. Prescription polaroids are magic for me (they ought to be at the price!) but I have to take them off at the chart table below cos I can't see diddly squat with em on! I can see me wearing these most of the time when in the med next year (when not in bed that is!) but have to carry around another pair to see with when "indoors" Not a big problem really but I just have to remember to take them with me when ashore cos if it gets dark I look a twassock with dark glasses on and can't see my wooden leg so I fall over all the time.....

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[Twister_Ken]

Software opportunity.

What we need is a spectacles management program (PC & Mac compatible).

My current count is two pairs ordinary distance glasses (1 normal, 1 'robust') one pair prescription sunglasses, one pair prescription reading glasses, 2 pairs over the counter reading glasses for use when wearing contacts, one pair very dark sunglasses (skiiing and sailing when wearing contacts) one pair ordinary strength sunglasses, for use when driving when wearing contacts) and one pair super trendy cycling glaases with interchageable lenses (clear for protection, yellow for protection and to enhance contrast on dull days, and rainbow mirror tinted for protection on sunny days). Add in three months supply of disposable contact lenses (different strength for each eye) and it all becomes a tad logisitical to make sure right accoutrements are in right place at right time.

And yes, you do feel a tool walking around at night in prescription sunglasses because your ordinary glasses are in the wrong house/car/boat/country.

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[ChrisE]

Re: Software opportunity.

And a pair to find the RSYC port cabinet?

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[boatmike]

Re: Software opportunity.

Gawd! I thought I had a problem........

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[chas]

Varifocals

There is some comment below on varifocals. I have got my first pair (two days ago) and find them very difficult - cant see all my computer screen, get a lot of distortion etc. I have used reading glasses for some time as my long sight has, until recently been all right. Should I perservere with the varifocals? Does anyone like them? Or shall I try and get my money back?

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[boatmike]

Re: Varifocals

Do you find you can only see directly ahead and everything on either side is a blur?
Is your neck aching from swivelling your head around? My lady wears them OK but then she only has eyes for me Can't stand them myself!

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[heartlander]

Re: Varifocals

Varifocals no problem at all for me but bi focals were another matter. Felt sick when sailing (more than usual) and golf was impossible. If I could see the ball I couldn't hit it and vice versa. As for sunglasses half a dozen pairs of hinged clipovers scattered around the boat - naff I know, but who cares when no one can see you.

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[Cutter]

Interesting posts
Gave up on contacts after 35 years of hard and soft as needing additional glasses for the fiddly bits like seeing in theatre. Now on varifocals - absolutely brilliant. Was warned they might take some getting used to but fortunately went very easily. So nice to be able to concentrate on the fine work and look up and still see far away objects. Went for the Nikon lens - it has a crescent shape upper segment which helps with the barrel distortion. Expensive, especially as I chip the edges when I drop them, but light and really pleased. Have had no probs with night passages and just hand over the wheel when it rains....

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[graham]

Our library sells big flat magnifiers for the elderly to read pages from books.Ideal for the not so elderly to look at fiddly things at the chart table.

i am lucky in only needing single vision lenses as yet....And a cloth jammed in my coat pocket for spray and salt removal.

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[Ships_Cat]

Re: Software opportunity.

With that lot you need an aide to look after them all - perhaps like the president, who has a security officer always accompanying him carrying the nuclear codes around in the "football".

Have to concede that I have accumulated 4 pairs of over the counter specs in the last week to leave in strategic places for reading, so by this time next year might have 208 pairs if I maintain that rate.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.