That's progressives. Lots of people keep a pair of $10 drugstore glasses by
the computer because they're easier, particularly if your screen is up high.

When you hear poly has the "worst optics possible" it means the poster has
some agenda. I've been prescribing and wearing polycarb for 20 years and I
don't know of any issues with "optical clarity." Poly is just as transparent
as CR39 or glass.

What's different is the way poly handles colors, but only in prescriptions
much stronger than yours.

Yes, but I'll let someone else recommend specific brands and frames.

I've fixed this problem many times by making the top of the lenses clear at
6 feet, not 20. That way, you don't have to tilt much at all. I'd rather
have "work glasses" with a little blur far away than a lot of blur up close.
I kept my older glasses for driving at night.

-MT, OD

The problem with polycarb is that it has very high chromatic aberration. You
don't need a thin lens material like polycarb with such a weak Rx, and you
should probably get regular plastic lens material (aka hard resin or CR-39),
or a 1.54 index at the most. If you need safety glasses get Hoya Phoenix
(trivex material).

On option would be to go back to your OD and ask for an Rx that has the
upper portion of the lens for your computer distance (you need to measure
the distance beforehand) and the bottom part with the reading area. Then you
could just take off the glasses completely to drive or for distance vision.

Another option is to get computer glasses such as Zeiss Gradal RD, which
basically does the same as above but makes some assumptions about how strong
to make the lens power on top (for computer distance) instead of a precise
measurement. For example, they just subtract .50 from the reading power and
assume that is the power needed for computer distance on top. Like the
custom lenses I suggested, you do not drive with Gradal RD lenses.

There are plenty of sites that sell frames over the internet, but I don't
know how you would know if they fit you (but you could probably return them
if you don't mind paying the return shipping). Here is one site:
http://www.framesdirect.com/

You need to look at the width of the lens and the width of the bridge (in
mm). Then you will notice that most frames a width extention before the
temples, but the width may vary between models.

For lenses, I know that Wal-Mart will put lenses in your own frame, but they
may charge you about $10 extra if you don't use their frame. They may not
have Zeiss Gradal RD, but your OD could prescribe some custom lenses that
give you what you need.

If you want something a bit thinner and lighter than regular plastic,
Wal-Mart may have Sola Spectralite (1.54) lens material, which has very good
optics.

Solve this problem by moving your monitor down or yourself up (may need
foot rest). Or switch to simple, non progressive 1/2 eye readers for
the computer.  Depending on the distance to your computer, ready made
+1.00 or +1.25 readers may work.

Polycarb has higher chromatic aberration than some other lenses.  Some
people notice this, some don't.  If your job requires safety glasses,
you have no choice.

There are computer progressives which have the intermediate power in
the top and reading on the bottom, but you will not be able to see much
beyond 6ft with them.

If you really have a difficult to fit head, try a different town.  It
is important to be able to actually try frames on to see how they fit.
You can't do that on-line.

Dr Judy

[snip]

I want to thank everybody for their responses. I still have a couple
of questions though.

Do I need a different prescription for the Gradal RD? What about the
reading on the bottom and 36" on the top option,  is this something I
will have to get another $100 exam for, I just had my exam 2 weeks
ago.

It seems like I need three ranges, one for close reading, one for
computer work which is about 36" from my eyes, and one for distance.
Does such a thing exist and how would I ask my OD to script it?

Should I decide what type of lens I will want BEFORE going in for my
exam so that I can communicate that to the Doc? I very clearly
communicated that I am an IT Manager who spends lots of time in front
of a computer and the Doctor never made any of the suggestions I am
seeing here, he just wrote me another script and made no lens type
recommendations at all beyond "progressive". Should I shop for another
Doc or is this typical?

I see a lot of discount frames out there, I really don't care if the
frame carries a designer name or not but I do have a wide head (my
wife would also say "big"). How do I tell a cheap "free second pair"
style frame from a decent quality one if it doesn't carry a designer
name? I have seen titanium frames for less than $100 including a
single vision Sola lens, is this realistic.

From shop to shop it is all but impossible to compare unless you are
comparing a specific designer name/model. I do see some shops offering
the exact same brand/model lenses for as much as 250% less than other
shops so I know there has to be a lot of margin. Ouch! How much markup
is typically on this stuff? It is also hard to trust what you are
being told by the shops as there seems to be plenty of kick-back
schemes like  "http://www.visionadvantage.net/rewards.htm" which
motivate the vendors to push certain lines.

I see a lot of progressive mfgrs recommend not using single vision at
all once starting on progressives. What's the downside of wearing
regular progressives for misc wear and having a single vision pair
just for computer work? I already keep cheap reading glasses in all of
the bathrooms, for example, but wear progressives when doing misc
stuff around the house, is this hurting me?

Thanks again for all of your suggestions, it sure does seem like the
whole industry is designed to prevent informed comparison shopping.
Reminds me of shopping for a mattress.

--
Mike Petro
http://www.pu-erh.net