Mike Ayling
Veteran
- Location
- Melbourne Downunda
+1 for varifocals
Middle-aged issues
- Thread starter Cathryn
- Start date
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+1 for varifocals
Jenkins
Legendary Member
- Location
- Felixstowe
I have normal near vision, but need glasses for distance work so my cycling glasses have prescription lenses for distance use which means the Garmin is difficult to see unless I lift them up or peer below the bottom of the lens.
I've had cataract operations on both eyes and so have plastic lenses in them - they're not good at changing focus. I now wear bifocals (photochromic) but also have "computer" glasses - these are optimal for about arms' length whereas the bottom of my bifocals work well at shorter distances; fortunately I can comfortably get close enough to the Garmin to read it with the bifocals when riding the bike. Most data fields, at the size I've set them, can safely be seen on the move.
After my first cataract operation (about 10 years before the second) I tried varifocals from Boots on the understanding that I could get a refund if they didn't work for me. After a fortnight, I really couldn't get on with them and had resorted to wearing my old specs despite the prescription no longer being right. I had a hell of a job getting them to refund me and do me a pair of bifocals instead - firstly, they said I hadn't tried them long enough (I really could not function with them on), and once that objection was rebuked, they argued that I wasn't entitled to a refund. Eventually they refunded against the cost of a pair of bifocals but insisted they were doing it as a goodwill gesture.
After my first cataract operation (about 10 years before the second) I tried varifocals from Boots on the understanding that I could get a refund if they didn't work for me. After a fortnight, I really couldn't get on with them and had resorted to wearing my old specs despite the prescription no longer being right. I had a hell of a job getting them to refund me and do me a pair of bifocals instead - firstly, they said I hadn't tried them long enough (I really could not function with them on), and once that objection was rebuked, they argued that I wasn't entitled to a refund. Eventually they refunded against the cost of a pair of bifocals but insisted they were doing it as a goodwill gesture.
rualexander
Legendary Member
Bifocals with zero prescription in the near field section?
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
had a pair of normal glasses many years ago and the left lens broke for some reason
I got it replaced with no problem by the optician
But - walking back out of the shop I fell off the kerb - got up and started waling again and nearly fell over again
It was very weird
after a few hundred yards I realisd that it was the new lens causing the problems and not me suffering some sort of stroke - which I was starting to worry about
I went back with my hand over my left eye and that was fine - proving the problem
I had the lens replaced about 3 times before the optician got annoyed (not with me) and rang the lens people while I was there
He was very insistant and ended up talking to someone who had been there for years
it turned out that the 2 lens had been cut from different base stock (or something like that) so the 2 lenes behaved slightly differently - which was enough to confuse my brain - but the numbers when they were measured where correct
I ended up having to have 2 totally new lens made
which was weird - I think it is best to tell people about this sort of thing - you never know when someone else might have the same problem!!
I got it replaced with no problem by the optician
But - walking back out of the shop I fell off the kerb - got up and started waling again and nearly fell over again
It was very weird
after a few hundred yards I realisd that it was the new lens causing the problems and not me suffering some sort of stroke - which I was starting to worry about
I went back with my hand over my left eye and that was fine - proving the problem
I had the lens replaced about 3 times before the optician got annoyed (not with me) and rang the lens people while I was there
He was very insistant and ended up talking to someone who had been there for years
it turned out that the 2 lens had been cut from different base stock (or something like that) so the 2 lenes behaved slightly differently - which was enough to confuse my brain - but the numbers when they were measured where correct
I ended up having to have 2 totally new lens made
which was weird - I think it is best to tell people about this sort of thing - you never know when someone else might have the same problem!!
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
At college I started to find the black board hard to read from the back row and started wearing glasses. Whereas my brother 3 years older than me refused to wear glasses at school. Roll on 33 years (38 ish for him) and I'm half blind and he's still got perfect vision. He doesn't work on computers like me though, he's a joiner.
Hover Fly
Lazy so and so
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
66 and don’t need glasses, neither long distance or reading.
When I used to go to the Mildenhall Rally weekend, I'd ride the Saturday 100k audax. A paper copy of the route would be sent to all the entrants and it was interesting to see how many of the 'older' riders would enlarge it so they could read the copy clipped to their wee map board on the handlebars - ! 
Twenty years on, I'd have that issue - !
Twenty years on, I'd have that issue - !
Well we're all so happy for you, but I'm not sure what use that is for the OP.
PS the chances are you that will at some point in the next few years. You're already pushing the odds for developing presbyopia as the muscles needed to focus the lens for close work get weaker with age, until at some point they no longer function at all. It happens to everyone and will have happened to you to some extent. Your reading vision will have degraded somewhat.
Marchrider
Über Member
I mostly think I'm still a teenager so have no concept of how ancient 66 must be - sounds dreadful
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Lucky git
go on - tell us you have all your hair as well while you are at it!!!
(p.s. I know - slightly - a very nice woman from Dorset - she has a full head of thick red hair
Natural red hair - never coloured or anything
she is also a Witch - she claims the two are not connected - I am not sure I believe her!!!!)
bobzmyunkle
Über Member
I'm 22. Have been for years. Didn't someone once advise, never trust anyone over 21?
Anyhow back on point - varifocals, photochromic for cycling. Cost a fortune. Although there will be those on here who have used the cheaper online suppliers.
Hover Fly
Lazy so and so
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
No use at all, I just wanted to brag.
Father lived to over 90 without needing glasses, to the point where various eye specialists were investigating his secret.
Hover Fly
Lazy so and so
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Well, yes, and not going grey yet. (If I was a beardy there would be flecks of grey in it.)
And red-headed women are all witches. Just ask Moon Bun-croak!
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
If all red heaired women are witches then that would include my Mum
well - so I'm told - I remember her as fair haired - mostly - depended on which bottle the hair dresser used
but I am reliably told she was a bright red carrot top
which would explain a few things
