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Medical Forum / General / Vision / September 2006Multifocals for musicians
I've recently upped the strength of my multifocals and I now can't read the whole width of a sheet of music withou flicking my head from side to side - not a good practice when playing a wind instrument. Not being able to see the whole width without moving my head is extremely limiting as I need to look ahead to see what's coming up or skip back to remind me of key signatures. These areas are now often out of focus. I paid a lot of money to get multifocals with a wider intermediate region but it has apparently been wasted. Should I just stick with reading glasses for playing and accept that the conductor's going to be out of focus (who needs to watch the conductor anyway)? Or is it really possible to get a wide intermediate zone (A4 width at just over arms length)? > I've recently upped the strength of my multifocals and I now can't read > the whole width of a sheet of music withou flicking my head from side [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > possible to get a wide intermediate zone (A4 width at just over arms > length)? Sometimes you need a special pair of glasses for a specific task. Computer users need computer glasses, steelworkers use safety glasses, squash players need squash goggles. Upping the power of any multifocal, even the ones with extra wide intermediate will narrow the intermediate, its a fact of optics. You could try returning to your fitter with clarinet and music stand in hand and see if by tweaking the frame adjustment you can get a wider field. If your multifocals work for everyday tasks except for music then you need special music glasses. I'm assuming you don't need to read fine print close up when playing, so keep your old multifocals for concerts. Or move the sheet music closer. Dr Judy >I've recently upped the strength of my multifocals and I now can't read >the whole width of a sheet of music withou flicking my head from side [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >possible to get a wide intermediate zone (A4 width at just over arms >length)? Marty, Professional musicians who read charts will probably be happiest with a segmented multifocal (bifocals with a line, probably a ST35) set high so that the line is at or slightly above the top of the chart. The Rx or add power is then adjusted for the distance to the music. There will be excellent distance vision above the line if you need to see the conductor or audience. Although not required, some opticians will prefer to have you bring in the music stand, instrument, and chair, and will use a trial frame and lenses to get the powers and bifocal line position perfect, accounting for body and head movements when performing. Hope this helps, Robert Martellaro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optician/Owner Roberts Optical Wauwatosa Wi. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr Thank you for the comments. I did try bifocals a while ago but I found the dividing line a huge distraction. I felt like I was sitting behind a screen separating me from the music, the orchestra and conductor. Very disconcerting. I guess I'll just have to go with plain reading glasses for music - especially when I have to increase the strength of the lens again. In orchestral playing, the conductor's usually only being watched periferaly so can afford to be out of focus a bit - or at least that would be a good excuse for any missed entries! Martin >Thank you for the comments. > >I did try bifocals a while ago but I found the dividing line a huge >distraction. I felt like I was sitting behind a screen separating me >from the music, the orchestra and conductor. Very disconcerting. The line might have been too low, the width too narrow (it can be across the entire lens if need be), the focal length to short, or bifocals are just not a comfortable solution for you as an individual. >I guess I'll just have to go with plain reading glasses for music - >especially when I have to increase the strength of the lens again. Just make sure you measure the distance to the stand and give this info to the doc/optician. >In >orchestral playing, the conductor's usually only being watched >periferaly so can afford to be out of focus a bit - or at least that >would be a good excuse for any missed entries! If your playing jazz, blues, or rock 'n roll, those mistakes can be turned into opportunities, if your good. >Martin Hope this helps, Robert Martellaro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optician/Owner Roberts Optical Wauwatosa Wi. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr > Thank you for the comments. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Martin Half eye readers would work if you don't have much distance prescription. If you do increase the power of single vision readers, be sure to tell the prescriber the distance your music stand is placed. If the music stand is out at 28 or 30 inches, stronger readers will not work as they will likely be set for 18 to 20 inches. I wasn't joking when I suggested moving your music stand closer. I once had a cello playing patient bring in her instrument and stand so I could fiqure out how to meet her distance and music needs. We had a short little concert in the waiting room! To the docs: don't you love a professional muscian bringing in a sample score to be viewed at an angle on a shared stand at 30" and they must be able to tell the sharps from the naturals? Why aren't scores printed with bigger fonts? Dr Judy > Professional musicians who read charts will probably be happiest with a > segmented multifocal (bifocals with a line, probably a ST35) set high so that [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > powers and bifocal line position perfect, accounting for body and head movements > when performing. That would be SO cool. When I played in the old people's orchestra (I wasn't an old person then but I play badly and they were the only ones who'd allow me to stay!) one of the viola players was griping because Kaiser wouldn't make her some music-distance glasses. The doc said she should change her hobby. The guy is lucky he survived.  SignatureCheers, Bev ================================================= It's not the speed that kills, it's the stopping. > one of the viola players was griping because Kaiser wouldn't make her > some music-distance glasses. The doc said she should change her > hobby. The guy is lucky he survived. as someone whose sis is a professional viola player, I can vouch for that. Oh, and re having demonstrations in the office, I had one last month that was unnerving. When I asked the guy which eye he aimed with, he went out to the car and came back in with a loaded automatic pistol. Dropped the clip on the table and racked out the round in the chamber before taking aim at my snellen chart... w.stacy, o.d. >> one of the viola players was griping because Kaiser wouldn't make her >> some music-distance glasses. The doc said she should change her >> hobby. The guy is lucky he survived. Thank god there are women doctors now. >as someone whose sis is a professional viola player, I can vouch for that. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >w.stacy, o.d. When my grandfather died, my brother took possession of one of his guns, a very old Colt 1911 .45 ACP. He had our cousin mail it to a gun store near his home. When he called the owner to check on the gun's condition, he said that the gun arrived with an empty clip, but there was still a round in the chamber! Robert Martellaro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optician/Owner Roberts Optical Wauwatosa Wi. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr The colt 45 treatment is one of the best for dealing with painful customers. LOL dr grant I play trumpet in a few bands (as a hobby) and use reading glasses for the music as do many of my fellow musicians. So what if the conductor is out of focus! All you need to do is see the arm moving. I often cheat a little and look at him (or her) over the top of the glasses. One advantage is that I don't have to worry about getting my eyes in the right zone of a multifocus lens. What do you play? George > Should I just stick with reading glasses for playing and accept that the > conductor's going to be > out of focus (who needs to watch the conductor anyway)?
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