Hi everyone,

I've been managing fairly decently with single vision, to a point -- the script I had as of two years ago was such that stuff far away AND stuff close up is now both blurry; previously, it was mostly just stuff close up that was blurry. I just came from the eye doc today, and he says my eyes are in pretty good shape for someone my age, and actually gave me separate scripts for either single vision OR bifocals.

So... I guess I'd be curious what everyone's thoughts/experiences about bifocals are/have been. I know they've gotten much better over the years, but I've still heard they're a bit of a pain in the neck.

Also, if it matters-- I always get glass (REAL glass), not plastic or polycarbonate, and transitions ... and I like my current frames, so it'll be a swapout of old lenses for new.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Transitions/progressives are good. My optometrist says it’s hard to go from bi-focals to progressives so start out with progressives.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

As time goes on, my dependence on the short-distance correction has increased, which is typical for folks of a certain age. Pretty much anything within 6 feet needs readers, it seems.

I either wear single-vision contacts with drug-store readers at the ready, or bifocals. Tracking two sets of glasses, one for far only and one for near only, will make you a bitter old man that much faster. If you wear glasses full-time already, do the bifocals.

The nice thing about bifocal glasses with my strong near-sightedness is I have a close-vision superpower when I take off my glasses!

I got the bifocals with lines cause I'm cheap. My brain ignores the line now.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2021 08:32PM by Acer.

The only bad thing I can say about the uber expensive wide field of view progressive lenses that Lenscrafter sells is that they are crazy expensive. But they are awesome.

Tried bifocals. The line drove me bananas.

Thanks everyone. I mistakenly wrote bifocals, when in fact I did mean progressives. But I've also heard people complain about progressives, that they have made people sick when using them. This is a consideration for me because I'm one of those people who's very sensitive to any change in the lenses ... for example, I had to get a pair of lenses sent back because the prescription was correct but they used the wrong base curve.

Another factor in this is indeed price. Glass is going to cost a lot more, and that's just for single vision. I can't imagine how expensive progressive would be if glass AND with transitions. Not even sure that particular combination would be available.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

PeterB...
I gave up after four tries with one lab (sam's club). Lenscrafter got mine right the first time. Never went back to the old guys.

Your Eyes May Vary...

I tried progressives for more than a month and was still feeling ill. Went back to a lined bifocal and will likely just use them forever.

You could get a cheap pair of progressives from Zenni and see if you can wear them without feeling sick and, if so, then spend the big bucks for the glass ones. Plus you'd have a backup pair just in case.

I could not do the progressives - made me nauseous.

Bifocals work fine - the line doesn't bother me.

I’ve worn glasses since a small child (about 3 years old, if Mom is to be believed) and went into bifocals in elementary school. All glasses have the potential to make you ill; if you are susceptible to motion sickness it is worse as what your eyes may see with the curvature of the lens and what the inner ear reports may not align. If you are needing to correct astigmatism it can magnify the problem. If I pay attention to the edges of my glasses it can trigger it.

Recently my ophthalmologist said my vision had progressed to the point of needing trifocals. I elected to have two pairs of glasses, as constantly having to tilt my head to get into the right lens area for what I’m looking at would be problematic for me. I have balance issues, so unnecessary tilting my head is kept to a minimum. One pair is for normal stuff (distance and reading) and the second is primarily for computer/reading. I am also susceptible to motion sickness. Yay me (/sarc).

Going into progressives, for me, would not easily work as I would have to retrain myself as to how to use them. I know, sounds strange doesn’t it? Have you ever worn bifocals? Consider that the frames you have may not be big enough to allow for the bifocal part of the lens; some places want to put the top of the second lens (the bifocal) almost within my line of sight, so I always ask that the optometrist lower the lens down a few millimeters. They may object, but they aren’t the one having to function with the glasses. I also have them made in polycarbonate with a scratch resistant coating and not glass, as glass is heavy particularly when you are having to deal with larger frames. The “line” is noticeable only if I pay attention to it.

Diana

If anyone's curious, the two major places I'm looking at are rx-safety.com and eyeglasses.com ... finding true glass lenses where they're willing/able to do lens replacement without buying a whole new set of frames is getting harder and harder.

Of the two, I'm liking rx-safety's options better ... I see they offer a permanent anti-fog coating, which if it were to work, would be great ... since that's a serious issue for me. And the difference in cost between single vision and progressives is only $35. So the real question is whether or not I'd want the progressives... I guess I'm not seeing the advantage, if I could get away with single vision.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Love my bifocals. Took very little time to get used to. About $22 at zenni.

