Looks Like I'll be Feeding My Inexpensive Glasses Addiction! (Prescription has Changed)

[powrwrap]

I am in the market to buy a pair of progressive sunglasses from Zenni
but lately I've noticed that my distance vision isn't as sharp as
normal. I've noticed that I needed to be a little bit closer to street
signs to see them crystal clearly. Familar freeway signs weren't as
sharply in focus as they used to be from the same distance. I wondered
if my eyesight had changed since last August. I didn't want to order
new glasses with a potentially outdated prescription so I went to
Vision World and got their $39 eye exam.

Surprise, surprise! My prescription has changed .25 diopters in my
right eye; .50 diopters in my left eye. This is in only 8 months.

BTW, I was very impressed with my eye doctor at Vision World. He
checked the prescription on my current progressives--"I can't see the
markings, hmm.."--and they came out exactly as ordered from Zenni back
in August. Then he set up his phoropter to my current eyeglass
prescription settings and shut down one of the viewfinders. I was
astonished! I couldn't read the bottom line of the eye chart. He
switched eyes--same story. Then he went through the procedure to find
the correct prescription. Here's my old vs. new prescription:

OLD NEW
OD -.75 -1.00
OS -.75 -1.25

(The add value remained the same)

When we were done with the exam he asked if I had any questions. (Here
comes the all important PD question, which I decided to handle with
the assumption technique):

"So, do you measure my pupillary distance or does one of the
salespersons do that?"

"Salesperson will do that."

Guess what? My PD is different this time around than back in August.
In August it was measured by holding a ruler up to my face and the PD
was 67. Vision World used one of those sighting devices (resembles a
binocular) and they got a PD of 66. I had them measure my PD three
times, just to be sure and it came out 65.5, 66.0, 66.0.

So now I get to buy new progressives in both clear and tinted
(sunglasses). And I expect to see the hairs on the back legs of ants
crawling on the ground once I get them!

[IMQ]

> So now I get to buy new progressives in both clear and tinted
> (sunglasses). And I expect to see the hairs on the back legs of ants
> crawling on the ground once I get them!

How close do you have to be to expect to see the hairs on the back
legs of ants
crawling on the ground?

:)

Let us know how your glasses turn out after you get them.

[mzdtk]

I have progressives too get the kind that comes with the magnet clip
ons. That way you can take your time ordering the second pair. I
understand about RX changes I have both graves related eye disease and
a cataract that is not in my line of vision. My rx totally changed
almost overnight. Also I have worked many years ago for an Eye doc and
I would trust the machine over hand measuring. A twitch in the
meansuring hand could throw the mannual way off.

On Apr 30, 4:28�pm, powrwrap <powrw...@aol.com> wrote:

[powrwrap]

> On Apr 30, 5:19 pm, IMQ <gte...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Let us know how your glasses turn out after you get them.

I ordered from Zenni on May 21st. Received my glasses yesterday.
Fourteen days total but also included Memorial Day (no mail delivery).

I bought a pair of rimless progressives using the same frame as my
previous pair from Zenni, #3258, gold, but with a larger lens, in the
hopes of having a larger intermediate vision area. I call this frame
the Silhouette knock-off frame.

I also bought a set of sunglasses, with progressive lenses, tinted 80%
gray, frame #4163, in gray. I selected this frame because I wanted a
sturdy full lens frame that would house a progressive lens and had
longer temple arms. My previous set of sunglasses were single vision
only and I was tired of looking over or under the frame to see my
called I.D. on my cell phone while driving.

For the wife I got a set of sunglasses, frame #9620, in gold, 80% gray
tinted and a set of reading glasses, also frame #9620, in blue.

Four sets of glasses, including two with progressive lenses and one
frame being rimless, and my total including shipping came to $129.70.

