sholio | Eyes, why are they like this

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Eyes, why are they like this

I had an eye exam today, and assumed beforehand that I needed new glasses due to eyestrain while reading. It turns out that my prescription hasn't changed. What's changed is that my focal depth has gotten more restrictive. In spring 2021, when I got my last reading glasses update, I could use the same prescription to read at a computer screen distance (arm's length) and a comfortable book-holding distance (which is closer); now this no longer works.

For now I'm going to keep the same pair - I mean, the computer is the more vital of the two, and I can compensate by holding the book farther away. My optometrist thinks I really should start thinking about progressives, but I don't wanna. ;__; I'm only 46!!

I'm curious, though - for those of you who are glasses wearers and are hitting an age when you're starting to have divergent prescriptions for reading and distance, how do you handle it?

Poll #27695

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 42

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Two separate single-focus pairs of glasses, one for close-up work and one for distance
12 (28.6%)

Bifocals
1 (2.4%)

Trifocals or progressives
19 (45.2%)

A multi-focus pair (e.g. bifocals) *and* another pair
8 (19.0%)

Your poll does not capture the complexity of my situation! (Explain in comments.)
7 (16.7%)

(One handy trick I've been using when drawing is that you can slide the frames down your nose and change the prescription to a more up-close focus that way. This doesn't work for reading because it messes with my astigmatism, though.)

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I am going to be talking to my eye doctor about progressives next week, and I’m 38 :-(.

WOE. :( I have to say that my flexible younger eyeballs are one aspect of youth that I definitely never realized I'd miss until I started to lose them!

My optometrist thinks I really should start thinking about progressives, but I don't wanna.

For whatever a third-party data point is worth, my mother can't use progressives because of her astigmatism. She tried and could only look through the very center of the glasses, which rendered them unhelpful to her; she went back to the bifocals which she's used for years. Your astigmatism may not produce the same issue, but it's my primary association with the combination of the two!

Trifocals/progressives now, but when I was more on the cusp, like you, for a while I had expensive prescription glasses for reading and screens, and a cheap pair from a pharmacy for driving and walking around outside.

Yeah, one thing the optometrist brought up is that some people simply can't adjust to progressives; he said it tends to be a problem in particular for people who are prone to motion sickness (which I am! ... and I also have bad astigmatism), so it's always possible that it'll turn out to be not an option for me.

so it's always possible that it'll turn out to be not an option for me.

You should be able to try them before you have to make a decision, either way.

That sounds like a very sensible compromise while it lasted! (Alas, I am stuck forever with expensive prescriptions because of my combination of astigmatism and radically different prescriptions in each eye; over-the-counter is never really going to be an option for me.)

True! I guess I'll see how things develop, and how difficult it eventually gets to use the same pair of readers for everything.

I haven’t got there yet, but Mr P has, and he went for two pairs of glasses. There is a certain amount of faff involved in remembering to carry the other pair especially when out and about, though.

I had to get progressives maybe ten years ago? I still have them now, but my prescription (both near and far) is so minor since lasik that I hardly notice them and can do anything I need to without any glasses at all. I'm still sometimes rocked by how much that changed my life.

Yeah, for me so far the two pair solution seems to be by far the simplest and cause the least disruption to my life - except for having to remember the other pair, as you point out!

(At least so far they're not so different that I can't manage to, for example, read things on my phone and handle shopping and other tasks with the driving pair on, so I don't *really* need to have the close-up pair with me when I'm out of the house unless I'm going to be spending a lot of time doing close-up tasks like reading a book or filling out forms. Mostly I leave it at home because losing it would really put a crimp in my life.)

I've definitely given lasik a thought or three, believe me! I don't know if it might be thwarted by my astigmatism, which would probably always stop me from being able to read without glasses. It might really make a difference though, especially as the glasses-swapping gets to be more of a pain as I cruise on through (sob) middle age.

Edit: And I'm SO GLAD it was such a success for you; that's wonderful! <33333

Edited 2022-10-19 05:10 (UTC)

I paid a ton of money for progressives, which ended up being completely unusable. It's not that (or not just) that I couldn't adjust to them, but the close-up vision didn't work for the distance at which I naturally use a computer, a book, or crafts. There was a tiny window at a highly specific distance at which they worked, and that was it. They also gave me poor vision for long distances like driving. They were perfect for walking around while not looking at anything up close ever, which is something I never do.