I use 2 pairs of (polycarbonate) bifocals — one set up for computer and reading, the other for long distance and reading. Like Diana, I wouldn't be able to handle the extra head tilting with trifocals, plus the lenses need to be even larger. The bifocal line isn't an issue at all. It would require effort to even notice it. Getting a non-reflective coating made my distance glasses work a lot better for driving.

Have you tried scratch-resistant polycarbonate (or other non-glass) lenses? Much lighter and more comfortable to wear, at least for me. Even if you are accustomed to the extra weight, you might be surprised at how free you feel with less poundage! ).

I got progressives and after three months I tossed them and got one pair for reading and one pair for walking around. Believe it or not I found it easier than trying to use those damn progressives.

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I’ve used progressives for years without any issues. Love not having to carry around 2 pairs of glasses.

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Asheville, NC Area

COSTCO

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Bill
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Carpe Vino!

Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire.
— David Rains Wallace

All very interesting. I'm in the same boat, and have similar issues to Diana, so that info is very helpful.

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And I recall in spring
The perfume that the air would bring
To the indolent town
Where the barkers call the moon down

I have progressives. I am prone to vertigo, but have no trouble with this with the progressives. I doubt very much I could get used to bifocals.
I can use my phone OK, but still need computer glasses for the desktop.
My neck angle for watching TV is inconvenient.
Still, better than the trifocals my father had to wear at my age.

....women are mostly bi.....so are men but they hide it because it is 'taboo' for them......

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Another very strong vote for PROGRESSIVES!!!

Admittedly going from bifocals it was unfamiliar at first, but it took very little time to get used to them.

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A-Polly
I use 2 pairs of (polycarbonate) bifocals — one set up for computer and reading, the other for long distance and reading. Like Diana, I wouldn't be able to handle the extra head tilting with trifocals, plus the lenses need to be even larger. The bifocal line isn't an issue at all. It would require effort to even notice it. Getting a non-reflective coating made my distance glasses work a lot better for driving.

Have you tried scratch-resistant polycarbonate (or other non-glass) lenses? Much lighter and more comfortable to wear, at least for me. Even if you are accustomed to the extra weight, you might be surprised at how free you feel with less poundage! ).

That's part of why I can't wear plastic. I need the weight on my face and it doesnt feel right without it. The major thing though is the optical clarity of glass versus plastic; I tried plastic once and hated it.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Probably not relevant to the OP since glass lenses are a priority, but for others referencing this topic:

With the wide variability of prescriptions and tolerances from individual to individual, you can never really know until you try for yourself. I'm sure plenty of other retailers have liberal return policies, but I would not hesitate to take Warby Parker up on their 30 day guarantee. The staff makes it clear up front that this is totally acceptable so you can be confident in ordering. To me it's a good no-risk way to try something you're unsure about.

I mainly wear contacts, but I was on the fence about progressives when ordering glasses to complement them. The return policy made it easy. Within a few minutes of wearing them, I knew I made the right choice. Maybe not perfect in absolutely every situation but the best all around choice for me.

PeterB,

I agree with the others recommending bifocals. I had first bifocals then trifocals for 50 years. My BIL steered me away from the progressives. He found that stairs, escalators and other altitude changing devices and progressives didn't work as well together as bifocals. I have a huge amount of respect for him(multi-degreed engineer) so I stuck with the lines and have not regretted it. Your brain will adaptively quickly.

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Ed (modelamac)

Trying to figure out some people is like trying to smell the number 9.

One step further than bifocals .. 'executive bifocals'. Here the line goes all the way across the lens. They allow me to see an entire page of a book. I'll never go back.

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Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

....many have only gone bi in college.....during 'experimenting' phase......

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I've worn progressives for a few decades now.

Presbyopia is a cruel mistress.

I think progressive lenses need to be well made and 'fitted' to the user by a very skilled optician.

It was probably sheer luck that my progressives were perfect, first time, every time.

I didn't have a moment of conscious acclimation.

It was the same when getting Lasik with monovision, instant acclimation.

I was dead against the 'dividing line' so when the time came, I was all for Inviso No Line Glasses, LOL.

It's past time for a lens change, so I have to contact Kaiser for my R_x while there's still a year left on it.

In ten years, it's on the reading portion of it that's changed.

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I am that Masked Man.

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When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

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by believing all possible evil of evil men.

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An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

I've been in progressive, no line, bi-focals for quite a few years, I started out with them. Can't imagine having line bi-focals. Sometimes I only get 6-8 months out of a set because of my cataracts.

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Grateful11

Quote
raz
One step further than bifocals .. 'executive bifocals'. Here the line goes all the way across the lens. They allow me to see an entire page of a book. I'll never go back.

The original executive!