The rimless progressives are very similar to my old pair, but with my
new prescription I can see things a lot more clearly. My test is the
address on the neighbor's house across the street, and it is now
crystal clear. I could read it before but not as clearly as now. The
intermediate area is slightly larger but not much to write about. If I
come into some money I'll probably spring for some name-brand
progressive lens with a wide intermediate zone like Varilux Physio.
Reading is noticably improved over the old set of progressives with
the smaller lens, but I've got reading glasses for dedicated reading.
(Old lens = 50 X 33; new lens = 51 X 38)

The biggest surprise were the sunglasses. While they are not polarized
(and I dearly wanted polarized because I go fishing) I am astounded at
how clear they make things appear. Not just the prescription accuracy,
which rocks, but the contrast that the tint provides is awesome.
Yesterday was bright sunshine and these glasses were incredible to
use.

I've taken to flipping my new pair off and putting my new pair on and
comparing the difference and it's quite noticable. I've also started
an exercise or a game--how far behind a vehicle can I get and still
read the license plate number? Or put a box of cereal on the counter
and start taking steps away from it, marking the distance at which the
printing is still readable. Then repeat with the old glasses, just for
grins.

A very satisfied Zenni customer here.

[IMQ]

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

I was just in LensCrafters today, trying on some of the plastic frames
to see how they fit since I never had plastic frame and just want a
pair for... style and fun. :)

While there I noticed they have prescription sunglasses on sale,
*starting* $129 (or is it $139). That was just for the lens; customer
*must* buy the frame ($69 minimum) to get the discount.

Reading your post, I couldn't help but smiled. :)

$129 for 4 pairs vs $129 for just the lens

I didn't ask them if the price was for a polarized lens or just
regular sunglasses lens.

So far my experiences of buying glasses online have been positive,
though I have to mention that all of glasses so far are for single
vision only. Much easier to make than progressive ones.

[Paul]

> I went to Vision World and got their $39 eye exam.

I've had good luck with them, too. Many years ago, they re-lensed some
very nice (but low-cost) Polo sunglasses I got at TJ Maxx.I still have
them.

>
> Surprise, surprise! My prescription has changed .25 diopters in my
> right eye; .50 diopters in my left eye. This is in only 8 months.
>
>

> OLD NEW
> OD -.75 -1.00
> OS -.75 -1.25

Depending on your age and the value of the ADD on your prescription,
you might want to experiment with reading glasses for close work and
maybe even computer use. This could help arrest or even reverse the
myopia. Maybe also consider getting a pair (single vision?) with -1.00
in both eyes for driving and other distance use, the idea being to get
the two eyes to "equalize" again. (A .25 diopter difference is very
small, and often less than the amount of variation an eye has in
visual acuity during a day.)

At the computer, can you see the screen without glasses or with simple
reading glasses? I have a strong myopia prescription, and I can see
the computer screen all right with a prescription about .75 or 1.00
weaker than a full prescription. I'm actually uncomfortable looking at
the screen with a full prescription. I'm sure I could "get used" to
using a full prescription at the computer, but I think I could then
run the risk of eventually needing a stronger full prescription.


If you don't use a computer, never mind my computer remarks. But with
a mild prescription like yours, I'd encourage the use of the full
minus prescription only when doing things like night driving. If you
go without correction when doing things like taking walks, and spend
some time looking at distant objects without straining, I think you'll
be doing your vision some good.

[powrwrap]

> On Jun 6, 12:03 pm, Paul <pper...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Depending on your age and the value of the ADD on your prescription,
> you might want to experiment with reading glasses for close work and
> maybe even computer use.

I have dedicated reading glasses and I don't need or use glasses while
using my computer. My add is +2.25.

> This could help arrest or even reverse the myopia.

Interesting, but what would be the mechanism that would "reverse
myopia"?

> Maybe also consider getting a pair (single vision?) with -1.00
> in both eyes for driving and other distance use, the idea being to get
> the two eyes to "equalize" again. (A .25 diopter difference is very
> small, and often less than the amount of variation an eye has in
> visual acuity during a day.)

I must have sensitive eyes because I could tell that my prescription
had changed while wearing my old glasses. As I mentioned freeway signs
weren't in focus from the same distances. Another test is standing at
one end of a grocery store or department store and reading the sign
above the aisles as they progressively get further and further away.

> At the computer, can you see the screen without glasses or with simple
> reading glasses?

Yep, don't wear glasses at the computer.

