Wearing Eyeglasses With Contacts -- Farsighted -- What PLs to Get?

Ok, last October I decide to start wearing prescription lenses because the
OTC reading-glasses shuffle was getting ridiculous. I am farsighted with
presbyopia. I wear contacts to correct my distance vision, but now I'm
thinking of also wearing prescription glasses over my contacts to correct
for my presbyopia.

Last October I asked here about the prudence of wearing eyeglasses with
contacts -- to correct my farsightedness and eyeglasses to correct my
presbyopia for viewing things at near and intermediate ranges. Responses to
the query informed me that such a solution is doable and implemented
frequently by at least some optical clinicians. So I went out and found a
good eye doctor place, got an eye exam, and had contacts fitted. Since then,
I've worn the contacts and have gotten quite used to them and now I'm ready
for the second part of the solution -- choosing eyeglasses that I'll wear to
supplement the contact lenses for viewing things clearly at intermediate and
near ranges.

The contacts I wear now are +1.25 in one eye and +1.50 in the other. That's
all, and that does the trick for all distance viewing -- it works great for
bicycle riding and driving and general outdoor use.

To correct my presbyopia for viewing objects at closer ranges, I presently
wear OTC reading glasses over the contacts. Consistent with my prescription,
over the contacts I wear +1.25 glasses for intermediate range objects and
+2.25 eyeglasses for viewing near objects. An example of an intermediate
range object is my computer screen at 30" or a newspaper on a table 48"
away. An example of a close range object is a book between 12" and 24" from
my face. (To clearly view details of an object closer than 12", I need a
greater diopter.

My question is what kind of glasses will work best for wearing eyeglasses
over my contacts? I've already decided I want to use a progressive lenses.
Basically a lens with "Plano" correction for distance vision, with an Add of
+1.25 for computer screen and intermediate and an Add of +2.50 for fine read
ing.

I'm wondering if a Zeiss Gradal or Gradal Top (?) will work best. What I
want is a lens that provides a wide field of view over the intermediate
range instead of the narrow view that I understand is common to most
progressives. Because I need no correction for distance vision out of the
eyeglasses, I'm thinking that maybe it will be optically more feasible to
have lenses that provide the wide intermediate view that I want. Also, I'm
thinking about taller frames, like old-fashioned black horn rim glasses, so
constraints imposed by limited height shouldn't be a big problem.

Honestly, I figure there are two or three lenses out there that will
optimally fit my bill as a presbyope who is moderately farsighted. Any
suggestions?

mC

"Mike Tyner" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Yf-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "MykalCrooks" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
> > Honestly, I figure there are two or three lenses out there that will
> > optimally fit my bill as a presbyope who is moderately farsighted. Any
> > suggestions?
>
> Every US drugstore has several that would work. (I know that's not what
you
> meant.)
>
> My comment is about your contacts - I seldom fit lenses different by 0.25
in
> a presbyope. There are two reasons to use +150 in both eyes - convenience,
> and a little more help up close.
>
> -MT
>
>

Thank you for the tip for using +1.50 in both eyes. I'll experiment with it.

mC

"Dr Judy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
> MykalCrooks wrote:
> > Ok, last October I decide to start wearing prescription lenses because
the
> > OTC reading-glasses shuffle was getting ridiculous. I am farsighted with
> > presbyopia. I wear contacts to correct my distance vision, but now I'm
> > thinking of also wearing prescription glasses over my contacts to
correct
> > for my presbyopia.
>
> SNIP
>
> Not the answer to your question, but have you tried
> progresssive/bifocal contact lenses? There are several good ones out
> there.
>
> Dr Judy
>

When I last explored various possibilities, when I first decided to start
using prescription corrective lenses about six months ago, I think I found
that for my somewhat extreme vision requirements, the best adaptation would
be provided by progressive glasses over contacts.

I don't primarily work in a subset of visual environments; I need clarity at
all distances beyond 10 inches, and I need a wide field of clear view at all
distances. Therefore, combination tailored for mostly reading, or mostly
doing computer work, or mostly for outdoor/distance vision are not good
enough.

When filling a syringe I need to read the graduations clearly. When reading
a drug label, I need to see the fine print clearly. When scanning a room for
a misplaced tool or pencil, I need to be able to see it. At intermediate
range, I need to be able to scan not one but two side-by-side computer
screens without having to move my head. When scanning a hospital floor for a
room, I need to be able to read the numbers on all the doors, near and far.
When riding a bicycle on a commute, I need to be able to see the distant
cracks in the pavement. And so on.

I will, however, be sure to study up on progressive/bifocal contact lenses.
Maybe there is a solution there for me that I've not yet noticed.

mC