Rant & Questions for those that wear glasses

In December I had to finally admit defeat and go for an eye exam as the readers I was buying at the local stores just were not cutting it anymore. Not only did I need glasses for distance but bifocals for reading, etc. Problem is, they can't seem to get my prescription right. I am on my 3rd pair of lenses and they still aren't right! So here I sit swapping back and forth between 3 pairs of glasses depending on what I'm doing at the time but none of them give me clear vision.

I am so frustrated it's pathetic! This latest pair they made for me they called 'computer glasses'. I am supposed to be able to see my computer screen clearly and have a no-line bifocal for close up..no distance prescription at all. The no-line bifocal is a huge improvement over the lined one they first gave me but my computer screen is still blurry and if I'm trying to read a book the text in the center of a line is clear but gets gradually blurry to the right and left.

Am I just being to fussy expecting to be able to see clearly or is it normal to have things fuzzy or slightly unfocused with glasses?

Is the technology not there to allow me to see clearly?

Should I just try to get money back and go elsewhere or just have them make me new ones until they get it right?

Do those of you that have bifocals have two pairs of glasses...one for the computer and one for general wear?

I had thought at first that I just needed a period of adjustment but if that's the case I am NOT adjusting! I can barely do graphics work anymore...it's so frustrating because I can't see the fine details and doing things like grocery shopping is the pits...going back and forth between glasses so I can read my list and then see what is on the shelves.

Suggestions?

 

Go to a new place. This one obviously can't cut it. Either your prescriptions are wrong, or they are just that poor at making them.

It is definately NOT normal to have stuff blurry or painful when using them, plus it can cause worse damage.

Adjusting to glasses usually happens within an hour or so, not more than a day.

 

Also make sure it's resting on your nose right. That kind of adjustment can be made. Made a difference with the glasses (tri-focal) my wife wears when she first got them.

 

Teresa,,, this happens a LOT with no line and even lined bi and trifocal lenses. Even if you go through 10 pairs, they will seem not right. Another place making them will be much the same.

They are changing the way your eyes focus, and even progressive lenses are very hard to find the right "spot" to look through. The equiptment they use to find the right corrections work, but then your eyes have to get used to focusing in different ways.

I have been wearing glasses since third grade, and I am very picky about my vision. No new prescription has seemed right,, and now I have to wear progressive lenses for reading, it is even harder to get the perfect correction. After a few weeks, my eyes grow accustomed to them, and focus much easier, on both the normal and the reading parts of the glasses.

As long as the eye doctor is not a blithering idiot, the prescriptions are usually accurate, but your eyes have to adjust to it.

 

@ Adryn...I think you are right..I need to just go some place else..I even asked to see the Dr again thinking the actual prescription is wrong and was told it wasn't necessary that they just needed to get the right type of lens so I could see my computer screen. I'm worried about being out of all that money though....what should have made my life easier has just been a big source of more stress and frustration.

@ Ken3....they did the adjusting of the nose pieces to make sure they were positioned on my face correctly and re-measured my eyes...I still can't see worth a darn.

 

While this makes sense as far as adjusting to the bifocal (which they have moved WAY down on the lens) and is pretty much what I expected but even looking straight ahead at my computer screen or trying to find where I can focus on my screen by slightly moving the position of my eyes or head I cannot find a place anywhere within the lens where things aren't fuzzy looking...How can that normal? Shouldn't I be able to focus at least a little?

 

Well, maybe your eye doctor IS a blithering idiot.

I did have one pair a few years ago, that I couldn't adjust to. I finally had to have them re-examine my eyes, and take new measurements between them. Turns out the makers of the glasses had put a lot more space between the focus spots. THe new ones were much better

 

I would try a new place, but I do agree with dperino on the adjusting to bifocals thing. I got my first pair of bifocals at 23 (mine are the kind with lines, I don't mind a bit), and I was an absolute MESS for almost a week trying to adjust to them. Especially things like going down stairs, ladders, etc., since I couldn't actually see what I was stepping onto.

I do NOT have a pair of glasses just for the computer, though. What you'll find is that you have to tip your head slightly up to look through the proper half of your glasses, so if you've got your monitor set on a shelf or whatever (most of ours at the office are set up above head-height, and I can't use them) you'll end up having to move it down onto your desk top so you don't throw your neck out of whack. If your monitor is already on your desk top, you'll just have to learn how to deal with it so you look at it through the proper half of your glasses.

But it sounds to me like you're having too many problems, even with having bifocals for the first time. I'd get a second opinion (providing your insurance allows you to see another doctor...if it doesn't, then call them and tell them you'll be submitting the receipts from the new COMPETENT place and expect reimbursement).