> I have a strong myopia prescription, and I can see
> the computer screen all right with a prescription about .75 or 1.00
> weaker than a full prescription. I'm actually uncomfortable looking at
> the screen with a full prescription. I'm sure I could "get used" to
> using a full prescription at the computer, but I think I could then
> run the risk of eventually needing a stronger full prescription.

I don't understand your contention that wearing glasses causes your
eyes to progressively need stronger and stronger prescriptions. Why
would your eyes change?

> If you go without correction when doing things like taking walks, and spend
> some time looking at distant objects without straining, I think you'll
> be doing your vision some good.

Typically I wear glasses for about 3 hours a day. I wear them off and
on. About the only time I wear my full prescription glasses is when
I'm watching TV or driving. I read the newspaper without glasses but
when I read books I usually use my reading glasses.

Since needing vision correction five years ago my prescription has
bounced all over the place:

2003
OD -.87 CYL +.25 Axis 90 ADD 1.25
OS -.87 CYL +.25 Axis 90 ADD 1.25

2004
OD -.75 ADD 1.75
OS -1.00 ADD 1.75

2007
OD -.75 ADD 2.25
OS -.75 ADD 2.25

2008
OD -1.00 ADD 2.25
OS -1.25 ADD 2.25

[Fred Di]

Thats not all that much of a change. A change of +/- 0.25 is barely
noticible.

The fact that your ADD has changed a lot just means your getting
older.

I love the 2003 one -0.87 with 0.25 astigmatism... lol..
Someone was getting creative. I defy you to be able to tell the
difference betwwen that and just straight -1.00 no astigmatism (no CYL
no AXIS).

[powrwrap]

> On Jun 6, 6:08 pm, Fred Di <john_tar...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thats not all that much of a change.  A change of +/- 0.25 is barely
> noticible.

It's noticable to me. I've noticed my eyesight changing from one day
to the next via the grocery store aisle sign method. That is, I'll be
in the store on a Tuesday and be able to see numerous signs quite a
ways away from me. Standing in the same spot on a Friday with the same
glasses on, I will not be able to see as far as I could on Tuesday.

> The fact that your ADD has changed a lot just means your getting
> older.

Thanks Fred, I needed to be reminded. :-)

> I love the 2003 one -0.87 with 0.25 astigmatism... lol..
> Someone was getting creative.  I defy you to be able to tell the
> difference betwwen that and just straight -1.00 no astigmatism (no CYL
> no AXIS).

I'm wondering if optometrists can grind lenses to those specs in
between .25 diopters. Can they?

[Paul]

One theory of vision is that nearsightedness is the eye's adaptation
to doing a lot of close work. By that thinking, using reading glasses
for close work has the effect of optically putting the work at a
distance, and thereby getting the eye to adapt to more distant
objects.

I'm not certain this theory is correct, but one group that seems to
make a lot of use of it is people qualifying to be military pilots.
They sometimes get nearsighted during their studies, and some of them
succeeded with the reading glasses method as a way to reverse it. The
theory seems worth testing to me. It's harder for me than it is for
someone with a weak minus prescription, though. I use reading glasses
to read and use the weakest lens possible for computer use. But there
are many times where I'm wearing a full or close to full prescription.
Driving, for instance, especially night driving.

powrwrap, how long have you had the nearsighted (minus) part of your
prescription? My guess is that it's from a certain activity that you
started later in life, such as increased computer use.

[powrwrap]

> On Jun 7, 2:15 am, Paul <pper...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> powrwrap, how long have you had the nearsighted (minus) part of your
> prescription? My guess is that it's from a certain activity that you
> started later in life, such as increased computer use.

I've needed glasses for about 5 years now. I've been using computers
for about 24 years prior to that (electrical engineering background),
so looking at a monitor is nothing new to me.

[Paul]

During the last few years, has there been an increase of your use of a
computer monitor or some other kind of close work? I'm not saying that
this must be the cause, but I think it's the first thing to consider.


This is the kind of stuff I've been reading that makes the theory I
cited look like it's worth working with:

http://www.i-see.org/otis_brown/chapter_03.html
http://www.i-see.org/otis_brown/chapter_11.html