Computer glasses question

Doctor said if my new PALs don't work too well for the computer (I'm at that
age!) I should get computer progressives with the top for mid-range and
bottom for reading.

Are these as 'critical' as progressives, or can I get good results from
cheaper outlets like Costco? With PALs I've learned that you 'get what you
pay for" and it pays to get good lenses (i.e. Verilux, etc.) I'm wondering
if these computer specs are easier to make such that I can go with a less
expensive solution.

Also, what does "high aspect" mean on the perscription for these?

Al

 

and


Glasses never work well at any age, despite the stupid doctors who wear
them and try to persuade you of the contrary.

Wake up!

Time is short.

 

Same considerations apply for computer lenses. In fact, some opticians just
use regular progressives for these and just adjust the Rx accordingly.

There are a couple of well known brands of computer lenses, including the
Sola Access and Zeiss Gradal RD. The Access has two different (.75 and 1.25)
ranges (difference between the mid and the near) and the Zeiss only has one
(.50), unless the optician deliberately wants to change the Rx to get the
exact final results they want. Some people think the Zeiss range is too
small, but it depends on your Rx.

My experience is that some discount stores like Costco, Sams, and Wal-mart
do carry some top-quality brands of progressives, but the selection is often
limited. But if they have what you want, then it may be a good deal, but
check with them regarding the remake warranty and adaptation warranty.

I assuming that high aspect means the difference between the mid and near,
so it would mean choosing the 1.25 range on the Sola Access.

 

Right now, I am sitting in front of my computer wearing my regular street
glasses as well as a pair of 99¢ Store 1.5 diopter reading glasses. I am
happy with that solution. That may not be what you want or what a vision
professional suggest for you. You can call me six-eyes.

Bill

 

Before I succumbed to the lure of bifocals, at large meetings I wore my
reading glasses in front of my eyes and my distance glasses above them
on my forehead, cleverly switching between the two. That was before I
knew about drugstore readers, which would have been infinitely better.

--
Cheers,
Bev
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look
of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs
think humans are nuts." -- John Steinbeck

 

Maybe he should publish the name and address of his OD so we can send him
donations.

 

Maybe he should publish the name and address of his OD so we can send him

I do spend a few extra dollars on the eye exam (as service) from and
independent OD, but I like to shop around for the lenses (a specific
product). I bet you shop around when buying name brand products in the
industry I work in.

 

I myself have always been dubious about progressives, being
as they require you to swivel your *head* to look left and
right, whereas bifocals -- "executive" bifocals, that is (the
different refractions separated by horizontal *straight* lines,
not the curved half-moon ones) let you swivel your *eyes*
left and right -- keeping your head oriented as-is.

Now, for using the computer (19" screen), I use bifocals,
the low half set for close reading (books, paper, etc),
and the *upper* half set for visions at 18", for the screen.

So, with that "executive" design, I end up with just over 50%
of the area ends up being for the screen, the remainder for
reading.

To my mind, whe wider the screen, the better for the
executive bifocals, and the worse for progressives.

With mine, I get the entire 19" screen seen 100% within
the upper part, with room to spare.

Seemed like an obvious choice to me!

----

I spent some time down at the library of a large optician-college
(nyc, manhattan) going through books on lens design, progressives,
etc. (maybe 7 or 8 years ago, this was)

The topology of what you can do with glass, for progressives,
meant that you had to end up with an hourglass-shape for
clear vision -- pretty darn narrow at the middle.

The way I use my computer (for programming), set up (via emacs)
with two columns each 75 (ascii) chars wide, 57 lines of chars
vertically -- that's pretty small, and the bifocals gives
me identical focus across the entire screen -- and up and
down too, so I just swivel the eyes to study anything
on the screen.

Seems ideal to me.

Hope this helps.

David

 

Rx eyeglasses are a custom designed and manufactured medical device, not a
product bought "of the shelve". Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, is
essentially a marketing ruse, and has little if any bearing on the function of
the final product. If you need an off the shelve appliance, then "shop around"
for service, price, convenience, and reputation. If you need eyeglasses, and
the lens is a multifocal or anything more than a weak and simple Rx, shop for an
optician who is ethical, experienced, and has much above average optical skills
and knowledge.

Robert Martellaro
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Optician/Owner
Roberts Optical

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself."
- Richard Feynman

 

So you don't have any preferred brands you like to deal in, with a
reputation for service and dependability?

Scott

 

Such posts often are self-serving. For people like me, who are not very
fashion concious, a cheap servicible frame would be very satisfactory. Many
of the frames go at ridiuclouly high prices.

The last time I bought glasses, the frame that felt comfortable and had
worked well for me was not available. Fashion had moved on.

I see no reason why there are no mass produced frames without designer names
attached, frames that be produced to gain economy of scale. Most frames I
see are perfectly acceptible by me in terms of appearance. Function is
another story. I do not like them sliding and hurting. I used to go fishing
or work on cars in such ways that sometime got me into awkward positions. I
tried cable temples that turned out to keep the glasses on but were not
comfortable.

Remember, cheap can be good enough; expensive can be no good at all.

Bill

 

I wonder if they have less expensive frames, but just don't put them on
display. Or, maybe you have to order them and buy them sight unseen. I
get some of my eyecare from my HMO, and they have a pair of frames
prominently on display for US$35.00. It's on the very top left. Come to
think of it, they must arrange the frames by price.

 

You definitely need new glasses, because you can't read. Robert said:

"Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, is essentially a marketing
ruse, and has little if any bearing on the function of the final product."

So finding a good frame takes careful consideration, because there is
usually no relationship between brand name and the appropriateness of the
frame for you specific vision needs. A experienced optician is more
important (and much harder to find) than a well known brand name when
choosing a frame and getting a proper fitting.

 

Got it-- I wasn't really getting what you meant by "brand". I've been
sticking w/ Safilo the last few iterations, and haven't had any problems,
so I'm sticking with them.

Scott