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Learning to use Trifocals
I required eye glasses at the age of 13 for a slight nearsightedness - this condition worsened over the years requiring me to wear eye glasses full time at the age of 20. Since that time I have used both eye glasses and contact lenses for nearsightedness and eventually needed bifocals/reading at about 40 yo. At that time I could read a message on the head of a "pin" with my glasses off. Since that time my eyes have improved in the distance (less nearsightedness) while losing my ability to read up close with the unaided eye.
I have tried "progressive" lenses twice and trifocals once in the past 20 years but have used simple bifocals until now. My last eye exam showed my distance vision is almost on, need simple astigmatism correction. But my near vision is worse than ever. I decided that I'd try trifocals again (I do not like the progressives) so that I can get a reasonable focus on that intermediate distance such as the screen of a laptop, used on my lap.
I am now on my third day with the trifocals but still find the narrow intermediate lens difficult to zero in on, and I have an increased sense of the line between the upper lens and the reading lenses.. and notice an out-of-level to the line between left lens and the right lens. I discussed this when the glasses were fitted by the optometrist but have decided that just wearing causes some drift in the "level" lens-to-lens. I so far think I get some relief by simply raising the right side ear stem for use when sitting still and using the laptop..
Anyone have any tips on becoming adjusted to trifocals? Is it possible to get an "adjustment" that just stays in alignment when sitting still? Or, does one mentally adjust to tip the head to get a better view through the narrow intermediate reading lens. Other ideas/recommendations?
The good news is I can wear over-the-counter sun glasses for just walking around and I am tempted to get the eye glasses restriction removed from my driver license.
I have tried "progressive" lenses twice and trifocals once in the past 20 years but have used simple bifocals until now. My last eye exam showed my distance vision is almost on, need simple astigmatism correction. But my near vision is worse than ever. I decided that I'd try trifocals again (I do not like the progressives) so that I can get a reasonable focus on that intermediate distance such as the screen of a laptop, used on my lap.
I am now on my third day with the trifocals but still find the narrow intermediate lens difficult to zero in on, and I have an increased sense of the line between the upper lens and the reading lenses.. and notice an out-of-level to the line between left lens and the right lens. I discussed this when the glasses were fitted by the optometrist but have decided that just wearing causes some drift in the "level" lens-to-lens. I so far think I get some relief by simply raising the right side ear stem for use when sitting still and using the laptop..
Anyone have any tips on becoming adjusted to trifocals? Is it possible to get an "adjustment" that just stays in alignment when sitting still? Or, does one mentally adjust to tip the head to get a better view through the narrow intermediate reading lens. Other ideas/recommendations?
The good news is I can wear over-the-counter sun glasses for just walking around and I am tempted to get the eye glasses restriction removed from my driver license.
Thanks, yes I have been "growing" less near sighted since about the age of 50, I'll guess at this point. One pay-back loss has been the loss of near vision - but there was a nice transition period where I needed only a slight distance/astigmatism correction (the polycarbon lens being very thin) and a bifocal for small print, everything in between was the good with no lens aids. I was an engineering manager and spent a lot of time in "conference room" negotiations and sitting near the front of the table I could see projections on the screen and see all around the table...now if my hearing hadn't started to fail .... : (
Today I am a bit happier with the trifocals as I learn how to "hold my head". Still I may take the doctor up on an exchange for bifocals as I can see the computer screen well with either the naked eye or with the distance lenses which I believe are just astigmatism correction.
I have a follow up appointment early next week to look deeper into my macular degeneration, worse problem among us older people than cataracts - which do not yet seem to be a problem for me. I know people who "love" the new artificial lenses they got in cat-surgery.
I'll ask my doctor how "unusual" my eye history is, going to near 20/20 with age.
Another benefit of bifocals, going forward, as I assume a swap to bifocals will not result in any refund, and I think it shouldn't - the patient should have some "skin in the game", is they must cost a lot less than trifocals. I need to examine the bill more closely but I think the lenses were about $100 each. I think bifocals are about half that amount.
Today I am a bit happier with the trifocals as I learn how to "hold my head". Still I may take the doctor up on an exchange for bifocals as I can see the computer screen well with either the naked eye or with the distance lenses which I believe are just astigmatism correction.
I have a follow up appointment early next week to look deeper into my macular degeneration, worse problem among us older people than cataracts - which do not yet seem to be a problem for me. I know people who "love" the new artificial lenses they got in cat-surgery.
I'll ask my doctor how "unusual" my eye history is, going to near 20/20 with age.
Another benefit of bifocals, going forward, as I assume a swap to bifocals will not result in any refund, and I think it shouldn't - the patient should have some "skin in the game", is they must cost a lot less than trifocals. I need to examine the bill more closely but I think the lenses were about $100 each. I think bifocals are about half that amount.
Thanks, lots of good ideas. I was unaware that the sizes of the "extra" lenses could be customized.
I have used computer glasses in the past, but for the last several years my nearsightedness progressed to the point I could see quite well in the range of desktop to the person across the table and just didn't wear glasses for that work. Now my eyeball seems to have aged the nearsightedness away, leaving me mostly with okay vision in the distance other than astigmatism. The new lenses have improved the view of my laptop to the point I think I may be just fine with bifocals again. The difference in looking at my laptop screen with and without glasses is the distance lens with astigmatism correction gives the text better contrast - look darker. By eye doctor offered if I didn't like the trifocals he would exchange them for bifocals. I'm not sure how he covers costs doing that, it may be a pass-through from the lens manufacturer.
