Progressive lenses

[jessmarimba]

I think I'm lucky in that my left eye is very much dominant. My right (bad) eye barely factors into my visual perception - and with how we've chosen to treat my vision, that's been an encouraged development. I don't notice that I can't see clearly in that eye when I'm running/biking, though I imagine it affects the peripheral vision on my right side. I can function almost perfectly with my left eye half-corrected doing everything except driving at night and reading. We've talked about making me a pair of glasses with just the astigmatism correction so I can wear them over my contacts to see road signs in low light but I haven't taken that step yet - but it might be an option for you if the toric is unbearable but normal lenses are ok? I wonder if your brain is still trying to rely too much on input from your left eye and won't accept that it's an unreliable source. I also wonder if they might have a problem matching the focal point of your astigmatism prescription to your visual focal point? If your astigmatism isn't standard but is more unevenly distributed (if your eyeball is shaped really wonky) I could see that being a result. The toric might help but might not, I found them to move more than normal contacts and it was sometimes difficult to keep them in the right position on my eye. I'm curious now though, your depth perception seems to be an odd symptom for just astigmatism, more of a source data/computational analysis miscommunication. I wonder if you might not be helped more by some sort of exercise that teaches your brain how to better interpret the visual input it's gonna get.

(For reference, my distance prescription for contacts is about -6.5 in each eye, my bad eye also should have an astigmatism correction to -5.5 or -5.75. But it's bad enough that if it's not corrected, it doesn't register as visual input.)

[Crankin]

Wow, my vision (the distance stuff) is a 2.75 for my left contact and 3.5 for my right. The distance vision is actually better in my left eye. My prescription has gone down a lot in the last 2-3 years as it used to be 4.5 and 3.75, then I switched doctors and the new one gradually reduced it, and I can see a lot better now. I have had so many eye doctors in the 21 years I've lived here, I can't keep track. My reading prescription got worse at the same time the distance got better, but now, that has stabilized. I have absolutely no problem with the regular Accuvue contacts. I wear them from the minute I get up to the minute I get into bed.
I am not really sure if the astigmatism has anything to do with my horrible depth perception, it's really just a thought in my head, in the hope that if it gets fixed, my riding skills might improve. When I try to explain how things look/feel to me, to my DH, it's really hard for him to understand.

[OakLeaf]

I wonder if a neuropsych workup might give you some clues and as jess suggested, some exercises? It seems like you've had to make a lot of accommodations through your life. (I'm curious ... how is your balance with your eyes closed? Not that it's necessarily better, that's a whole 'nother set of issues that I've been working on myself in PT, but it might help isolate your visuoperceptual issues from balance issues related to tendon and muscle sense organs and strength.)




Also FWIW, I wore Accuvue successfully for years until they came out with their latest "new improved" version. As soon as my optometrist put the trial lens in my eye it felt like it was inside out - the edge was very perceptible. There's got to be some kind of record for the shortest time anyone's ever worn a trial lens! He said a lot of people have issues with the new coating. I'm wearing Cooper Avaira now.

[Tokie]

This has gotten very technical, so my reply is a bit out of context....but Crankin, I am very petite too, and used to only wear children's frames - usu a bit clunkier than adult styles. My optometrist carries small frames, the last 2 pair I have purchased are from "Bevel" brand - pricey, but well made,fashionable, and well-proportioned for petite faces. Frameless models- any brand- are good for any size face. And when your prescription changes, they can make new lenses in any shape/size that you prefer! Tokie

[Crankin]

Oy, Oakleaf, I would be embarrassed as he** to go for a neuropsych eval, as it would make me look like an overachiever . And, since I know most of them around here, I know they are not too proficient in evaluating these issues, but more in the areas of learning and ADHD. I almost wonder if there's any PTs who work with this stuff and maybe an eye doctor who knows a lot about depth perception. I am not sure about my balance with my eyes closed, maybe I should test it.
And yea, those new Accuvues suck. I also put one in for about 5 minutes and said "no." I am wearing the older version. Again, the doc thought I was nuts, that I could feel a difference. The thing is, that the balance and probably the depth perception issues run in both sides of my family. My dad is super uncoordinated and my mom's sister makes me look like an Olympian. My mom, however, was extremely athletic and coordinated, which is where I probably get the endurance genes from. Too bad I didn't get the rest.
I am somewhat leery of "eye exercises" to cure anything. I just remember lots of ODs trying to cash in on visual training to cure everything from reading disabilities to bad behavior in adolescents.
You are right, I have many compensatory strategies, mostly consisting of knowing what I am good at and sticking to that. But the thing is, I am somewhat of a risk taker as I get older, and now I'd like to be able to do more.
ETA: Tokie, yes the last place I got glasses at had "tween" sized glasses and they were perfect for me. I will keep the Bevel brand in mind.

[BikeDutchess]

Just like some of you, I wear contacts for distance but need readers for close-up. So I've been having more trouble reading my Garmin when riding, and I imagine trying to find/dig out goatheads and such from my tires would be a challenge too. I just found & ordered sunglasses with built-in magnification from this place: http://www.dualeyewear.com/ Sort of like bifocals, but without any correction in the main viewing area. They aren't terribly expensive at $50 a pair.

I just received my order today and like the way they look! I can read my watch, my phone, etc., with these on! I only wish they had adjustable nose pads so they wouldn't rest on my cheeks. Haven't had a chance yet to try them out riding, so will report back in a few weeks!

