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Glasses, Progressives and Contacts... Oh My!

I am very nearsighted and have worn glasses and/or contacts since I was about 5 years old. I just checked and I got my first progressives in June of 2011 (in the same frames I'm wearing in my avatar photo - I just switched the lenses out as needed for 10 years! LOL). A couple of years ago I also got single vision glasses specifically for computer use, since I was having the same "tilt to find the sweet spot" issue others mentioned.

When I first got the computer glasses, I would get really dizzy if I got up and walked around with them on. Now I've adjusted enough that I can wear them for almost anything without it bothering me, even though my vision isn't quite as clear for anything more than about 8 feet away as it is with my progressives. I've even accidentally worn them out driving a couple of times. Oops. :oops: I was able to see ok for short in town driving, but probably not well enough to read highway signs, and it did give me quite a headache on those little jaunts. :stars
 
Karen, is progressives the same as varifocals ??
It does not quite sound like it to me, but they might be. ? Varifocals has several lines ( not 3 areas ) and after the first day, you do not even think about having glasses on your face any more. I have gone through all the options , 2 pairs of glasses 1 for reading 1 for distance ,- Bifocals ( first pair was ok, next pair I still needed computer glasses in addition to them ) and now varifocals . By far the best option ( more expensive , but you only need 1 pair of glasses ) I can be on the computer all day, go downstairs, ( no problem with edges ) craft, thread needles, look out far away, and the next second look down at a book and read. No problem....
The problem with computer glasses ( I found) is that your eye gets really lazy when you are spending a lot of time on a screen , and they are slower to adjust to distance after. And you do forget to take them of , and that is NOT a good thing....
Hope you find something that works for you !
 
Nemla said:
Karen, is progressives the same as varifocals ??
It does not quite sound like it to me, but they might be. ? Varifocals has several lines ( not 3 areas ) and after the first day, you do not even think about having glasses on your face any more. I have gone through all the options , 2 pairs of glasses 1 for reading 1 for distance ,- Bifocals ( first pair was ok, next pair I still needed computer glasses in addition to them ) and now varifocals . By far the best option ( more expensive , but you only need 1 pair of glasses ) I can be on the computer all day, go downstairs, ( no problem with edges ) craft, thread needles, look out far away, and the next second look down at a book and read. No problem....
The problem with computer glasses ( I found) is that your eye gets really lazy when you are spending a lot of time on a screen , and they are slower to adjust to distance after. And you do forget to take them of , and that is NOT a good thing....
Hope you find something that works for you !
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I think the difference between straight bifocals/trifocals and progressives is that they blend the prescriptions into each other so there isn't a hard line. Otherwise I think they are the same. One pair that would do everything would be great, but my Doctor said that since I'm on the computer all day for work that it would be better to have glasses just for that so I didn't have to find the right spot to look through in the progressives. I guess with progressives that computer distance is a really small area rather than a whole strip across the glasses like it sounds like maybe yours have. I didn't realize how great it was to be able to see all those distances so easily when I was young! :giggle
 
HeatherB said:
I just put on my computer glasses when I start work. I work remotely, so I just need those all day. I never switch back and forth. But the prescription is based on optimizing distance to the computer screen so that covers most of the viewing area of the lens with slight progressive for up close reading at the bottom of the lens. I think they optimize for up to 6 feet. I can get around the house with my computer glasses on and even watch TV, so I don't think you would need to switch glasses to walk down the hall or to see people across the table.
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KimJ said:
I am very nearsighted and have worn glasses and/or contacts since I was about 5 years old. I just checked and I got my first progressives in June of 2011 (in the same frames I'm wearing in my avatar photo - I just switched the lenses out as needed for 10 years! LOL). A couple of years ago I also got single vision glasses specifically for computer use, since I was having the same "tilt to find the sweet spot" issue others mentioned.

When I first got the computer glasses, I would get really dizzy if I got up and walked around with them on. Now I've adjusted enough that I can wear them for almost anything without it bothering me, even though my vision isn't quite as clear for anything more than about 8 feet away as it is with my progressives. I've even accidentally worn them out driving a couple of times. Oops. :oops: I was able to see ok for short in town driving, but probably not well enough to read highway signs, and it did give me quite a headache on those little jaunts. :stars
Click to expand...

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. This has helped me so much to figure out what to do. I'm really happy to see that you guys can wear the computer distance glasses for the most part all day and not have to switch back and forth. I was really stressing about what a pain that would be for me at work all day. Lol. Now if I could just get the darn dr.'s office to call me back I could tell them what I want to order. Blargh!
 
I have progressive lenses for my myopia, astigmatisms, and now aged eyes (couldn't see phone screen etc). I LOVE the progressives. Tried straight up bifocals - couldn't do it.

I have contact lenses, focus dailies that I only wear when running or working out. They do not correct for the age releated presbyopia but they do correct for my astigmatisms (and it does make a noticeable difference). I get VERY dry eyes to the point wearing contact lenses hurt. Although expensive, the dailies are worth the price. Eyes breathe more and less chance of getting any sort of infection. Pop them in - throw them out after a day's use.
 
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