Totally OT: Cute reading glasses!

[emily_in_nc]

I wish I needed them.

Be careful what you wish for! I don't know your age, but I've read and heard that just about everyone needs at least some reading correction by age 50, and many need it by 40. I got my first pair of readers at 46. I've been wearing contacts for distance and astigmatism correction since 18 and also have my first pair of very expensive progressive glasses since age 46 (I'm 47 now, getting close to 48). However, I've been spoiled by contacts and I hate being tied to glasses, they're not good for athletics, and they make my eyes tired, so I much prefer contacts at work (plus readers over them when I need to read fine print). So it was cool to find some cute, colorful readers instead of the boring ones I've been buying at the drugstore.

My DH never needed glasses of any kind until he was 50, when he started needing readers. He just bought them at the drugstore, but every year needed a stronger pair. Now, at 55, he wears progressive glasses full-time since even his distance vision is needing a slight bit of correction.

[emily_in_nc]

THis is going to sound strange but forgive me for this naive question, since I haven't needed any glasses for anything in life, except for sunglasses. But my luck may run out soon going into the 5th decade of life.. I am noticing it's just more difficult to thread a sewing hand needle when I need to alter clothing. And I used to be a regular sewer..before cycling, so I knew how sharp my vision was for many hrs. under those circumstances.

I always thought it was safest to have one's vision tested first before figuring out prescription vs. non-prescription route.

Yes, you should definitely be having eye exams even if you don't need glasses (I go every year but I am nearsighted and have astigmatism as well -- and vision insurance that pays for a free yearly exam). In addition to vision, they check for early signs of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc. But there's nothing wrong with picking up a pair of drugstore readers for sewing and other close work. In fact, you'd need to try a few different strengths either there or at the eye doc's to know what strength to get.

My DH started with drugstore readers at age 50, when he started having problems with fine print. He'd never worn glasses in his life either. Very few people make it through their 50s without age-related far-sightedness (presbyopia).

There's some good info here about prebyopia, and they even mention difficulty seeing while sewing!

[emily_in_nc]

I could spend my whole flexible spending account on my eyes...
I use my insurance to pay for my contacts, but I also have a pair of bifocals, which I never wear because they are plain and ugly, and my readers. I wish I could order some of those cool glasses Emily, but my head is so little, I need to buy kid's frames! So, because I wear my readers a good deal of the time, over my contacts, I had to spend the big bucks to get a cool pair.

I hear you! I upped my FSA a lot in 2008 based on my eye expenses. I knew I'd be getting progressives for the first time ($$$$$$) in Jan. '08, plus contacts (daily disposables). But our medical/dental expenses were less than expected over the year, and I stopped taking Advair, so I've ended up with a couple hundred $ extra I need to use up before 3/31. My next eye appt. is Feb. 3rd so will buy whatever contacts I need to use my 2008 money up so I won't lose any. Too bad I can't use it for a massage or something fun like that!

I did get pretty decent progressives last year -- thin wire top only frames, but I still can't stand wearing glasses all the time, even if they're cute. My eyes get red and tired if I wear them all day at work, since I'm on the computer ALL day. And sometimes they give me a headache. I much prefer contacts, and although readers are annoying since I take them on and off a lot, at least they make cute ones now. Both pairs I ordered said they would work for "narrow faces", so hopefully they'll work for me -- I don't have to get kid's frames, just smaller women's.

I am also in the process of trying multi-focal contacts, but the jury is still out. The first brand I tried gave me decent far vision but blurry near version, so I'm testing out a second brand since they're all made a little differently.

[shootingstar]

sigh.I just came back now from biking and shopping. Tried on a couple of these peeper-readers or whatever in different strengths. Most of the designs didn't fit..my lack of well-defined nose bridge. But then wasn't looking around hard enough for options.

yea, they would be helpful for me to thread the needle occasionally or other fine eye work. But I haven't bought any pair yet.. there's a part of me that is trying to face reality.

[emily_in_nc]

sigh.I just came back now from biking and shopping. Tried on a couple of these peeper-readers or whatever in different strengths. Most of the designs didn't fit..my lack of well-defined nose bridge. But then wasn't looking around hard enough for options.

yea, they would be helpful for me to thread the needle occasionally or other fine eye work. But I haven't bought any pair yet.. there's a part of me that is trying to face reality.

