[Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at night, and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and driving on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll I spoke to a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long sightedness who was very happy with the results. On my return, I did some research and noted that the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses before having the surgery to check how you will respond to having 'monovision'. I then did some more reading on contact lenses and was happy to read that they are available in various bifocal configurations (see http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. Thanks, Bernie. PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see the TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention my workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't afford to drop my proper glasses. - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Thanks Bernie, Interesting. I prefer not to undergo laser eye surgery. Those who have had it seem very happy with the results, but there is always a small risk of an adverse result that I prefer not to take. Can you let us know how you like the contact lenses? Peter Champness On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Bernie Baer wrote: > ** > For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at > night, and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and > driving on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll I > spoke to a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long > sightedness who was very happy with the results. On my return, I did some > research and noted that the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses > before having the surgery to check how you will respond to having > 'monovision'. I then did some more reading on contact lenses and was happy > to read that they are available in various bifocal configurations (see > http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) > I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser > surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially > cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. > Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. > Thanks, Bernie. > PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see > the TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention my > workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't afford > to drop my proper glasses. > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 > > ___ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
G'day Bernie, Sounds to me like you have joined the presbyopes club-welcome aboard. It is the long-sightedness of "old age" and it happens to everyone, usually starting in the forties, even to those who've been short-sighted all their younger life. The degree of presbyopia often continues to develop [usually fairly slowly] until into one's sixties. I'm not an ophthalmologist, but I do work with several and none that I've spoken to would recommend laser surgery for presbyopia and although they acknowledge that laser surgery works for myopia none of them have had it done! I.E. those who need correction wear glasses. As for bi-focal contact lenses, are you sure that they don't mean 2 different lenses, so that you use one eye for close work and the other for distant work? Finally, if you can't focus on the TV when you look over the reading glasses it might mean you're a candidate for multi-focal glasses. As a long term user of the same I can assure you that although they take a little bit of getting used to, the pleasure of having the whole world in focus again is well worth the fairly minimal effort. Regards, Colin P.S. I still use some cheap but strong reading glasses for the really close-up work like removing splinters or undoing knots in fishing line From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net [mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Bernie Baer Sent: Sunday, 18 August 2013 10:59 AM To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net Subject: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at night, and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and driving on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll I spoke to a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long sightedness who was very happy with the results. On my return, I did some research and noted that the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses before having the surgery to check how you will respond to having 'monovision'. I then did some more reading on contact lenses and was happy to read that they are available in various bifocal configurations (see http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. Thanks, Bernie. PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see the TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention my workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't afford to drop my proper glasses. No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