 

Abby, you need to get your money back and try somewhere else. From one who has WAY bad eyes.

Standard bifocals should focus equally in the lower section of the lens. You may still have to move in or out some to hit the sweet spot to focus, but you should be able to focus properly at comfortable reading distances, assuming the prescription is correct. And far distances should be good through the top. If not, return them.

The no-line progressive lenses are a bit more tricky. The sweet spot in those is shaped almost like an old-fashioned keyhole, with a small circle in the center where you'd normally look for distance, and a widening strip going down from there with progressively stronger correction for near vision. Looking out the side will be somewhat blurry, and there will be somewhere down the center that *should* be correct for nearer stuff, the closer it is, the further down the lens you have to look for the proper focus. Getting used to those includes remembering NOT to try to focus sideways, and getting used to tilting your head up/down as necessary to get the sweet spot for what you're looking at.

Common problems with progressive lenses (other than the obvious wrong prescription altogether) is not getting that sweet spot centered with your eyes, causing one eye to always be out of the focus area. Also getting the sweet spot too high or low for normal distance vision. Also angling the lens so that the bottom keyhole section drifts off to the side as you look down the lens, which causes distance vision to be OK but makes it impossible to find a good focus for near work. With bifocals you can clearly see where the 2 sections are; with progressives you can't tell just by looking at them.

If a common optometrist has trouble with the prescription, consider paying a bit more and going to a good opthalmologist. And ask THEM where to have the glasses made. Some shops are better than others. Optometrist is a mechanic; opthalmologist is a doctor, who will be much more thorough. Also, while looking through the gizmo that's used to try different lenses to find what works for you, make sure you're putting your face in as close as posslble to where the actual glasses will sit on your nose. Different focus distance here will make wrong focus on your glasses.

Bifocals & progressives can both take some getting used to. You have to learn to use the proper section of the lens for what you're doing, and with progressives learn to find just the right spot, and be aware of it all the time (it does eventually get to be mostly automatic). And you'll never see your feet or what's in front of them clearly again, which bothers a lot of people while out walking.

My biggest frustration was that I had to give up watching TV while either laying on the couch or reclined in my recliner. Can't see the TV at all through the bottom half of my glasses.

 

I wear glasses.....



Sorry, thought I should contribute at least a little bit

 

I wear bifocals. Have for about 15 years. They're not worth a darn on the
computer. I can't explain it but I have trouble reading with my glasses on. In
the doctor's office I can read the sample cards just fine. In real life at home
I read without my glasses. On the computer I never use my glasses. I've been
able to find a resolution and DPI combo that is clear and easy to read. My
screen is 23-25 inches from me. I use an LCD screen CRT are harder for me to
focus on. For me,,, I've found that a good quality GLASS lens gives the best
vision, but they're way too heavy. Polycarbonate are the most comfortable
but give the worst vision. I had to settle on plastic lenses. Line less bifocals.
I have prism in my prescription. For the shopping print your list and write a
little bigger.That's what I do.

 

Here's the keyhole pattern I was talking about for the progressive lenses. The circle section should be distance focus, looking straight ahead. The lower section is the progressive near vision section. Anything outside this area will be blurry. Reading takes getting used to, but having some area that's right for virtually ANY near distance is a plus. Some folks prefer the progressives, some bi or trifocals.

 

Geez, thats not what I've seen through the keyhole

 

If with bifocals you find yourself looking at the line (or crossover point), then the reading inset has been placed too low. You shouldn't ever see the line unless you're trying to while going about your everyday business.

As a side note for those of you with bifocals...do you find yourselves tipping your head up slightly when trying to read when you're NOT wearing your glasses, as if the bottom half of your eyes will see better? I do it all the time! LOL

 

Thank you all for your input..it is very much appreciated. Bottom line is I really think the prescription is wrong in the first place. I have worn the glasses day after day in the hopes I would adjust but my vision never clears. I had tried increasing font size and changing resolution as suggested a couple weeks ago but the fuzzy edges do not go away and especially when trying to do graphics work this a huge hindrance to creating a nice clean image and forget getting the shading right

My screen sits here on the table and I have tried adjusting the height/distance of my monitor and it doesn't help. I have also tried sitting in different positions/angles and tried different chairs so I'm sitting at a different level..nothing helps...everything is still blurry/fuzzy.

Unfortunately the only insurance I have is Medicare which does not cover eye exams or glasses so it's all out of pocket expenses. I guess if I can't convince them to give me my money back I am out a little over 300 bucks and will have to start over by going to an ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist. Grrrr....what a waste of money and time this has been....*sigh*

@ goldfish...*SMACK*

 

I wear glasses and to this day I still have to appologize to the * FUZZY* objects that I keep tripping over.
Actually I got a reprimand from the dept of forestry forbidding me to get too close to trees and bushes, cause I might accidently start a fire...