You might have to go to an optician for more frame choices and a better fit (but for more $). At some point, it will become a must. I can't thread a needle at all any more without reading glasses (or my Rx progressives), sadly, and I sew, so no avoiding that reality! Just another "fun" fact of aging...bummer, eh?

[OakLeaf]

I'm going to need a pair of those totally geek jeweler's magnifiers next time I do any electrical work on the m/c I just haven't decided what magnification to get them in.

[Becky]

Those are so cute! I wish that I could get away with non-prescription readers but, unfortunately, it's my astigmatism that necessitates them. At some point, it's going to bother me enough to correct it separately.

Anyone wear a contact in one eye to correct an astigmatism, and non-prescription readers when doing close-up work?

[Crankin]

Emily, your situation sounds like mine (again??). My bifocals are progressives, they are the only kind I have ever had. I never intended to wear them "outside," except for the initial break in. It hurts my eyes and I get nervous driving with them, as I keep looking down, through the reader part. I basically put them on when I get into bed to watch TV or read and then put them on when I get up, walk into the bathroom, and put my contacts in. I am not going to try the multi-focal contacts, too much to go wrong for me. I have an uncorrected astigmatism in my left eye because I could never adjust to the toric lenses.
I could never ride with glasses on. I love my sunglasses, but I am too used to wearing contacts, after over 30 years.
I started wearing readers quite awhile ago; I was around 40.

[emily_in_nc]

Anyone wear a contact in one eye to correct an astigmatism, and non-prescription readers when doing close-up work?

I wear toric contacts (but in both eyes; I got major halos and headaches when I tried the one contact thing, though I know it works for some) for astigmatism and distance correction, and non-prescription readers...

[wackyjacky1]

I'm apparently both near and far sighted. Go figure.

Yeah, I know what you mean! I've been ridiculously nearsighted my whole life, with wicked astigmatism, to boot. I had known that people get farsighted as they age, but I thought, "How can you be both?" Maybe, I thought, I would catch a break when my nearsightedness and increasing farsightedness converged and I would have normal vision for a while! Nope...

So far I don't need readers; for reading and up-close work, I just take off my glasses and hold things up to my nose.

[emily_in_nc]

I have an uncorrected astigmatism in my left eye because I could never adjust to the toric lenses.

That's too bad. I changed from regular Focus Dailies contacts to Focus Dailies Torics and never noticed a bit of a difference (except better vision and an increased price!) They were no thicker (that I noticed, at least). My astigmatism is mild and the same Rx in each eye (.75).

Yes, we are similar again in that I also mostly just wear my progressives first thing in the am and last at night, though I do tend to wear them more on the weekend, like today, when I'm inside a lot just hanging out.

[keepclimbing]

My philosophy is that one can never have too many pairs of reading glasses...one on the bedside table, one in the sewing kit, one in the kitchen, one in the bike bag, one in the purse, at least 3 at the office! But even then, you'd be surprised how often I'm searching and can't find a pair anywhere! I'm always misplacing them and breaking them. I buy cheapies, but there are a lot of cute styles out there. I'm over 50, see my ophthalmologist every two years and still test out 20/20 so I haven't needed any other correction. He fully supports his patients buying readers from the drug store. Yay for FSAs!

[Crankin]

As soon as I put the torics in my eyes, they started watering and I could always feel it. Within a half hour, my nose was running and I was in a full blown allergy attack. Since this scenario has actually lead to bronchitis a couple of times, I decided after this happened twice, it wasn't worth it.

[emily_in_nc]

As soon as I put the torics in my eyes, they started watering and I could always feel it. Within a half hour, my nose was running and I was in a full blown allergy attack. Since this scenario has actually lead to bronchitis a couple of times, I decided after this happened twice, it wasn't worth it.

Oh, that doesn't sound fun! Sounds like there was something about that brand that didn't work for you, or maybe you just have unusually sensitive eyes. Given your reaction, I can understand why you're gun-shy. Since you only have astigmatism in one eye, and it's probably mild, you are probably not missing much without torics. I didn't wear them myself from age 18, when I first got contacts, to age 45, but I do get crisper vision with them than with non-toric contacts.

[wackyjacky1]

As soon as I put the torics in my eyes, they started watering and I could always feel it. Within a half hour, my nose was running and I was in a full blown allergy attack. Since this scenario has actually lead to bronchitis a couple of times, I decided after this happened twice, it wasn't worth it.

Could it be the lens solution you were using? I had to try a zillion different ones before I found one that was compatible with my eyes. Turns out I have some weird allergies to many of the ingredients.