I'll work a bit longer trying to adjust to the trifocals before deciding what to do. One problem with trifocals is it brings the magnifying area up on the lens, now about midway top/bottom. This makes stairs and waking on ice/slippery surfaces uncomfortable. I find myself just taking my glasses of when walking in those challenging situations, situations in which I really need to have the area at my feet in focus.
I don't know how "normal" my experience has been, but the tendency of the human eye to go farsighted has just about corrected my distance vision.
I have used computer glasses in the past, but for the last several years my nearsightedness progressed to the point I could see quite well in the range of desktop to the person across the table and just didn't wear glasses for that work. Now my eyeball seems to have aged the nearsightedness away, leaving me mostly with okay vision in the distance other than astigmatism. The new lenses have improved the view of my laptop to the point I think I may be just fine with bifocals again. The difference in looking at my laptop screen with and without glasses is the distance lens with astigmatism correction gives the text better contrast - look darker. By eye doctor offered if I didn't like the trifocals he would exchange them for bifocals. I'm not sure how he covers costs doing that, it may be a pass-through from the lens manufacturer.
I'll work a bit longer trying to adjust to the trifocals before deciding what to do. One problem with trifocals is it brings the magnifying area up on the lens, now about midway top/bottom. This makes stairs and waking on ice/slippery surfaces uncomfortable. I find myself just taking my glasses of when walking in those challenging situations, situations in which I really need to have the area at my feet in focus.
I don't know how "normal" my experience has been, but the tendency of the human eye to go farsighted has just about corrected my distance vision.
The 'out of level' comment makes me think that one lens or the other wasn't made correctly, or else the two lenses are ok and the frame has been tweaked so the left and right sides aren't level (less likely). When you go back to the optometrist for the fitting, you should look together at the lenses and see if the 'lines' of zone separation are all parallel to each other (within each lens and comparing one lens to the other).
If you are using the intermediate vision range for extended periods of time, such as to work on a laptop or desktop computer, you might consider a pare of single-vision glasses made for that intermediate distance. This would give you much more lens 'real estate' to look through, and eliminate the need to continually move your head to see through the mid-distance portion of the trifocal.
If you have a dedicated office or workspace, you can just leave the glasses there and put them on when you have a lot of computer work to do. Or carry them in a laptop bag or backpack.
Another option is to have the trifocals made with the lens areas modified from the default sizes. Depending on the shape of the eyeglass frames, you may be able to enlarge the near- or mid-vision portion of the lens a bit. Or choose a different frame that gives you a larger vertical area to play with in establishing where each lens zone is located.
There are default parameters for where the zones of a trifocal are automatically placed when the lenses are made, but you can adjust them subject to the limitations of your frames.
If you are using the intermediate vision range for extended periods of time, such as to work on a laptop or desktop computer, you might consider a pare of single-vision glasses made for that intermediate distance. This would give you much more lens 'real estate' to look through, and eliminate the need to continually move your head to see through the mid-distance portion of the trifocal.
If you have a dedicated office or workspace, you can just leave the glasses there and put them on when you have a lot of computer work to do. Or carry them in a laptop bag or backpack.
Another option is to have the trifocals made with the lens areas modified from the default sizes. Depending on the shape of the eyeglass frames, you may be able to enlarge the near- or mid-vision portion of the lens a bit. Or choose a different frame that gives you a larger vertical area to play with in establishing where each lens zone is located.
There are default parameters for where the zones of a trifocal are automatically placed when the lenses are made, but you can adjust them subject to the limitations of your frames.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Take your laptop to the optometrist and have him adjust the glasses while using your laptop. You should not have to lift adjust your glasses while using your laptop.
Dr. O.
Dr. O.
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This may not be the case for you, but I have heard that cataract development can result in a change in vision for the 'better' before the lens gets too clouded; something about how the aging process in the natural lens causes it to change shape for some patients and 'improve' one aspect of their vision, like they become slightly less nearsighted for a little while. Aside from that I've not heard of someone for whom their nearsightedness improved without surgery or other intervention, but it's nice to hear it can happen.
Going back to bifocals might be a good idea, especially if you can select where the line goes and the resulting size of each portion of the lens. This doesn't solve the stair-walking problem, though. You're smart to be cautious about that.
In terms of the lens 'exchange' by the doctor, I think the manufacturers recognize that patients can't know in advance how they will tolerate progressives, trifocals, etc. I've even had a pair of single vision lenses remade - twice - because the doctor was 'guessing' at the correct prescription (I'm severely nearsighted, so it's hard to get the prescription right the first or even second time).
Changing out newly-made eyeglass lenses is not uncommon, so you should feel perfectly free to go back and ask for bifocals if that's what you think would work best for you now that you've tried the alternative.
FYI there are limits on how much the size of each lens zone can be customized, based on the manufacturing process, lens material and frame shape. So the lens geometry can be tweaked, but only within a certain range. Good luck!