graduated (multi-focal) lenses are the way to go. PeterS On 18/08/2013 2:06 PM, Colin Collum wrote: Finally, if you can't focus on the TV when you look _over_ the reading glasses it might mean you're a candidate for multi-focal glasses. As a long term user of the same I can assure you that although they take a little bit of getting used to, the pleasure of having the whole world in focus again is well worth the fairly minimal effort. Regards, Colin P.S. I sti ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Howdy I use contacts to fly. I also have prescription sunglasses, which I use on short flights, but prefer contacts. With contacts however, unless you are planning on wearing them every ay you want daily disposables - MUCH better for your eye health. When I started flying about 6 years ago I had to use lenses with no stigmatism correction, which although didn't effect flying, did effect map reading, or other close ups. But now they correct stigmatism as well ! Scott On 18/08/2013, at 11:20 AM, Peter Champness wrote: > Thanks Bernie, > > Interesting. I prefer not to undergo laser eye surgery. Those who have had > it seem very happy with the results, but there is always a small risk of an > adverse result that I prefer not to take. > > Can you let us know how you like the contact lenses? > > Peter Champness > > > On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Bernie Baer wrote: > For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at night, > and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and driving > on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll I spoke to > a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long sightedness who was > very happy with the results. On my return, I did some research and noted that > the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses before having the surgery > to check how you will respond to having 'monovision'. I then did some more > reading on contact lenses and was happy to read that they are available in > various bifocal configurations (see > http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) > I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser > surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially > cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. > Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. > Thanks, Bernie. > PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see the > TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention my > workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't afford > to drop my proper glasses. > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 > > > ___ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > ___ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Bernie I started wearing reading glasses at 40 year of age and by my early 50s I needed them for distance as well. Now I take about a +2 for far and +4 for near. Like you I found wearing glasses full time a nuisance but neither would I consider laser, which is often not very effective for presbyopia/long-sightedness (and I know someone who was the one in a thousand that experiences severe complications). I now wear single vision soft contact lenses for distance and supplement them with reading glasses for near vision. In the glider I wear plain sunglasses with an intermediate bi-focal section for panel/map-reading - I had those made by an optometrist, but you can buy cheap little magnifying stickers which would do just as well. There is a bit of "learning curve" with wearing contacts but after a few weeks I found putting them on and taking them off a breeze. I use monthlys and most days wear them from just after I get up until just before I go to bed. Eye hygiene is important though - no swimming or showering in them, clean hands before touching; and use really good lens cleaner - peroxide based is best. If I want to swim I keep some daily disposables handy, which are fine but not quite as comfortable as the super-soft monthly lenses. Except for the mono-vision option, multi-focal lenses are expensive and not everyone adapts to them. My sister uses mono-vision (one eye distance and one eye near) and has no problems, but I have doubts about how it might affect peripheral vision and distance perception for flying. I also have mild astigmatism, 0.25 dioptres, not corrected by the contacts but, except when reading something really small, I don't notice it. Regards Niall Doherty On Sun, Aug 18th, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Bernie Baer wrote: > For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at > night, and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and > driving on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll > I spoke to a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long > sightedness who was very happy with the results. On my return, I did some > research and noted that the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses > before having the surgery to check how you will respond to having > 'monovision'. I then did some more reading on contact lenses and was happy > to read that they are available in various bifocal configurations (see > http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) > I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser > surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially > cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. > Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. > Thanks, Bernie. > PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see > the TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention > my workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't > afford to drop my proper glasses. > > > - > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 > ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
