🚀 go-pugleaf

I accepted that presbyopia was almost a right of passage and fondly remember
the great eyesight I was privileged to have enjoyed before my 50th.  I can
still pass a pilot medical eye chart test without glasses and have not had
to resort to memorizing the smallest line.

I obtained a full eye exam by a specialist ophthalmologist who did not sell
glasses.  He confirmed that I was getting older and that both eyes were
healthy and equal.  He told me to wear whatever I was comfortable with and
that he would give me a prescription for whatever strength I wanted so I
could get some better quality glasses paid for by my medical insurance.

Before 50 I always wore safety glasses and safety rated, polycarbonate,
tinted, mountaineering/aviator glasses.  When I started experiencing
difficulty reading or in poor light I started wearing  safety rated
polycarbonate readers.  I keep several pairs and use different strengths
depending on how fine the work is.  I found the best to be the spring temple
design as they are light, tough and harder to break in my shirt pocket.  I
buy a package of two pair for 18 C$ at Costco.  I started having trouble
reading aircraft instruments and found myself wearing 1 or 1.25 diopter most
of the time.  These strengths also sharpen up my distance and night vision a
bit.  For fine or detail work I keep a few pairs of 1.75 diopter glasses.

My biggest problem is that I have been unable to find any tinted readers.  I
looked for clip ons but could only find very expensive ones and only to fit
modern Lennon sized but not large aviator type lenses.  I have heard about
stick on bifocals for good quality dark glasses but have been unable to find
any for sale.

I would appreciate the groups help especially with a source for tinted
reading glasses.

Regarding Lasik, There is not a doctor on earth that I would trust with a
procedure so invasive.  I would never take the chance that I would become a
failure statistic with something as important as my eyes.  I have heard lots
of horror stories.
Others may have a greater need than I and "your mileage may vary."

diver.driver@3web.net



"Logic Theorist" <logictheorist@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ZhlN5.419$YQ5.216711@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net...
> Having been a pilot for over 20 years who wore glasses (Lasik ended the
> need) and having worked for an eyeglass lens manufacturer in the past
here's
> what I have learned.
>
> Progressive lenses are not for pilots. In fact there have been several
> accidents where progressive lenses were cited as a contributing factor.
The
> reason is that progressive lenses are not uniform from side to side. The
> progression begins wide at the top and narrows at the bottom. If I were to
> draw a diagram for you of the progressive area it would look somewhat T
> shaped. What this does to the pilots peripheral vision is to distort it
> considerably. All the accidents where progressives were cited as a
> contributing factor involved landings.
>
> Pilots who purchased progressives from the company I used to work for
would
> often complain to the customer service dept. of the problems they had with
> them, specifically the distortion. The company's response was generally to
> just give them a full refund or credit towards bifocals to be put in their
> frames.
>
> The latest from the FAA is that they are considering a ban on the use of
> progressive lenses in the cockpit. The two largest manufacturers of
> progressive lenses, Essilor (AKA Varilux) and Sola, are not putting up a
> fight on this because they want to avoid the publicity and because they
know
> there are problems.
>
> So what about bifocals? If you can still pass your class 1 try just using
a
> pair of reading glasses. Keep them around your neck with strap so they are
> always there when you need to read something close up. Otherwise, if your
> vision requires you to wear glasses full time and presbyopia is a problem,
> bifocals may be the solution.
>
> In my case, at 46, and having had to wear glasses most of my life I had
> Lasik Surgery done and no longer need glasses. I too suffer from
presbyopia
> but I had my right eye made a little more near sighted than the left. For
> now this has eliminated the need for reading glasses, but someday I will
> probably have to use them. Lasik is not without it's pitfalls (e.g. poor
> night vision) so if you consider this option, make sure you find a good
> surgeon who knows his stuff.
>
> One final note, all pilots who wear glasses (even sun glasses) should have
> them coated with an anti-reflective coating. The difference is substantial
> and worth the price. Also, photosensitive lenses such as Transitions do
not
> work in the cockpit and they reduce the contrast against a blue sky.
Better
> to stick with a good pair of sunglasses that you have purchased from an
> optometrist that has guaranteed there UV filtering ability and has had
them
> AR coated for you. Even good off the shelf lenses provide only UV
> protection, none come with an AR coating.
>
> Hope this information helps,
> Logic Theorist
>
>
> "Tim Hoel" <twh@pclink.com> wrote in message
> news:3a05cd1a$0$62630$7ba1063b@news.pclink.com...
> > Although I was able to barely pass my first class medical without
glasses,
> > it is getting harder for me to read maps.  (At 48, presbyopia is setting
> > in.)  I am now wondering whether it would be better to get bifocals or
> > progressive lens glasses for flying.  Is there any common wisdom on this
> > subject, or for those who have gone before me, what is your opinion?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Tim Hoel
> >
> >
> >
>
>