Going in to a different optometrist tomorrow for new pairs of distance and close-up glasses, since I now distrust progressives and my current glasses are both an outdated prescription and literally falling apart.

OH HUH. The optometrist who talked me into progressives said he'd never heard of anyone being unable to adjust. As it turned out, that wasn't exactly the problem but it might as well have been.

I have both very bad astigmatism and am very prone to motion sickness.

I love my progressives! Always have. Use them for everything. OTOH, I have a couple of friends who could not cope with progressives and use multi-focals. I hope you find the right thing for you!

That's interesting to know--I have mild progressives, and astigmatism, and basically I never use the reading-distance magnification because it feels wrong. I was planning to ask for two scrips next time anyway, to separate laptop distance and farther distances, since looking over my glasses at things outdoors isn't great for driving; that part sounds a bit similar to

sholio's initial remarks.

I am 47 and still just plain short-sighted. My dad is 76 and same, so hopefully I won't have to do the progressives tango!

I tried something like lenses that combine long-distance and reading distance in one pair of glasses and I *hated* it.

FWIW, if you really only need it for reading books, it doesn't seem difficult to keep a pair near your book-reading nook, and using your other glasses for everything else? Seems far simpler.

You could get several pairs, one for the house and one for the car, if it becomes a problem?

My mother, these past few years, was actually using three pairs - one for distance, one for midrange, and her old pair was subbing in for reading.

When my mother was finally dragged to the optometrist after several years dodging that appointment, no I don't know why, the optometrist asked her what distance she needed for her close-up pair and then confirmed that actually she wanted one for "midrange".

It may be something you can talk about with your doctor, the actual distance you use for things like computers and books. It may be possible to get progressives that work with how you use them.

I did that though. I literally brought in my Kindle and my laptop to demonstrate the distances.

Then I am out of advice and hope this year's visit at least goes smoothly.

I'm several years overdue for an eye checkup and the associated tests. Planning on talking to the doc about a computer distance pair with blue light filters on them in addition to my everyday pair. The special computer pair should help with my chronic migraines, but wouldn't be suitable for everything.

Mom has had reading glasses and driving glasses for years. Dad got his first bifocals in his mid-30s.

I assume contact lenses for distance + reading glasses is not an option? I also have very bad vision with high degree of astigmatism, but I went to contact lenses as a teen. I have resigned myself to eventually carting around reading glasses.

I picked bifocals but maybe mine are actually progressives? IDK

I have divergent prescriptions just because my distance prescription is so strong. Progressives, although eye-wateringly expensive, work perfectly for me and after a day or two I didn't even notice that there was anything about them different from normal glasses.

My prescription is still fairly mild, but astigmatism + other stuff. I have a pair for computer use, a pair of sunglasses with a distance prescription, and nothing for reading distance.

That is because I looked at my life, went "I spend 95% of my awake time looking at a computer, let's optimise for that."

(I take my glasses off if I am talking to someone for a few minutes at work, usually, not least because I have a mask on, and juggling the two is more annoying than it needs to be, and I don't need the glasses to function at that distance. I have them on my nose most all the day otherwise, except swapping to the prescription sunglasses when I go for a walk.)

What turned me off progressives - besides the fact they take getting used to, which I could probably handle - is that the computer range on them is remarkably small. (there are diagrams, online, if you look.)

I've got some neck tension leads to migraine issues. I was really worried that with the progressives, I'd be in a situation where I'd constantly be adjusting from my neck and shoulders to keep things on a screen in range in ways that made the eyes work (and over a fairly wide physical range: 27" monitor at home, laptop at different angle at home, 2 monitors in the office).

So instead, we went for fairly large frames (so I don't have to do that kind of physical body adjustment), and computer-only glasses. I see an optician who is absolutely fabulous at "sort out what's going to work here." (he's also legally blind, and thus has a lot of opinions about what you want your assistive device tool to do for you)

I will probably eventually get around to doing a cheap online pair for reading and for distance that can't be sunglasses, but it's not like I'm going to movie theatres or performances in buildings yet anyway on the latter front, and the reading is mostly 20 minutes before I go to sleep, and easily enough managed by font choices on my phone.

