Veering off topic - bifocals

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:11:10 -0400, Cheryl Isaak wrote: X-No-Archive Yes

I won't make any cracks, though you KNOW I am dying to lol I always pick frames the top of which, mostly follow the line of my eyebrows. For some reason, that seems to work.

Cheryl,

I had to get bifocals at 17...yes, 17!! I just used regular glasses frames that looked good on my face. That was half my life ago and the transitions lenses were more expensive than they needed to be. I think now, they are more reasonably priced - transition lenses are basically invisible bifocals, meaning NO line visible to anyone.

SOmehow I managed to outgrow the need for the bifocals, but I think that my eyes just caught up with both near and far sightedness being really sucky (as in nearly legally blind without my glasses!!). DH has regular glasses and reading glasses and that might actually be a better option. If you don't need the extra strength lenses for anything other than close-up work, 2 pairs would be more ideal, IMHO...that way you can keep the stronger glasses with your needlework in progress and have your regular ones (assuming that you wear glasses on a regular basis) at all times.

Just my opinion....

Larisa

I bought an inexpensive, much too large frame for my face, that I had made into bifocals just for stitching. That way the magnification is on a larger area on the bottom then it would be with a more fashionable pair and I can look over it to see distance.

Lucille

Don't have any tips on choosing frames, except if my lenses could be ground thin enough, I'd get the no-frame variety.

If it makes you feel any better, I had bifocals when I was 11 or thereabouts. They were taken away from me when I was 20. I only recently got them back by begging and pretty much exaggerating how much close work I do.

I *like* having bifocals. Makes my life easier and my eyes less tired.

Like Groucho Marx????????????? :-))

Sharon (N.B.)

When I got my first bifocals I took the advice of the folks who sell the frames and make the glasses, and have not been disappointed at all. Over the years I have gone from the HUGE bugeye frames to the smaller ones -- fashion changes, after all! The key to bifocals that fit properly is the placement of the change between the upper and lower parts of the lenses, and they will measure you for that. Get whatever you like!

As to stitching, I sometimes use plain old reading glasses from the pharmacy that match the bottom strength numbers on my "real" glasses. And I always keep a pair of the reading glasses in my purse, in the car, and in my travel bag! (I figure that if I lose or break my "real" glasses, I will still be able to read a menu or a map or to stitch!)

My mother had a special pair of glasses made for her for flying, where they made the focal point at her hand, which was the same distance between her face and the aviation maps she put on the passenger seat. She was so pleased with them she told her friends in the St. Louis Ninety-Nines chapter, and several of them went to their opthamologists and had them made, too! Those ladies were the envy of their competitors on air races.

By the way, when you pick up your new glasses, be sure you have an old pair with you! Bifocals can take a bit of getting used to, and I literally fell off the curb when I left the place, and wore the old pair to drive home!!!!!

For years, I've been going for new glasses carrying a piece of paper with the distance between my eyes and my computer screen.

I've not been feeling well lately, so have been doing most of my stitching semi-horizontal, and was having trouble seeing clearly. I was thinking bifocals were on my horizon, too, but realized that I see to read the newspaper and the computer just fine. Sure enough, when I held the stitching that far out, I could see. (Though supine, it's not particularly comfortable to hold it that far out.) And when I sat up properly and stitched in my lap as I usually do, that was fine, too.

Soooooooo, when I don't feel well, I'm stitching with my glasses off. Fortunately, there's not much on TV worth looking at.

Make sure they are sturdy as you will be putting them on and taking them off quite often.

Donna in Virginia

Oh yes,

I'm keeping the glasses I have now for driving and the rest of life. I can read ok with them and watch TV. I'm leaning toward a dedicated stitching pair and bifocals for chilling.

My DH still has trouble with stairs and bifocals.... C

I've needed glasses for distance all my life and was shocked when I needed bifocals. After my cataract surgery I remained nearsighted so I can still read without my glasses but now I need a little extra help for more intricate work like needlepoint.

With the relentless sun here in Florida, I have a few pair of prescription sunglasses that I just take off when I need to read something.

I do have a bifocal pair dedicated to doing needlework that as I mentioned before aren't particularly pretty, they're plain square too big for me tortoise, but they are very useful and give a larger area for some magnification. I keep them on a little stand right near my needlework tray and it really works well for me.

I think most people have more of a problem with steps when they use the varilux then with the old fashioned kind, but with some effort nearly everyone gets used to them.