You can buy many types of sunglasses off the net with diopter sections at the bottom for about $30 pr. The ones I buy are Stone Creek. wrap around and many of our members and those in the VGA have bought them. http://www.amazon.com/Sunglasses-low-profile-wrap-around-magnification-directions/dp/B00598WS4E You can also get yellow lens for those dull days (so you can see the themals!). -Original Message- From: Niall Doherty Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 10:50 AM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc Bernie I started wearing reading glasses at 40 year of age and by my early 50s I needed them for distance as well. Now I take about a +2 for far and +4 for near. Like you I found wearing glasses full time a nuisance but neither would I consider laser, which is often not very effective for presbyopia/long-sightedness (and I know someone who was the one in a thousand that experiences severe complications). I now wear single vision soft contact lenses for distance and supplement them with reading glasses for near vision. In the glider I wear plain sunglasses with an intermediate bi-focal section for panel/map-reading - I had those made by an optometrist, but you can buy cheap little magnifying stickers which would do just as well. There is a bit of "learning curve" with wearing contacts but after a few weeks I found putting them on and taking them off a breeze. I use monthlys and most days wear them from just after I get up until just before I go to bed. Eye hygiene is important though - no swimming or showering in them, clean hands before touching; and use really good lens cleaner - peroxide based is best. If I want to swim I keep some daily disposables handy, which are fine but not quite as comfortable as the super-soft monthly lenses. Except for the mono-vision option, multi-focal lenses are expensive and not everyone adapts to them. My sister uses mono-vision (one eye distance and one eye near) and has no problems, but I have doubts about how it might affect peripheral vision and distance perception for flying. I also have mild astigmatism, 0.25 dioptres, not corrected by the contacts but, except when reading something really small, I don't notice it. Regards Niall Doherty On Sun, Aug 18th, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Bernie Baer wrote: For a year or so now I have been using bi-focal glasses for driving at night, and the same prescription in sunglasses for flying, fly fishing and driving on sunny days. On a recent fishing trip to a remote Pacific atoll I spoke to a guy who had had laser eye surgery to correct his long sightedness who was very happy with the results. On my return, I did some research and noted that the laser surgeons reccommend using contact lenses before having the surgery to check how you will respond to having 'monovision'. I then did some more reading on contact lenses and was happy to read that they are available in various bifocal configurations (see http://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm ) I am now interested in perhaps getting contact lenses (cheaper than laser surgery) and then being able to choose from a much bigger (and potentially cheaper) range of regular sunglasses. Has anyone taken this route? I would be interested to hear your comments. Thanks, Bernie. PS I also have 'reading glasses' for reading and computer, but can't see the TV properly with either those or the driving glasses. Not to mention my workshop glasses, and $2 knot tying glasses for fishing when I can't afford to drop my proper glasses. - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6585 - Release Date: 08/17/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6587 - Release Date: 08/18/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. Like Niall I have used reading glasses since my early 40's but only in the last year felt I needed help with long distance as well. I also used to use regular sunglasses with stick-on lenses for close up work (tying knots when fishing, reading PDA's etc when flying). I'd be happy to return to that scenario if I could. I'll have a chat with my optometrist. One further complication is that I swim & shower or cycle & shower nearly every lunchtime. Contacts don't sound so good in that case. Can o' worms. Regards, Bernie. ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Hi all, A long time ago in a universe far far away, the most important instruments used to run a gliding competition was several pairs of binoculars, because observation was required at both the start and finish lines. In those days, I came on a guy running a finish line who asked me to assist. I protested that I was short sighted and had worn glasses for most of my life. He said “that’s why I asked”. He then explained that the only people who you could rely on to have 100% good eyesight were those who had had it corrected. In other words, those who were wearing some obvious corrective equipment. Virtually everyone with uncorrected vision is really saying “it’s not bad enough to fix”, and in many cases they are right so I don’t mean to question their decision. I’ll have glasses till the day I die, and that’s fine with me. And yes, as long as I wear them and have regular checks, my eyesight is as near to perfect as it can possibly be. Cheers Tim Tra dire e fare c’è mezzo il mare From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net [mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Bernie Baer Sent: Monday, 19 August 2013 12:05 To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. Like Niall I have used reading glasses since my early 40's but only in the last year felt I needed help with long distance as well. I also used to use regular sunglasses with stick-on lenses for close up work (tying knots when fishing, reading PDA's etc when flying). I'd be happy to return to that scenario if I could. I'll have a chat with my optometrist. One further complication is that I swim & shower or cycle & shower nearly every lunchtime. Contacts don't sound so good in that case. Can o' worms. Regards, Bernie. _ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6586 - Release Date: 08/17/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
