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Medical Forum / General / Vision / March 2005Computer 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 > Doctor said if my new PALs don't work too well for the computer (I'm at > that [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Are these as 'critical' as progressives, or can I get good results from > cheaper outlets like Costco? Absolutely. I'm wearing 'em. If you're willing to tolerate blur at 20 feet, they're _great_ for desk work. > Also, what does "high aspect" mean on the perscription for these? Likely not much. -MT > 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 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. > 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 [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Al 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. 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 >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? Do you know for sure that Costco is a lot cheaper than what your doctor can do for you? Have you asked? Even if the doctor is (say) $50 more, your glasses will be good for at least two years which translates to less than 50 cents per week. If your doc is doing well for you, it might be a good idea to help them out too. No I'm not in the business myself, I'm just a consumer like you... >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 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Al > Do you know for sure that Costco is a lot cheaper than what your > doctor can do for you? Have you asked? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > your doc is doing well for you, it might be a good idea to help them > out too. 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 >donations. There are some forms of human behavior which I'll never understand even if I live to be 100. People will spend huge amounts of money on alcohol, cigarettes, and various kinds of junk food. But let someone suggest that they spend a few dollars more once every two years on quality eyecare, to support the people who provide the quality care, and he is met with sarcasm and scorn. To each his own I guess. > >Maybe he should publish the name and address of his OD so we can send him > >donations. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > To each his own I guess. 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. >> >Maybe he should publish the name and address of his OD so we can send him >> >donations. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >product). I bet you shop around when buying name brand products in the >industry I work in. 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 robopt@execpc.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself." - Richard Feynman > Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, is > essentially a marketing ruse, and has little if any bearing on the > function of the final product. So you don't have any preferred brands you like to deal in, with a reputation for service and dependability? Scott >> Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, is >> essentially a marketing ruse, and has little if any bearing on the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Scott Scott, A couple of years ago Nike got into the ophthalmic frame market using Marchon as the manufacture. The frames were memory metal Flexon, nice colors, contemporary styling. Unfortunately the temples or pad arms were designed in a way that looked cool, but precluded adjustment. So, I hand pick the frames from over 300 companies and probably 10 times as many brands, and another ten times worth of styles. I look for solid engineering, functionality, and then cosmetics. Some compromising is inevitable but I try to keep it to a minimum. Check out this thread from some folks in the business. I'am pretty sure you do not need to log in just to read this forum. http://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9844 Regards, Robert Martellaro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optician/Owner Roberts Optical robopt@execpc.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "If a million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France > Scott, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Robert Martellaro 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 > Rx eyeglasses are a custom designed and manufactured medical device, not a > product bought "of the shelve". Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > skills > and knowledge. 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 > Remember, cheap can be good enough; expensive can be no good at all. 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.  SignatureDan Abel Sonoma State University AIS dabel@sonic.net >> Rx eyeglasses are a custom designed and manufactured medical device, not a >> product bought "of the shelve". Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Such posts often are self-serving. Even if I grant you that Robert's post is self-serving, that does not necessarily make it wrong. It is entirely possible to serve oneself and serve others at the same time. >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. You need to find an optician who will help you to find exactly what you want. In every business, there are profit-mongers and there are people who really care about doing the right thing for their customers. Look for the latter, and when you find one, bring all your business to them. As a consumer I do this in other areas too, not just eyecare. > > Rx eyeglasses are a custom designed and manufactured medical device, not a > > product bought "of the shelve". Branding, especially with ophthalmic frames, [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Bill 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. > 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 [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Al 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 > > 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 [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 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. 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. SignatureCheers, 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 |
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