bifocals

[OakLeaf]

I just buy the cheap narrow reading glasses from the drug store, wear them low on my nose, and look over them when I need distance/middle vision. It probably looks really stupid, but it works and it's really no effort.

The optometrist doesn't even talk to me about bifocal contacts. I haven't heard good things from anyone who's tried them.



ETA: I keep looking at magnifying goggles for close work (in my case, mostly electrical work on the vehicles). They just flip up when you need to look around the room. Here's a much cheaper pair, I don't know the difference. Might be a better option for your soldering. And +1 to SK on nothing but contacts and wrap-around sunglasses on the bici. In fact, when I first started needing vision correction, I had glasses, and needing my peripheral vision for cycling was the whole reason I went to contacts.

[SadieKate]

Fortunately I wear contacts 99% of the time so I use readers as necessary.

I have bifocal glasses for backup but I wouldn't ever consider wearing them on a bike. That close-up lens interfers too much with my line of sight and depth perception when riding.

[badger]

how frustrating! it's a b*!ch getting older, isn't it? I'm noticing that I'm starting to pull things farther to see more clearly.

For me, it's a bit of a dichotomy, as my prescription's very strong so without contacts or glasses, I can only see about 5 inches in front of my before things get blurry. But my very up close vision is perfect for fine details.

I thought about getting laser eye surgery, but then I'd lose that up close focus so I opted to just keep wearing glasses/contacts and one day end up with bifocals or readers.

Have you tried what Oakleaf does? to put a pair of narrow glasses low on your nose and just look down them when you're doing work up close?

[azfiddle]

I have had progressive lenses for about 4 or 5 years. Took a month of headaches to get used to them, but I don't notice them at all now. I occasionally take the glasses off for close work- probably because I need a new prescription, but have no trouble on the bike.