I've been a contact lens user for about 8 years now. Compared to glasses, they're amazing. No comparison. Glasses have distortion around the edges which affect your peripheral vision, micro scratches which put fringes and starbursts around bright lights at night, and an annoying ability to become almost impossible to see through in rain or snow. Contacts have none of those problems, I get crystal clear vision all the time. I'll never go back to wearing glasses regularly. On Aug 19, 2013, at 11:20 AM, Niall Doherty wrote: > Eye hygiene is important though - no swimming or showering in them, > clean hands before touching; and use really good lens cleaner - peroxide > based is best. I developed an allergy to at least one of the ingredients in the cleaning solution I was using after a few years. I'm told it's reasonably common. Manifests itself as red, itchy, dry eyes, occasionally requiring removal of the lens and rehydration of the eye. I switched brands/formulations and haven't had a problem since. I'm using astigmatic correction lenses. - mark ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Hi Bernie As someone who wore contact lenses for 25 years before having laser surgery I have the following comments. Contact lenses: Correct hygiene technique is essential to avoid eye infections. These days disposable lenses make the daily disinfection rigmarole redundant. I don’t know if they can now make soft lenses that can correct other issues such as astigmatism, however I believe that they can do this with hard lenses. I would avoid hard lenses due to the disinfection requirements, and the chance of losing one: you probably don’t care if you lose a soft disposable lens. Hard lenses also take a long time to get used to. I wouldn’t recommend any contact lens when swimming: (don’t ask…) but I never had issues wearing them when showering or exercising. As for monovision, I had this for several years before the laser surgery, however it’s a bit of both worlds: you can see good at distance with one eye, and can read with the other, however this comes at the disadvantage that everything you see is blurred and clear at the same time. I was offered the option of monovision for the LASIK, but I chose to have good distance vision in both eyes. Laser surgery. Like most, I was concerned about the possibility of the operation going wrong, but the surgeon I chose had an excellent reputation and record. I chose to have both eyes done at the same time: you feel absolutely nothing at all, and when the foggles were removed a couple of days later, voila! Perfect 20/20 + vision, and it has remained so ever since. I honestly believe that it was the best money I have ever spent. One potential issue is for pilots requiring a class 2 medical. If you turn up at the next one with corrected vision, CASA will get upset and require confirmation from your surgeon that your eyesight meets the required standard(again don’t ask…) If you have any further questions, just ask Cheers Derek From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net [mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Bernie Baer Sent: Monday, 19 August 2013 12:05 PM To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. Like Niall I have used reading glasses since my early 40's but only in the last year felt I needed help with long distance as well. I also used to use regular sunglasses with stick-on lenses for close up work (tying knots when fishing, reading PDA's etc when flying). I'd be happy to return to that scenario if I could. I'll have a chat with my optometrist. One further complication is that I swim & shower or cycle & shower nearly every lunchtime. Contacts don't sound so good in that case. Can o' worms. Regards, Bernie. _ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6588 - Release Date: 08/18/13 ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
On Aug 19, 2013, at 3:56 PM, "Derek Ruddock" wrote: > I don’t know if they can now make soft lenses that can correct other issues > such as astigmatism, They can. Ask your optometrist for Toric lenses (it's what I use) > I wouldn’t recommend any contact lens when swimming: (don’t ask…) They're held in by surface tension, so yeah, wearing them swimming would be a bit silly :) - mark ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Hi Bernie Re: swimming - if you wear goggles you'll be fine. Water can contaminate the lenses in such a way that nasties grow over a few days that the cleaning solution won't kill. But if you wear daily disposables and try to minimise the amount of pool/shower water that gets in your eyes I reckon you'll be fine. That's what I do when I swim. Once you settle with a lens prescription buy the replacements on-line, much cheaper than from an optometrist. (Bless the internet). Regards Niall Doherty On Mon, Aug 19th, 2013 at 12:04 PM, Bernie Baer wrote: > Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. > Like