Bifocals or reading glasses

[70herald]

Just got a new prescription for glasses and somehow the ageing thing is starting to catch up to me and I need either reading glasses or bifocals.

Mostly what I need them for is at work, when I am using the computer for long periods of time. Are "reading" glasses going to be more comfortable? As I understand it with bifocals the lower half of the lens is for reading which seems somewhat inconvenient for staring at huge computer screens.

 

[NutmegCT]

There's all sorts of things available now: glasses, contact lenses, even surgery. Some folks get prescription "computer glasses" - which provide correction for the distance to your computer screen. Reading a book is closer to your eyes than a computer screen. Some folks have three sets of glasses, one for reading, one for computer, one for distance vision.

I've got "tri-focals": reading correction in the bottom third, computer in the center third, and distance vision in the upper third. You can also get "half-glasses", with only the lower sections if you don't need distance correction. I've never found generic reading glasses helpful for anything, as I have astigmatism (distortion) which needs correction regardless of distance. You can find reading glasses at most drug stores for under $10, but I've never seen reading glasses that help at a computer screen distance.

Hope this is clear
Tom

 

[sail]

I have "progressive" "bifocals" which has some transition between near and far with no line. They have worked fine for computer but I have always used a laptop which orients my head down, even at a desk. I notice some looking at a larger monitor having to tilt their head back to see thru the bottom of the lens. It is possible to change the height in the lens where the two meet however when I tried that to improve the distance range I found the near range nearly useless. If you now wear glasses for distance or need both distance and near correction I would suggest you will want a pair of progressive regardless. Give them a chance as there is an adjustment period until your not so aware of them. Sitting at a screen all day could make a strong case for a second pair of near only as was your thought however if you need to look further than a few feet they will likely need to come off.

 

[PAUL161]

I had progressive transitions and they gave me a constant headache. My eye doctor actually took them back! I then had special glasses made for flying, where the bifocal is much larger, sets higher on the lens and are set for arms length for reading instruments. They darken very quickly when in the sun. I like them and their so light, I forget I have them on at times. PJ

 

[JPSmit]

Ah, the wonders of aging. I just went to progressives this year - Had to send one pair back but the next pair work well (with the aforementioned adjustment period) That said, I used readers for years with no problem (except they kept getting stronger - weird) I had (have) one prescription pair and a dozen Costco pairs in the bathroom, glovebox, shop, (you know the drill) I went with progressives because standing in front of a church (or a crowd) I needed to see close and far. If you just need it for computing, it is an easy (and cheap) experiment to buy some inexpensive readers and see how they work.

 

[DNK]

I have progressive and can't read with them.
So I don't as long as I am in good light I don't need them.
The boss won't go anywhere if I don't have the lenses with me.
Aging is for old people

 

[Bayless]

Sounds like you need distance correction anyway. I would go for bifocals. The progressives work for some people and not others. Standard bifocals work fine for me. I have always been a programmer so have spent way too many hours in front of the screen. It is too far for your reading prescription (bifocals) and too close for the distance lens. I have always used full frame "computer" glasses that are optimized for the screen distance. Tilting my head back to accommodate bifocals all day is not acceptable. I can see across the room with them all right. In fact, I have been known to realize a block from home that I am driving with them. I don't recommend that. Like they say, "old age aint for sissies."

 

[70herald]

OK, sounds like I am going to need to get a set of glasses just for computer work, and probably progressives also Of course the equipment I am currently working on has 4 - 24" monitors in a row so there isn't really one distance but anything has to be better than straining to see any of them.

 

[DNK]

Hard to putt with them.
Took me a while to get use to it.
World gets a little wonky when you first look down

 

[Mickey Richaud]

World gets a little wonky when you first look down

Never had any problem with my progressives.

But then, my world has always been a little wonky.

 

[Boink]

I'm partial to progressives (and have had a pair since 2000). They take a little time to get used to. One problem with them, though, is that as you age your prescription will likely need to get stronger and that will result in the sweet-spot getting smaller... which could result in reading that requires head-movement.

Also, not all progressives are the same. There are different brands that produce a different transition (usually an hourglass sort of shape).

 

[Brooklands]

I found I kept losing my reading glasses, but the progressive bifocals are great for the computer. You just tilt your head slightly when moving front or back and can always stay in focus. I tried regular bifocals once, and just hated them...things kept seeming to jump. I just keep the glasses on all the time even though the top half are almost no prescription at all.

 

[TR3driver]

IMO you will definitely want reading glasses for computer work, if you do more than a few hours/day. Good ergonomics mean you want the screen up high enough that you look straight ahead at it, which means bifocals are going to be in "distance" mode. I wear bifocals outdoors, but can't use them on the computer at all.