[bmccasland]

Just like some of you, I wear contacts for distance but need readers for close-up. So I've been having more trouble reading my Garmin when riding, and I imagine trying to find/dig out goatheads and such from my tires would be a challenge too. I just found & ordered sunglasses with built-in magnification from this place: http://www.dualeyewear.com/ Sort of like bifocals, but without any correction in the main viewing area. They aren't terribly expensive at $50 a pair.

I just received my order today and like the way they look! I can read my watch, my phone, etc., with these on! I only wish they had adjustable nose pads so they wouldn't rest on my cheeks. Haven't had a chance yet to try them out riding, so will report back in a few weeks!

OOOOoooo, now there's a thought! I have interchangable lenses for my riding glasses. Hopefully I could find a reader lens to fit whatever brand it is that I have. I have the same trouble seeing, and have been stuffing a pair of readers in my jersey pocket (in their little case). Thanks BikeDutchess!

[GLC1968]

I'm considering a similar pair from Amazon (only $25) to see if they'll work for me, too.
http://www.amazon.com/Wrap-Around-Sp...=3CGOJE4OIQNBH

I just got progressives a week ago and I can't get used to them. They make me sick to my stomach when I wear them! I'm trying my best, but it's really difficult. BUT, I can't see my phone, the dashboard of my car or things I'm chopping in the kitchen (or the recipes) without readers but readers are often unrealistic in those situations.

Now my old readers are my computer glasses (as my eyes got worse, the Rx for the readers moved to the computer screen distance really nicely!) and I'm switching back and forth between the two types of glasses as I go through my day at work.

I miss my youth!

[withm]

I just got progressives a week ago and I can't get used to them. They make me sick to my stomach when I wear them! I'm trying my best, but it's really difficult. BUT, I can't see my phone, the dashboard of my car or things I'm chopping in the kitchen (or the recipes) without readers but readers are often unrealistic in those situations.

I once picked up a new pair of glasses, put them on and thought WTF??? They made me crosseyed immediately. Turns out the optician had reversed the Rx in the left and right lenses. Talk about instant headache and dizziness! They had to re-order new lenses, and they got it right that time. So, you may want to take them back and be sure they made what they were supposed to make for you.

[GLC1968]

I once picked up a new pair of glasses, put them on and thought WTF??? They made me crosseyed immediately. Turns out the optician had reversed the Rx in the left and right lenses. Talk about instant headache and dizziness! They had to re-order new lenses, and they got it right that time. So, you may want to take them back and be sure they made what they were supposed to make for you.

I wish that were the case. When I am sitting still, they work fine. It's only when I move or look around or drive or walk or.... I think they got them right and it's just that it's taking my brain awhile to adapt. I am really surprised at how much I have to move my head around to see things clearly. I just don't like that everything except what is directly in the center is totally blurry when my non-glasses vision is better than that!

[Catrin]

I wish that were the case. When I am sitting still, they work fine. It's only when I move or look around or drive or walk or.... I think they got them right and it's just that it's taking my brain awhile to adapt. I am really surprised at how much I have to move my head around to see things clearly. I just don't like that everything except what is directly in the center is totally blurry when my non-glasses vision is better than that!

This doesn't sound right, I've been in progressives for a decade and have never had this kind of problem with them. I would go back and talk with them about that.

[Crankin]

When I first got progressives, my doctor made me wear them straight for a week. Since I never wear my glasses, except when I get into bed or if I am very sick (I use contacts with readers), it was horrible. I felt nauseous and dizzy and had to clutch the railings of stairs. But, it went away. If I do wear my progressive outside, it feels slightly weird, but nothing like at first.
Still searching for stylish frames that will fit my puny face and can do progressives. I went to my eye doctor and the person that fits the glasses told me that they don't have any funky frames, since all of the middle aged suburban clients don't want them... I'm an outlier.

[GLC1968]

Crankin - yep that's it. Before this, I never wore glasses except when reading, so having something essentially distorting my vision all the time is tough.

Though, I can't help but wonder....those of you with progressives, can you see an entire line of type in focus from left to right on a standard page? Or is it only in focus in the center and you have to turn your head back and forth to read each line in focus? This just seems weird. When I mentioned it when I first put them on, they said 'oh, that's normal for progressives which have an hourglass shape to the frame'. Honestly, had I known that, I might have opted for a different solution to my issues.

[radacrider]

My computer progressives are fine and a standard page width is fine for reading in terms of sharpness. I do have some issues, including with my "standard" progressive pair due to my Rx, which includes correction for astigmatism and I have prism correction in both lenses.

*Prism, for those interested, actually force a horizontal shift in the image, in my case inward in both lenses to correct for eye muscle discrepency. Otherwise, I get strain and headaches from working so hard to see a single image, versus double. <ha, joy>

[Catrin]

I've had progressives for a decade, and if I do move my head back and forth I am so accustomed to it that I no longer notice it. I have, however, just started using computer glasses and it is taking a little adjustment. There isn't any doubt, however, when I forget to change my glasses!

I am really starting to enjoy my computer glasses though, my neck really appreciates not having to tip backwards to see the screens properly and I am very glad I went with actual computer glasses rather than single-vision.

It really is amazing what we ask out of our lenses these days, and I am very thankful for the technology that makes it possible to see so well - my vision is BAD!