Anybody else have trouble seeing close up?

[MBfreak]

I am 65. Have had glasses since I was 20. Some ten years ago I could manage everyday life quite well without glasses, except reading and close up work.
I have a couple of pairs of some type fancy floating focus ( correct term) reading glasses that help a lot. They are tuned for a computer screen. When working with hobby stuff I make sure that I have very good lights and when doing precision work I wear a 3 x magnyfieng " Dr Magoo" style extra pair of lenses. And when that is not enough, a 10x jeweller´s glass.
You learn to adopt, it does not really slow me down much. What ***** is being stuck where there is not enough distance ( ie less than 30 cm) to the object. I then have to rearrange or call it a day.
What *****, and big time , is that my hearing is also bad, really bad. I have had all kinds of fancy hering aids, paid for by my employer. They take several months to adopt to, and once in while the alghoritms they have squeezed in scares the proverbial out of me.
So, I have given up on hearing aids, which also effectively gives me the perfect excuse for not going out, I look like an idiot and never know what to answer in a noisy bar. But, also here there are blessings, I have learned to lip read quite well, if I know the drift of the discussion I will get more than 75 % right. At a distance of several meters!

On a listening test , random sentences were read in earphones and cut off, and I should then repeat the last word. Scored a hefty 18 % and the audiologist giggled when she let me out of the booth.

And , no, old age does not ****. Whoever says so does not realize that time is linear, incremental and non reversible. Do they consider the realistic alternative?

Ola

 

[charlyo]

Try reading glasses and when you still can't see shine a flashlight on what you are trying to read. Makes all the difference to this 60 year old. i have to do this to read numbers on blocks, tire sidewalls, just about anything that is not in bright sunlight.

 

[torqueman2002]

I just bought my first set of Brail sockets!

 

[torqueman2002]

I've always had the opposite problem. I can't see close up with my glasses on, so I take them off and then I can SEE.

Me too!

I have worn glasses since I was in elementary school for near sightedness. About 10 years ago I started wearing multi-focal glasses (near-print, close-computer, and far-driving). Never liked them for the near-vision correction; wound up taking them off to read.

About 5 years ago, I found I couldn't read schematics and see **** under the dash.

I went to a Board Certified Lasik eye surgeon and asked if he could fix that problem. Unusual request he said, but he could do it. Came out great!

I now read prints/schematics for guys 15-20 years younger than me!

 

[Kevin54]

Mine started after I had my first shoulder replacement and the meds. I was sitting in the chair one evening and couldn't make out the prrint very well in a magazine. Went to hell after that. That started 8 years ago and I will be 55 next month. I don't need glasses to see other than read and I have yet to remember to take my reading glasses with me anywhere. I can't read anything without them unless someone holds it for me and I back up about 6'.

But I started getting regular eye exams. My dad lost his vision to macular degeneration so I want to stay on top of things that they check for in exams.

 

[fletcher]

I am 65. Have had glasses since I was 20. Some ten years ago I could manage everyday life quite well without glasses, except reading and close up work.
I have a couple of pairs of some type fancy floating focus ( correct term) reading glasses that help a lot. They are tuned for a computer screen. When working with hobby stuff I make sure that I have very good lights and when doing precision work I wear a 3 x magnyfieng " Dr Magoo" style extra pair of lenses. And when that is not enough, a 10x jeweller´s glass.

OK, it sounds like you are finding some solutions. Is the jeweller's glass mounted on a frame you wear like glasses?

And , no, old age does not ****. Whoever says so does not realize that time is linear, incremental and non reversible. Do they consider the realistic alternative?

Quite right and well said.

 

[MBfreak]

Fletcher
I have the clip on that that is held in place with two small springs that clip on to the glasses. Works real well for the fine stuff, but after 15 minutes I tend to get dizzy.
Another compelling reason to slow down

Ola

 

[fletcher]

MBfreak,

Where can I find that kind of clip on? I've never seen one. I'm guessing you know exactly what I'm talking about. There seems to be no diopter number that can help to zero in on something that is within a foot or so.

 

[brguy]

Should have them tested . Had some kind of computerized test that was like a MRI and looked really cool . Dont want to end up with cataracts or glaucoma . It is amazing what thay can tell about your health by looking into the eyes .

 

[dittle fart around]

I remember my dad used to have trifocals...but not the normal set. He repaired bank equipment and was routinely working on stuff 'above his head,' so he had a pair of glasses made with the normal 'bifocal' lense at the bottom AND at the top...so he could see things close up when glancing at things he was repairing above his head.

View media item 10444These are my tri-focals. Upper lens is for arm length over head work and the bottom lens for reading. Walking requires me to look straight ahead. Trip over alot of **** that way.

 

[Mike F]

I used to make fun of my wife when she started needing reading glasses. Until holding a candle next to a menu in a restaurant was still not enough light for me. She let me use a nice pink pair of readers so I could order dinner. How nice of her. Been downhill ever since. Since at work I need to see close up and at a distance approx 4 ft away, I went to an optometrist to get bifocals. Took a while to get used to but man what a difference. Of note- for medical reasons I needed to see an ophthalmologist a couple of years ago. While his exam was thorough,the optometrist I saw recently did a much better job of finding a prescription for me. They are not trained in the same way an ophthalmologist is, but they specialize in evaluating for lense prescriptions.
And remember... If, while wearing your bifocals you are going to the bathroom and look down, the bigger one is not really yours!!

 

[wolflrv]

I've always worn glasses..very nearsighted, but could do anything till I hit about 45. Now at 50, I still wear my normal glasses w/sunglass clips, but I also carry around my neck a small pair of readers which I just put on over my regular glasses if I have to read something. I also have a pair of dedicated full-lense computer glasses, but I still have to add a pair of readers over those, if I'm trying to write in the checkbook and look at the computer at the same time. And finally, if I'm really working on detailed, tiny stuff, I just take all the glasses off and get good light and I can see the best at that point. I also have contacts which simplifies things somewhat, but I only wear those for long trips, etc. when I want the convenience. Too much dust in the shop to worry about contacts.

I know that sounds rather convoluted, but it keeps me out of bifocals/trifocals, which I just can't stand to wear. I tried them once and tripped everywhere and even had trouble seeing to pick up a coffee cup. With my setup, I can take them on and off as needed. Not to mention the cost factor is greatly reduced, as my normal prescription costs about $800 just by itself...I can't wear the $100 lenses..can't see with them..they warp stuff too much. With bifocals..the cost was around $1500 per pair of glasses. I really like my $5 red-neck bifocals, as I call them...LOL!