Niall I have used reading glasses since my early 40's but only in > the last year felt I needed help with long distance as well. > I also used to use regular sunglasses with stick-on lenses for close > up work (tying knots when fishing, reading PDA's etc when flying). > I'd be happy to return to that scenario if I could. I'll have a chat > with my optometrist. > One further complication is that I swim & shower or cycle & shower > nearly every lunchtime. Contacts don't sound so good in that case. > Can o' worms. > Regards, Bernie. > > ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Hello Bernie, I had eye surgery a couple of years ago for early-ish onset cataracts. I said to the surgeon, does that mean I won't be able to focus and he said, "You have not been able to focus for years." The fact is that for people over 40, your focussing performance degrades like falling off a cliff to the point where after 50, you can't focus worth the mention. Getting any eye surgery done is terrifying, whatever they say and not to be taken lightly. However the results may be worthwhile. I have never met anyone who has had laser surgery who was not back needing glasses or surgery some years later. My cataracts were marginal but I went for surgery because the mild double vision was worrying. The results were spectacular with probably 15:20 vision as a result. I wear multi-focal lenses now. Why? Because I still cannot focus and need glasses. I can wear off the shelf sunnies but they won't allow me to read that well… though oddly, I can read a menu better than most middle aged people even though my bionic focus is set to infinity. For flying gliders, you mainly need two focus ranges. One is close within the cockpit which ranges from 400mm to about a metre and the other is infinity. If this is true for you, then why bother with multi-focal lenses when bifocals will do the job better and for less money? I say better because a bifocal lens covers a wider field of view with the same focus and has none of the vexing distortion which is a guaranteed result of almost all multi-focal lenses. Running downhill or down steps is really difficult with multi-focal lenses because the focal position in the lens means you have your head at the wrong angle. I have worn bifocals flying for some time, made specially to suit. I got the frames and sat in the glider and car and drew the top of the instrument panel on the lenses and the bifocal split is made for this and it works perfectly. Our local optometrist will dye the lenses to whatever colour you want and even add or reduce the tint for optimum results. Something worth looking at are Barz sunnies. http://barzoptics.com They are an Australian company who have thought a little more than most about bifocal sunnies. You can get a range with things like polarised lenses with a non-polarised bifocal/ ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Hi DMcD, thanks for the comments. However, as stated in the first sentence of my original post, I already have bifocal sunglasses, and they work very well. I am always acutely aware of the fact that should I lose them, break them, drop them in the drink, etc. etc. I am up for an expensive replacement and a long wait for same. The conversation with my friend re laser surgery prompted me to investigate contact lenses as my thinking was that perhaps I could wear multifocal contacts (or even bifocal contacts) and use off the shelf sunglasses when flying, driving and fishing. Thus should any of the afore mentioned misfortunes occur, I could simply buy/borrow/beg/steal another set of sunglasses at short notice. I have an appointment with a local optometrist who is a member of the Cornea and Contact lens Society of Australia so maybe they can assess my vision and come up with a suitable product, we will see. As far as laser surgery goes, the option most suitable for me (monovision) is apparently not suitable for pilots as it reduces depth perception so I have ruled that out. Regards, Bernie. ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
Guys, Have a look at zennioptical.com You will fall of your chair when you learn how cheap glasses can be. All you need is your prescription. 1. upload your smiling face to the site, 2. try on some frames, and 3. buy the ones you want. Delivery is about 10-15 days They will do Distance, reading, bifocal, multifocal. They have an online chat service to assist if required. Straight reading glasses need a bit of massaging of the script values, but zenni will help with this. What they dont have is a high quality sunglasses, but they will sell you a cheap polarized clip on for $6 Cheers Mark On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 11:26 AM, Bernie Baer wrote: > > > Hi DMcD, > thanks for the comments. However, as stated in the first sentence of my > original post, I already have bifocal sunglasses, and they work very well. > I am always acutely aware of the fact that should I lose them, break them, > drop them in the drink, etc. etc. I am up for an expensive replacement and > a long wait for same. The conversation with my friend re laser surgery > prompted me to investigate contact lenses as my thinking was that perhaps I > could wear multifocal contacts (or even bifocal contacts) and use off the > shelf sunglasses when flying, driving and fishing. Thus should any of the > afore mentioned misfortunes occur, I could simply buy/borrow/beg/steal > another set of sunglasses at short notice. > > I have an appointment with a local optometrist who is a member of the > Cornea and Contact lens Society of Australia so maybe they can assess my > vision and come up with a suitable product, we will see. > As far as laser surgery goes, the option most suitable for me (monovision) > is apparently not suitable for pilots as it reduces depth perception so I > have ruled that out. > Regards, Bernie. > > ___ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > -- Mark Fisher Managing Director Swift Performance Equipment Unit 2, 1472 Boundary Rd Wacol 4076 Australia Ph: +61 7 3879 3005 Fax: +61 7 36076277 www.spe.com.au ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