I currently have progressives, (at 47, so only one year older than you!) after a couple of years of wearing (non-prescription) reading glasses over my normal glasses, (short sighted & astigmatism) and I do love them, although I have started wearing my reading glasses again over my glasses when doing various fiddly crafts. I was warned though by an Orthoptist that my eyes would probably deteriorate quickly compared to other peoples as until 4 years ago I had an inwards squint that was corrected by surgery, and the years of my eye muscles trying to resolve the resulting double vision basically wore them out.

And just to add a data point, I am extremely prone to motion sickness, and have not had any trouble on that front.

Husband however tried progressives, and it didn't work for his work set-up, (Ultra-wide monitor + extra monitor on either side), and the opticians replaced them without quibble after ten days use for glasses that did work for him.

I tried varifocals (distance, near, reading), but nearly fell down the stairs! Thankfully, the company I got them from changed them free of charge. I now have two pairs of bifocals (one a clear pair, one sunglasses - I tried long distance only sunglasses, but then one day hubby was driving the car and I was navigating on a bright sunny day... yeah, bifocal sunglasses after that, so I can read the *map and not get blinded by the sun!), and a separate pair for the VDU.

It's not perfect (I have to take my glasses off when reading what's on a shelf in a supermarket, bookstore etc, or stand well back, which looks odd!), and it's annoying when I have my VDU pair on and an interesting bird drama is unfolding in the garden - sometimes I miss it due to changing my glasses over!!! But it's the best compromise I can manage atm.

Ah, if only I could go back to the days of one pair does all!!

*Yes, we have a satnav. No, I don't trust it 100% and like to have maps too!

Edited 2022-10-19 12:47 (UTC)

he said it tends to be a problem in particular for people who are prone to motion sickness (which I am! ... and I also have bad astigmatism)

That is really good to know. o_o Both of those things are true for me, and last time I got new glasses I was told I'd probably have to get progressives next time. (And "next time" will probably be this December, or soon after it.)

My lasik was miracle-adjacent. Absolute game changer.

(Jake, however, is having struggles finding progressives that allow him to drive and use a computer and may have to switch to two pairs.)

I have bad astigmatism, high myopia and a tendency to motion sickness, but have nonetheless adapted reasonably well to progressive high-index lenses. It took me less than an hour, if I recall correctly. The brain is quite adaptable.

My myopia is so bad that the divergence for me is between middle (computer) and far (driving) distance. If I want to look at small things close up, I take my glasses off!

I understand that there are prescription multifocal contact lenses too, but I've never tried them. And LASIK, if you qualify physically.

Basically, I woke up one morning when I was 42 and could no longer read my phone or paperbacks easily while commuting on the subway, and I Knew. Got progressives a few months later. They warned me that it might take me a couple weeks to get used to them, but I got used to them inside of 24 hours, and I've had them ever since. When I was paying through the nose for them at a shop, they made the computer focal distance space larger on my lenses, but I've adapted to the Zenni variety because the difference between $120 and $600 is significant and I have sucked it up.

My wife's situation is more complex because she's not seriously nearsighted like I am, she just had slight nearsightedness and an astigmatism when she was younger -- now she has multiple pairs of glasses (progressives, reading glasses, computer glasses)

It's true not everyone can wear varifocals (progressives), and some people take time to adjust, but I put mine on, and they just worked, and that's not unusual. (Disclosure, I work for a chain of opticians in the UK.)

One thing to bear in mind is that the better quality lenses do really make a difference in giving you a better field of vision, so it's worth investing as much as you can in them, particularly if your optometrist offers a return guarantee if you can't get on with them.

Well, at this point I have two pairs already - "reading" glasses (really more like computer glasses now that my focal length has drifted out farther) that I wear for almost everything, and distance/driving glasses that I wear when I'm going to need to drive. Things are blurry at a distance with the reading glasses, but not badly - they're only one diopter off my regular prescription. I can even drive with them when I forget, which has happened a couple of times.

The issue is that I now technically have THREE prescriptions (reading distance, computer distance, driving distance) and trying to juggle three pairs of glasses sounds like a disaster. I already have enough trouble remembering which one is on my face, and trying to get them replaced is like the fox/geese/grain river problem.

Since I'm still resisting one pair for everything (trifocals or progressives), my optometrist suggested maybe trying a bifocal pair for my two different up-close distances and then keeping my regular driving/distance glasses, which I may eventually try if I don't get talked into progressives. At this point I think I can still use my regular reading glasses and just hold the book farther away, though.

I've thought about it! I have never worn contacts in my life and honestly don't know how well I'd deal with it, so they're a complete mystery factor for me, but it *is* something I've kicked around giving a try.

