Speaking of Vision -- How 'bout Progressive Bifocals?

I have been wearing soft contacts for 20 years now and it is generally 2
minutes in the morning and 3 minutes in the evening. I really have no
problems. Not enough to think about Lasik, PRK, and all the others.
However, I like the idea of progressive reading glasses. I buy mine at
Sam's Club. The 3 for $15.00. Not bad. But they are great for my
everyday work and reading charts. The panel is a little farther away and
night viewing is more difficult. Actually, I got a pair of 'lighter'
reading glasses for computer work, because the screen is further away
when my posture is not appropriately set in my chair. But, I have to
keep switching glasses/

Ross

Jay Honeck wrote:

I wore contacts for 10 years, and grew to really hate the routine, as
well as what hay fever, dust, and air conditioning did to my eyes while
wearing them.

How long ago was that? Today's lenses are much more oxygen-permeable. For
many people, the "routine" now consists of wearing the lenses for a week,
taking them out, throwing them away, and putting in a new pair.


Over 10 years ago. Erg...gad. More like 20! Dang, how does this keep
happening to me? What seems like last week is now in the 1980s!

Anyway, I've spoken with folks about the new contacts, and how wonderful it
is to just throw them away when they get uncomfortable. It all sounds much
better than when I wore them.

But I still don't want to mess with them.

Over 10 years ago. Erg...gad. More like 20! Dang, how does this keep
happening to me?

Jay, you wan't to keep that happening to you! As long as it keeps
happening, you 're alive. When it stops happening, you got a problem.

vince norris

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.

Google this forum for answers to the same question I asked three years
ago. I put off for three years getting bifocals until I no longer could.
I got the progressives and have not had any difficulties while flying
except for trying to look down out the window, as Larry pointed out.
The best answer is that it depends on your prescription. What range do
you need the correction?
In my case, I lost my very close vision (less than 9 inches). I am near
sighted, so the primary lense is for far vision. My progressive lense
does not seem to affect vision of the panel in any of the aircraft I fly
(C182R and S, C172N, Cherokee Six, Turbo Arrow, Archer, Champ, Stinson
108) day or night.
I do not use them when using the computer, but do use them to watch the
telly across the room. Looking at the section through the progressive
lense is one of those things where you learn how much to tilt your head
so that your eyes look through the proper portion of the lense.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.


Jay,

Try them, you'll either like them or hate them. I've had them about 4
years, and my first reaction was "what a piece of @#$@#$". After a few
days of thinking buying them was a mistake, things just worked with
them. (Brain / eyeball control system figured them out I guess.)
Flying with them is fine....read the chart, look for the traffic, scan
the panel....it all works.

Like you, mine were a result of not being able to read road maps and
charts. Distance was fine (with the existing glasses), the book in my
lap was not readable without taking the glasses off.

My experience is some people like them and others hate them.....doesn't
seem to be anything in between. That goes for both pilots and non-pilots.

Maybe I just wasn't ready to get lined glasses at 44. I am not heading
towards 50.....I'm not! I'm not! I'm not! :-)

Get it figured out before OSH, otherwise Mary gets to fly the approach
again!


Steve

I'm 47. I started noticing within the past year that it was difficult to
write in student's logbooks. Distance was fine, reading a book was fine,
reading a chart or approach plate was fine. Just writing in a logbook was
the one thing that was difficult to do. What really convinced me I had to
do something was when I went to renew my medical, and I could barely read
the eye chart.

Anyway, about a month ago, I had a pair of progressive bifocals made up. I
tried them for a few days, but just couldn't wear them. I felt like I was
swimming. Sitting at my desk (with two computer monitors on it) was a
total disaster; the second monitor is near the edge of my visual field, so
it was in the "neither reading nor distance" area on the side.

I traded them in for a pair of lined bifocals. I've had those for a week
or two, and while they're better, I'm not having much luck getting used to
them either. I tried wearing them in the plane, and found I couldn't read
the instruments.

At this point, I'm considering just getting a pair of full-lens reading
glasses and carrying two pairs around. Either that, or figure out a way to
become 37 again.

I've had progressives for decades and wouldn't take a million dollars to go
back to bi- or tri-focals. Once you get used to them you don't even know
you are adjusting. The nausea sounds like an OWT.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Use 'em. Like 'em. I set them on my nose so the view out the
windscreen is in focus and the panel is in focus. Then when I have the
sectional in my lap..it's in focus.

Al
1964 Cessna 172
1953 Eyes
KSFF Spokane, WA

"Al" wrote in message
...
Use 'em. Like 'em. I set them on my nose so the view out the windscreen
is in focus and the panel is in focus. Then when I have the sectional in
my lap..it's in focus.

Al
1964 Cessna 172
1953 Eyes
KSFF Spokane, WA

This is all very enlightening. I hope to resume my PPL training soon, after
a 20-year hiatus. I was fitted with progressives last year, and have adapted
to them fairly well. (I did not try the lined lenses).

It did not occur to me that there might be problems in the cockpit related
to these lenses. I do very well while driving, now that my brain has adapted
to the zones, so I assumed reading the instrument panel would be similar. i
gather it will e, based on what I've read so far in this thread.

I do find my peripheral vision is best from the center up.

Horace

I have used them flying for the last 5 years (progressives, both clear
and sunglasses)

Worky great, no issues..

Dave


On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:27:49 -0700, Al
wrote:

Use 'em. Like 'em. I set them on my nose so the view out the
windscreen is in focus and the panel is in focus. Then when I have the
sectional in my lap..it's in focus.

Al
1964 Cessna 172
1953 Eyes
KSFF Spokane, WA

Jay Honeck wrote:

I have been forced to face the fact that I can no longer read a
sectional chart with my current glasses. It's been getting worse for
some time, but lately I've realized that it has become downright
dangerous. (Moreso driving a car, actually.)

So, it was off to the eye doctor, who said I would definitely benefit
from progressive (the ones with no lines in the glass) bifocals. When
I asked her about flying, she said that they would be excellent for
viewing the panel (one distance) *and* the charts (another, closer,
distance).

So, I ordered them.

Now, of course, I've talked to a pilot friend who tells me that
progressives totally suck, and will make me nauseous in the plane,
thanks to the eternally variable prescription!

So, what's the verdict from my fellow "old farts" on this group? Do
you guys wear "progressives"? Or do you prefer the "lined" bifocals?
LensCrafters has a 30 day money-back guarantee (I don't actually have
them, yet), so I can change my mind.

I got my progressives about 4 years ago at age 42. I think they are
better than conventional bifocals, but they are still a pain. The sweet
spot for near vision is fairly small and you have to move your head a
lot to read and keep things in focus. I tend to often just hold things
closer and look over top of my glasses...

I've never had any issue with nausea. I did have a little trouble at
first stepping onto and off curbs and climbing or descending stairs, but
the brain acclimated to the new sight picture pretty quickly.

I'd say to not take them back too soon. Use the full 30 days before
making your decision as it will likely take a couple of weeks to get
reasonably functional with them. I'd prefer not to have progressives,
but at some point we really have little choice. I'm still contemplating
LASIK as another poster here mentioned recently, but I've had a number
doctors tell me that people may regret that surgery once they get into
their late 60s and beyond. I'm not really sure why, but something about
causing the eye to lose accomodation even faster than without the
surgery. However, most people I know who have had LASIK are very happy
with the results, but then none are pilots and all have less than 5
years on their "new" eyes.


Matt