At 11:51 AM 23/08/2013, you wrote: The lesson from all of this " get your eyes tested". Glider pilots are an aging population and you should have your eyes tested so that you can get prescription glasses/bifocals/trifocals etc if required. Also you want to check for things like glaucoma and macular degeneration, chances of which increase with age. DMcD's story on bifocals is spot on. You may need a pair of reading glasses and a pair of bifocals set for instrument panel distance and with the split vertically a little higher than most optometrists will try to put them. Also consider the "executive" type bifocals where the closeup portion is right across the lens. You will need to move your head a little more when looking over the side though to avoid looking at the ground through the closeup section. Those who are Private Pilots know that you are required to carry a spare pair when flying. If it isn't a Regulation it ought to be and anyway is good practice even if it doesn't specifically apply to glider pilots. I solved the sunglass problem with Sunwraps, a cheap polycarbonate clip in which curves around the sides and is extremely lightweight. Had to buy 288 sets though so Carol has some for sale. Call or email. Now I know glider pilots don't have a formal medical exam but really the standard is not different, only the certification thereof. Vision is one area where you do have a direct effect on third parties particularly in VMC so it seems reasonable to ask people to have their vision checked and corrected to CASA Class 2 medical standards. If you can't do this you really shouldn't be putting your fellow pilots and other airspace users at risk. Mike Borgelt Instruments - design & manufacture of quality soaring instrumentation since 1978 www.borgeltinstruments.com tel: 07 4635 5784 overseas: int+61-7-4635 5784 mob: 042835 5784: int+61-42835 5784 P O Box 4607, Toowoomba East, QLD 4350, Australia ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Re: [Aus-soaring] Contact lenses, laser surgery etc
I absolutley agree with DMcD regards bifovcals and flying. Multifocals are a dead loss with great reduction in peripheral acuity (not vision). I find the wider field of accurate vision available to me with bifocals at work essential for watching my F/0s panel. I have the split right on the instrument panel top level which also just happens to suit gliders. Ron On 23 August 2013 09:03, DMcD wrote: > Hello Bernie, > > I had eye surgery a couple of years ago for early-ish onset cataracts. > I said to the surgeon, does that mean I won't be able to focus and he > said, "You have not been able to focus for years." The fact is that > for people over 40, your focussing performance degrades like falling > off a cliff to the point where after 50, you can't focus worth the > mention. > > Getting any eye surgery done is terrifying, whatever they say and not > to be taken lightly. However the results may be worthwhile. I have > never met anyone who has had laser surgery who was not back needing > glasses or surgery some years later. My cataracts were marginal but I > went for surgery because the mild double vision was worrying. The > results were spectacular with probably 15:20 vision as a result. > > I wear multi-focal lenses now. Why? Because I still cannot focus and > need glasses. I can wear off the shelf sunnies but they won't allow me > to read that well… though oddly, I can read a menu better than most > middle aged people even though my bionic focus is set to infinity. > > For flying gliders, you mainly need two focus ranges. One is close > within the cockpit which ranges from 400mm to about a metre and the > other is infinity. If this is true for you, then why bother with > multi-focal lenses when bifocals will do the job better and for less > money? I say better because a bifocal lens covers a wider field of > view with the same focus and has none of the vexing distortion which > is a guaranteed result of almost all multi-focal lenses. Running > downhill or down steps is really difficult with multi-focal lenses > because the focal position in the lens means you have your head at the > wrong angle. > > I have worn bifocals flying for some time, made specially to suit. I > got the frames and sat in the glider and car and drew the top of the > instrument panel on the lenses and the bifocal split is made for this > and it works perfectly. Our local optometrist will dye the lenses to > whatever colour you want and even add or reduce the tint for optimum > results. > > Something worth looking at are Barz sunnies. > > http://barzoptics.com > > They are an Australian company who have thought a little more than > most about bifocal sunnies. You can get a range with things like > polarised lenses with a non-polarised bifocal/ > > ___ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > ___ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
