Eyes

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
Should I be worried that there’s a number of folk driving around in circa 400bhp cars with dodgy eyesight :laugh:

:lol2:

Actually the legal requirement for driving is utterly ****. I'm perfectly fine without my lenses to drive, but I can barely read these letters....

C
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
many documented cases of contact lenses getting burned onto the cornea!!!

Hate to tell you, chap, but that appears to be an urban myth. Snopes even has a section on it. Always happy to hear a concrete case though.

Certainly familiar with the UV issues getting tan, though ;)

C
 

highlander

Member
Messages
5,214
Get a check at a decent local opticians, then buy a pack of the appropriate strength cheapy reading glasses off Amazon. 10 pairs for £20 or so. That means you can leave a pair in the kitchen, the sitting room, your office, your cars, the bedroom, etc, as opposed to having to carry a pair around. You can always treat yourself to a designer pair for "best" if you are so inclined.

Like you, I succumbed to reading glasses when aged 47.
^^^this^^^
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,763
Not convinced surgery is the answer to age related sight issues. As above your eye muscles are just getting older and are slower to focus. Its part of getting old get used to it.

I have a few pairs of cheap retail reading glasses which are fine for leaving in the car, overnight bags etc. but for work in the office I have a couple of pairs of optician spec variated bifocal glasses these are superb and mean I don't have to keep taking my glasses off and on in meetings.

I am finding that every 2 years or so the strength of the glasses needs to increase to allow me to read the smallest print, next appointment due soon and I suspect we might be at 3 after starting at 1 10 years ago.
 

Mattp

Member
Messages
501
the ready made reading glasses are ok in a pinch, but Id always recommend getting a proper prescription and properly tailored glasses - Selectspecs will make a set of prescription glasses for a tenner with AG/UV+AR coatings.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Your snap the same as me Matt. Except I reacted quicker than you....you silly sturburn proud numpty!

I don't care what others neither do you do don't worry about wearing some nice enough looking glass for reading when you need them.

I got a free eye test at Boots. Then got a decent enough pair of reading specs for 70 quid I think with free 2nd pair.

Do it you big softy. I can read again!
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
Go and see a top specialist like this chap
http://davidgartry.co.uk/eye-surgery-prices/
Don't go to the Halfords type High Street place who quote a few hundred quid per eye (eyes are too precious).
My son had his short sight corrected £5800 and has never looked back.
I am both short and long sighted so am stuffed as he can correct my short sight but I will still need reading glasses so no point.
I and stuck with bifocal specs but might look into contacts.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
I and stuck with bifocal specs but might look into contacts.

I'm currently here. I have one eye set for distance and one for close work. Problem is switching between them is a bit more than my brain is entirely happy with. And reading is set to 'monitor' distance which is not so good when I'm actually reading a book....

Next step will be bifocals or reading glasses. I'll miss the extended wear nature but I ran normal contacts before and it's nothing that really bothers me.

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mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
20 years ago I needed glasses for driving, then I changed jobs with less PC work and within a year didn't need them again!
Still go the opticians every 2 years for a check up though. I go to an independent and get all the retina scans etc that can flag up other health issues.
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,014
Contact lenses and me are totally incompatible. Hated them. The prescription is (apparently) never as good as glasses and they had a tendency to get stuck in my eyes. ******* things.

Now on variated bi-focals, and they're brilliant. Need new ones about every two years. I've never been tempted by the laser option just because I've been wearing glasses for 20+years and am pretty happy with them. Saves the temptation to buy new sunglasses very much as I need prescription ones.
 

nfm

Member
Messages
856
Glasses wearer for 40+ years and contacts for 30+. One other option not mentioned here, I think, is to have one reading contact lens. I am short sighted and middle aged so have problems both distance and reading. I have one distance lens and one reading lens and amazingly the brain can switch seamlessly between as you, say, read the dash and then look ahead. So, for you Matt, one other option would be to wear one reading lens only. The issue with reading glasses is you end up taking on/off all the time as you read/look in the distance.

Just another option, works a treat for me. Oh, and happy to recommend Boots.

Good Luck!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
The prescription is (apparently) never as good as glasses.

The prescription is as good but they only come in a set selection of settings and naturally they are not rigid, like a glass or plastic lens.

I have one distance lens and one reading lens and amazingly the brain can switch seamlessly between as you, say, read the dash and then look ahead. So, for you Matt, one other option would be to wear one reading lens only. !

Same here, though less seamless :)

C
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
I succumbed to reading glasses in my mid forties. I now have old man varifocals. I didn't even consider surgery, though I know friends with eyesight issues from birth that have had it without problems. I'm used to wearing glasses now.

I don't need them to drive but do wear them as it means I can read the dash clearly.

I went to Boots and they seem ok. Just remember once you've got your prescription you can get it filled anywhere.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Tip for when in a restaurant when you've forgotten your glasses. Use your phone to take a picture of the menu, then expand to a readable size. Fractionally less embarrassing than having the waiter read it all out load.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,223
Hate to tell you, chap, but that appears to be an urban myth. Snopes even has a section on it. Always happy to hear a concrete case though.

Certainly familiar with the UV issues getting tan, though ;)

C

Well that is one I had drummed into me as a child by my dad so I've been perpetuating it for about 45 years! Best I can come up with is related to the early plexiglas lenses because of the lack of ‘wettin'.
 

Panicracing

Junior Member
Messages
376
I started with readers at 45, now 54 and had varifocals for last 5 year's. Always hated wearing them from day one. Tried all options along the years and spent £1000s. Eyesight not that bad on distance, mainly reading and I know an age thing but I blame a lot on prolonged use of laptop's back in the day.
From my personal experience, use good independent optician and stay away from high street mainstream, the one's offer 2 for 1 and free eye tests. Nothing free in life.
Contact's I've tried time and time again, just can't get hang of putting in, maybe need more patience but worth a go if they are suitable for you.
Laser l looked into about £5k at the time, got right up to having contacts fitted to replicate what it would like and they stayed in 3 days as drove me nuts with blurred vision, lt works for some but many opticians say tread with caution as you eyes will still degrade with age.
Reading glasses expense not to much of an issue but if you ever need varifocals pay as much as you can afford and get the best lenses possible, my optician done a cracking job with mine, it's not all about the lense strength, so much to it. Also l like light frames so use Linberg titanium, best I've found and last of all if you ever need prescription sunglasses try Serengeti, fantastic glasses and you don't get cheap lenses put in a designer frame like a lot of other's.


Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
Well that is one I had drummed into me as a child by my dad so I’ve been perpetuating it for about 45 years! Best I can come up with is related to the early plexiglas lenses because of the lack of ‘wettin’.

I really *really* doubt it :)

C
 

Lozzer

Member
Messages
2,280
I can relate to this, my management team have taken to issuing drawings to us in A3 format (not good copies either) reduced from A0 size (due to cost apparently), and I find myself constantly straining/squinting to read dimensions and information, I have raised concerns about it on numerous occasions, I genuinely think this has contributed to my eyesight going downhill in the last 3 years. I now realise I probably need reading glasses of sorts but I'm trying to stave that off.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Mine are 6/4 in both eyes which Is not bad for a 68 year old, although I have astigmatism which is fairly common when you get older

I also had laser treatment for floaters a few years ago, which didn't work out too well.. stick with the bins and get your eyes checked out some were like your local Nuffield's Hospital every 18 months or so!


Dave
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
I am one who wears "mixed" lenses. They are not for everyone, and take a couple of weeks to adapt. I have one for distance vision, which must be your dominant eye, my other is for nearer vision, which allows me to glance down and read speedo etc.