From talking to my guy, it sounds like it's relatively common!

.... On the other hand he made it sound like my opting to keep two single-focus pairs without even trying multifocus lenses was an idiosyncratic choice that absolutely nobody does, whereas it looks like from the above poll that it's extremely common. (That's genuinely the main reason I did the poll; I was thinking "I can't possibly be the only person who does this" and in fact am very much not.)

I wanted to do that and he talked me out of it. Huge waste of money.

Whyyyyy do they do that?? In general I'm happy with this place and I feel like this guy explains things really well, but in this particular instance he clearly wants me to at least try progressives and not keep going with my two-glasses solution, but the two-glasses solution works great for me! STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, IT'S MY EYES. >:|

I got progressives 5 or 6 years ago (my late 40s) and I had no trouble adjusting to them at all. I have astigmatism, but no real tendency towards motion sickness. Recently my doctor and I discussed adding reading glasses to my repertoire, but since I only really have trouble with tiny print in low light, instead I just remove the glasses to read in those situations. On the other hand, I don't drive, so that's never been a factor.

I'm simple-nearsighted, no astigmatism, and have always been able to do close reading without any glasses. (In fact, I was supposed to take my glasses off for reading when I was younger.) Once I needed bifocals, I agreed to try progressives, and I hated them. I had one clear spot and a lot of blur, which meant constantly moving my head around to try to get any given spot to be clear, which meant headaches due to neck/shoulder position problems.

I switched to traditional bifocals and I've been happy with them; I very much like being able to move just my eyes and still have clear "distance" vision. But over this past year, I've been running into the dreaded mid-range problem for computer work. I also tend to find that I'm more comfortable without glasses when reading close-up (which wasn't the case when I was younger, which was why I always forgot). My next update is in a month or two, when I'll need to resolve the computer-range issue.

My mother was very near-sighted, was very astigmatic, and had a "lazy eye". She tried every surgical intervention that came along in hopes of not needing glasses, but she had terrible medical luck and each one just made her eyes worse. (I say this not to alarm you but only to caution you that not everyone finds success.)

I lucked out - I HATED my progressives for the first three days, and then I adapted and they've been fine. I got them about a year ago. I was really worried, but my optometrist told me if I absolutely couldn't adapt to them we could go back and try something else.

I have horrible eyesight - both severe nearsightedness and astigmatism - so I'm grateful to have some kind of working solution.

not there yet, but it looks like I may need progressives or bifocals at some point in the future.

Yeah, at 40-ish I insisted on having separate reading glasses because I was Not Old, and they were far more of a nuisance than they were worth. I would stand in front of a class and read a passage, but since I wore my distance prescription to make eye contact with the students, I could read the text but not the footnotes. Got awkward once or twice. Plus which did I do -- reading for music or distance for the conductor, when I was doing chorale? I gave in, got progressives, and lived happily ever after.

I'm using readers from Walmart. I had the distance thing all wrong my eye doctor told me. I hated sitting on top of the computer because people making my reading glasses were making them for like 1 foot away from the screen. I was used to sitting like 3 feet from the screen. He told me the smaller the number on the glasses the farther you can see from. So I bought the 125's so I can sit 3 feet away and read. If I want to see closer I would get the 350's. I stopped wearing my prescription glasses because I can't get them to fix the distance thing. I can't read a foot from the screen it gives me a neck ache!

I always had separate glasses for distance and reading though. I can't do bifocal.

Edited 2022-10-20 22:32 (UTC)

I have progressives, but I often take them off to read and bring the book, newspaper, or phone really close to my face. I feel sure this is not how things are supposed to work! But I told my eye doctor, and he said, "Oh, your eyes are such that you're always going to find it easier to do that." Um . . . I guess I'm . . . reassured?

The progressives work great with the computer most of the time, and then I don't have to have a different pair to walk around or drive. I get more and more eye fatigue.

What's not great is that I'm a lit prof, and I often find myself pulling off my glasses in class (like Clark Kent) and holding the book four inches from my face. Then I have to put them back on to look at the class. But that's with progressives! If I had two different pairs, I'd probably be swapping them all the time!

I know someone who had a weird eye situation. I don't know all the details, but she'd wear one pair of glasses and then, when she needed to read, put another pair on over them. She said it was the only thing that worked for her.

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Eyes, why are they like this

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