Hit: Bifocals Part 1 (LONG)

[Anne C Oelke <acoelke@PEOPLES.NET>]

Wow, what a response.  There are a lot of us with bifocal needs (trifocal
too).  I'll cut & paste & parphrase a hit as follows

After using Varilux lens (gradual change with 3 powers) instead of
trifocals--need3ed the middle distance for reading shelves and price
tickets when shopping--I changed to contacts--one eye for distance and
one for middle distance. I use "Goofy half glasses" for reading. This has
been the best experience yet. Good luck..it is heck to get old.


Are contacts a choice. My glasses are bifocals but I rarely use them. My
neck hurts from tippping my hear at the computer for example. I wear a
distance lens in my right eye and a reading lens in the left. It is like
being reborn with perfect vision. I hold the book on my left and
everything is as it should be. I agree. The half ones are awful, but I
used them for a while. I felt like B. Franklin.
Jean Rowan

I have had serious correction since I was 7, so our problems are not
the same. I do understand your problem, however as I went from contacts
to reading glasses over contacts. My problems were solved when I got
varilux lenses. I went to a very skilled fitter who spent a lot of time
quizzing me on how I hold my head, books, unusual things I do, like
reading to groups, etc. I was boggled till I realized how well the
glasses work - no dizziness, no line, they are great! Another good
solution was bifocal contacts. They worked well till my allergies ended
contacts.     Pat


actually, some bifocals do allow for sideways stuff; you have to get the
kind with the whole bottom half corrected for reading, instead of just the
dime size part; they cost a little more.

if you have the no line bifocals you're out of luck; they have no
correction outside the lens center

if you can stand contacts, i understand the one lens for reading, one lens
for distance, really works.

i have my first pair this year too; had a lot of fun telling folks i was
going bi, but my wife was supportive....

best,

Angus G. Saunders, Jr.                               saunders@northnet.org
I experienced the difficulties which you describe to a somewhat lesser
degree.  My glasses have large frames, thus the bifocal section while
sufficient, is still small enough to allow peripheral vision.  Of course,
I found myself tilting my head and struggling to find that path.
Goodness, this will have to be more a bit of sympathy than actual
practical help as messages go.

Good luck.
Jacque Hornsby

Get Trifocals - life will be much better again.  You can read sideways,
read a computer screen from a "normal" distance, see the work the
students are doing at their seats while standing next to them instead
of having to get down to their level, go inventory without having to hold
up your glasses to see the book titles, and at the grocery store you can
see all the shelves without having to hold up your glasses to peer
through to be able to read the labels!

I've been there, done that.  Had bifocals for a year, thought my life was
over!  Trifocals make all the difference.

Lynne Johnston, Media Specialist
Well as if bifocals aren't insult enough - what really works is blended
trifocals!
If you don't have blended bifocals, you might just try that first.  The
blended area gives you an almost trifocal effect of a third distance.
______________________________________
Jamie Boston, Librarian



try 'executive bifocals' which have the reading lens all across the bottom
of the glasses. I find that very convenient to looking at the kids while
reading.


If you get smaller lenses (the 'Lennon'look) the close focus part extends
further across.
I had to tell the optician that I do 'sideways' reading and lots of
computer time. And I now have a pair of glassses that let me work at the
computer without tilting my head up and I can read story time books
without twisting my neck like a stork.
Also, over the many years of wearing glasses (at least since K, 43
years!) I have discovered that some frames get closer to your eye than
others and in effect make the bi part bigger. The bifocal part is only the
last 12.
I would suggest that you take your concerns and the glasses back to the
optometrist and explain the problem. Perhaps you can get a deal on
replacements.

Bob Eiffert Librarian at Image Elementary

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Anne Oelke                                     | "Some days are like that,
acoelke@peoples.net                   |  even in Australia!"
Cambria-Friesland School Dst.  |  Judith Viorst in _Alexander
Cambria, WI                                    | & the Terrible, Horrible,
                                                           | No Good, Very
Bad Day_.