Wearing my first-ever prescription glasses I just picked up ...

[Hugh_Lebowski]

I've been using drug-store magnifiers (1.75X) for 6 years or so but finally decided to get my first-ever 'eye exam' (at 54 years old) and got a prescription.

These are the 3-level 'progressive' lenses ... cost me a friggin' bundle overall, even w/insurance. I got the 'indoor' kind so the very bottom are good for like really close, middle of lens is good for computing, and the top is good for like TV-distance.

I had better than 20/20 my whole life til I hit about 45 y.o., which was about 20 years into my programming career. Too many years of staring at screens finally took their toll I guess.

Anyways, these things are a trip.

[a kennedy]

1. So, ya like em?? They working for ya??

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. They say give 'em 2 weeks ... so far I think I'm adjusting well ...

Trying to view/read the distances that the magnifiers covered well is a bit of a hassle because I have to view with my head at a specific angle ... but there is more 'range' covered by the 3 lenses built into 1 that these have.

[niyad]

2. How many fingers am I holding up?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. Looks like 1? Oh, and also heeeeyyyy! Do you want to go to the principals office buddy!?! (nt)

[niyad]

8. The glasses are working well!

[Aristus]

10. ...

[Hugh_Lebowski]

12. I hope you know that this will go down on your PERMANENT RECORD! (nt)

[niyad]

21. Pretty sure that 8s not the most heinous offense on there.

[Hoyt]

3. Hope they work out for you. I couldn't see my extended hand until I got glasses.

Had never seen my feet in the shower until cataract surgery.

Eye sight is so important at any age. Ever seen a video of a young nearsighted child getting glasses and seeing their parents for the first time? That’ll make your smile.

Sorry for long windedness. My way of celebrating your improved vision.

[3catwoman3]

7. The conventional wisdom is that vision changes, in terms of your...

… near vision, kick in during your early 40s. So true - 42 for me. I had my kids in my late 30s, so they were still little and needing various hygiene tasks performed by me at that time. I began noticing that I couldn’t cut their fingernails when I had my contacts in, which I wore for distance vision. The old “My arms aren’t long enough” thing.

I’ve worn glasses since I was 9. I never misplace them because they are always on my face except when I’m asleep.

[msongs]

9. picked up my 3rd pair of unuseable glasses. eye docs cant get the job done

where I can do computer work from a reasonable distance.

[CentralMass]

11. Hello HL. That is about the time I got my first pair as well.

Might I suggest now that you have your first pair under your belt try ordering your next pair at Zenni Optical. You will need your prescription and your "PD" , Pupil Distance. If that is not on your prescription they have a ruler that you can print out or just use your own. I think I paid a little over $450 for my first pair of progressives at the optometrist. . I get them for about $110 with a bunch of coating and this blu-blocker coating they have at Zenni. My first pair from them had sports frames but my latest are wire framesl with a magnetic clip on sunglasses. Although prescription sunglasses are cheap there too. You can even upload a photo of yourself and see how the look on your face before buying.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

13. Looks like the disrance is trelve mirrimeter (nt)

[CentralMass]

14. :-)

I have large fingers that don't pair well with phone keyboards and my typing finger is a bit f'd up in an industrial accident sort of way making it even worse.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

15. My excuse is ... I was born an incorrigible smart-ass ... which should surprise 0 people on DU

I'm going to break in these new bad-boys and go from there.

It's a bit early to be pondering my next set of specs, but I'll keep you suggestion in mind!

Edit: also, hey ... no fair fixing it! It makes my post look out of context!

[zanana1]

19. I believe that's genetic.

My sister and I have the same disorder.

[Retired Engineer Bob]

25. I inherited it from my dad n/t

[MontanaMama]

16. Progressive lenses...

They’re their own thing! Give them a minute (a week) and it’ll be okay. Welcome to the fold.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

17. Thanks MM :) I'll give it some time. Not overdoing it today too much, easing in

but they seem promising

[Rollo]

18. I use Eyebuydirect.com to get glasses these days...

Prices are a lot better than the usual fees...

I've been wearing glasses since Junior High School. Initially just for distance. But about 20-30 years ago I found I needed progressive for reading. Ironically, now that I'm in my late 60's, I find I don't really need the glasses so much for distance, but do need them for reading. Go figure. Probably should get another exam, I suppose. Most of the time I can watch a TV if it's about 10 feet away, no problem. But reading fine print, I need my glasses. And probably for driving too.

[MichaelSoE]

20. 3 pair for me

1.Progressive ... Just for walking around and doing various tasks.

2.One prescription for fixed focal length for computer. With the progressives I had to tip my head up to see the screen and trying to hit that sweet spot is just too annoying.

3.Finnaly a fixed focal length for watching the telly. Just the opposite of the computer problem. If I watch the telly with the progressives and decide to be in bed or put the recliner in a horizontal position then I'd have to tip my head forward to use the upper portion of the lens. With the fixed focal length I can even watch the telly hanging upside down.

And as a previous responder all ready mentioned, eyebuydirect.com makes the cost acceptable. I can live without spending a ton of cash for "designer" frames.

[tanyev]

22. Yep. I got a pair of fixed focal length for my line dancing hobby.

I’d been wearing progressives with no problem for awhile so it took me a couple years to figure out why I sometimes got a “swimmy” feeling in line dance class. Dances with lots of turns were the worst, and I was on the verge of chalking it up to one of those things I used to be able to do when I was younger, when I got the idea to try ordering an inexpensive pair of single vision glasses online. Problem solved! Dancing up a storm again.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. Yeah, I have fixed focal for distance ...

Sunglasses for driving during the day (I'm trying to slow the progression of my cataracts) and a pair of lined bifocals for computer and reading. I've never done well with progressives.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

26. Yeah, I'm kinda thinking those 3 are exactly what I need as well! (nt)

[IcyPeas]

23. don't forget to exercise your eyes....