 

Hi AS


I've worn glasses for 30 years and had to have varifocals for the last 5, (Cost cost cost).

I have a lot of the same problems you do, especially as I log a fair amount of monitor time.

I've found that the slightest adjustment, (or maladjustment), to the way they sit on the face can make an enormous difference to their effectiveness.

In that sense I'm actually thinking of doing what I wanted to avoid by getting varifocals in the first place and getting two separate pairs.

Not enough margin of error for the cost.

 

Had the same problem and decided to give contacts one more try. Much better results and no more headaches

I was always shifting my glasses, looking over them, etc. Doesn't happen with contacts. I also had astigmatisms(sp?) that no one caught on previous visits. Holy cow did that make a difference in my vision LOL>

 

I've been wearing glasses since I was 12 and I recently had to go to tri-focals, no line progressives.They are impossible for me to get comfortable when using the computer. I have to tilt my head back too far to make the bottom of the glasses, the part for close work, come into view. I tried having the transition point changed and that helped, but it was still so uncomfortable I couldn't work at the computer. Reading was better as I can move the paper/book to a comfortable position.

So, I got a second pair just for computer work. They are designed to focus my eyes at about 15 inches, the distance the computer screen is from my eyes. I measured this as everyone is a little different in how they like to view the screen. Now I am able to move my eyes around the screen with comfort and can focus on the entire thing comfortably.

I know this sounds extreme, but the second pair are single vison and much cheaper. It solved my problem perfectly...except for the days I take the computer glasses home and forget to bring them to work....oh, well...

 

Hi Abby, I’ve been like a lot of others, been using glasses a long time….I’m 50, and have been wearing them since I was 8…about five years ago, a new doctor asked me a question……a question, that I had never heard before…here you are sitting in a darkened room, looking thru this weird eye piece…her question was, “are you blinking your eyes”?….I thought to myself, and no, I have never blinked my eyes, while being tested…
..your eye lose moisture and your also straining the eyes at the same time…this may make the eyes interpret, what their seeing on the eye chart different…so you need to keep blinking, the whole time…I try to blink after each lens change the doctor makes….

 

Oh Star, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now, or even in the vicinity, same state...country... uh uh...

 

If she doesn't want it, send it my way. My glasses are already almost Hubble-esque. I can use all the power I can get.

 

Hey Abby,

If ya got a problem with slippage or misplcing your glasses try these

http://www.piercedglasses.com/

OUCH!

 

So much GREAT information here from those of you that wear glasses! Thank you SO much! Rather than addressing all the replies individually I'm gonna just lump it all together...hope no one minds but that you all realize how helpful and how much I appreciate all this feedback.

I think my best option is to go elsewhere and get another eye exam first but I will also look further into the 'executive bifocal' thing. If it turns out I will need 2 pair of glasses, one strictly for the computer and one for everything else I can deal with that as long as I can see clearly, which right now I can't no matter what I am doing.

I had to fill out quite an extensive questionnaire prior to my eye exam answering questions like how much time do you spend on the computer, how much reading do you do, what other things do you do where you find difficult to see clearly...etc. All of this was reviewed with me by the optometrist before the eye exam, including my 12 - 15 hours a day in front of the computer and the detail work I do with graphics, the distance to my monitor, the positioning of my monitor, where do I hold a book when I read AND the problems I have with my neck from the injuries I sustained. Supposedly all this was taken into consideration when deciding what type of glasses and bifocal I needed.

Having had the lined bi-focal and the no-line I do prefer the no-line. Although I only 'saw' the line on my first pair for about an hour or so I find the transition from normal vision to bi-focal much easier with the no-line ones.

An interesting observation...I recall trying not to blink while getting my eye exam just so I could keep up with what she was doing.

I don't have enough tear production for contacts...one of those *cough* 'age' things. *gasp* lol

I will try to get my money back as I think they not only have my prescription wrong to begin with and after having measured my eyes 3 times they can't get the placement right either. I think I have been more than fair in dealing with them and giving them another chance to get this right. I did state at one point that I felt I needed to be re-examined by the Dr but was told it was not necessary, they just needed to find the right combination for me and I don't foresee that happening in my life time.

This has NOT been a pleasant experience.

 

It's a pretty good idea but I would wonder if there's any way to take them off at night. Plus, it seems like it would be really heavy and pull on your skin.

Might be worth considering if certain aspects don't get (pardon me) overlooked