Eyeglasses in the shop

[Hughman]

I'm looking for solutions for the annoying necessity of switching/removing my glasses for every stage of woodshop operations.

My optometrist isn't much help, beyond suggesting variable lenses, which I find noticeably disorienting.

What are some of the ways you have managed this issue?

[NormMessinger]

What's the problem? I wear bifocals and don't have that problem. If I were doing a lot of heavy duty grinding on metal I'd put on a face shield to protect my glasses (they would protect my eyes). but other than that, no problems.

[Jack Heinlen]

Ah, middle age.

Two things. You could be fitted for contacts and keep a pair of short focus glasses handy(and a pair of safety glasses), or you could learn how to use a pair of bifocals. I've not yet gone the route of bifocals, but I think they are a skill to learn, to get over the disorientation.

Be sure you have a either a good optometrist or seek out an opthamolagist, someone willing to really listen to what you are doing with your eyes. Ask questions. Not all eye people are created equal.

[Capt'n Pea]

I still have 20/20 but, my fiancée is an optometrist and we've talked about this topic a few quite a few times with friends that are looking for solutions.

Better than Bi-Focal...

Tri-Focal for shop work. Theses allow you to look up at stuff with magnification, and down at stuff with magnification, straight on to see distance. Great when working on the bottom or under the dash etc.. when you have to see but can't tilt your head back.

if your optometrist says... "there's nothing I can do" they may be right, see someone else.

[Cedarhill Boatworks]

I use lineless bifocals. They are also called graduated lenses. It's been at least en years now and my biggest problem is keeping them clean. It is a bit disorienting at first, and some tasks are rather more difficult than others. Bandsawing is awkward for example. But it just takes alittle getting used to. It's better than sawing your fingers off...

[cs]

I wear glasses and don't have this problem. But of course I don't wear bi-focals and I've been wearing glasses since 5 years old so I'm used to them. Now I've switched to contacts and wear standard safety googles.

Have you thought about sport glasses?

http://www.sportrx.com/images/database/complete/wx001.jpg

Chad

[Bob Smalser]

I use a granny cord.

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I have a pair that I use at work for keyboard/monitor distances . They are just right for most shop operations within a 6 foot distance. If I have some really close-up work I just take them off.

Rich

[Venchka]

No way of knowing what you need glasses to do, so here's my story.

I work at a computer all day every day. I have the post-40 reading problem. So, I nead glasses from keyboard distance out to about 10'. Beyond that, my eyes are fine. My opthamologist prescribed the no-line/graduated/tri-focal lenses with what he called "the computer monitor factor." It's the only way I can work. They are great. I have sunglasses to match for tying on flies, reading charts, etc.

[Donn]

I have the tri's too, Wayne. Mine are Varilux. Took me a while to get used to all horizontal lines curving down in the distance, but now I love them. They're also polycarbonate, so they suffice as safety glasses. I use clip-on polarized sunglasses on them...variety of colors.

[Venchka]

Originally posted by Donn:
...Took me a while to get used to all horizontal lines curving down in the distance, but now I love them.
I think the top half of mine are blank-I don't get the curved line effect. I only wear them when I need them.

[pcford]

I know the problem well. Once I could not find my glasses in the tumult of the shop. I looked for the better part of an hour. I had to go home and get my girlfriend in order to find them.

By the way, I use medium strength drugstore reading glasses when working on sanding surfaces which are to be finished bright. You can see the scratches better.

As mentioned above, "a granny cord" may be the way to go. I've got to check it out.

[Dale R. Hamilton]

MONOVISION- Thats your answer. works either with contacts or with eyeglasses. I have both and have used this correction 20 years or more. Your strong eye is corrected to distance and your weaker eye is corrected to read. This is what happens naturally anyway. It take a few days to get used to it, but then its smooth sailing- no lines, no switching specs, and its cheap too.

[Concordia..41]

I haven't tried it, but in the "saved good idea department" I heard of a mechanic or someone who worked a lot with things just over eyelevel or overhead. He had a set of bifocals made with the prescriptions reversed so his "readers" were on the top and he didn't have to tilt his head back at a 90 degree angle.

Maybe crazy, but hit me as a smart solution.

[ken mcclure]

My dad was in home remodeling. He had a pair of those made like Margo describes so he could do the cutting in at the wall/ceiling corners.

If you have a good optometrist, describe what you do and give him the distances and angles at which you need to see. He or she should be able to set up a pair of glasses that will work for you. If not, find a new optometrist.

[NormMessinger]

Where there is the will there is be a way. But we still don't know what Hughman wills.

[Hughman]

Hey! could you guys type a little louder! I can't hear you!

Thanks for the suggestions....

[capt jake]

Hey Hughman; those variable lenses take a while to get used to. I was nauseated for the first few weeks then all was well. My wife has stolen a few pairs of mine and she loves them, after the learning curve. ;) smile.gif They are great for working at the computer and reading at the same time. They haven't improved my typing ability though! smile.gif

[Jack Heinlen]

I use a granny cord.
I thought of this, for a pair of close focus glasses, but then thought it a bad idea around power tools. Especially, but not limited to, a lathe.

[Steve Lansdowne]

I wore contacts for 30+ years and got tired of having to put on and take off reading glasses as I got older, so I went with Varilux (gradually variable infinite-focals, I call them). Some folks find them hard to get used to, but for me they were perfect right away. Lightweight plastic lenses and non-slip silicon nose pads in a thin metal frame make them very light weight. Wouldn't trade them for anything.

[Ed Harrow]

I also use polycarb gradient type. "Curving" lines known to be dead straight were a bit disconcerting at first. I also have a pair of "mechanic's" type (close-up grind up at the top) safety glasses. They do work well for those up-high jobs, when I remember to use them and can find them.

Now if someone has a method to keep the damn things clean. :mad:

[ 10-16-2003, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Ed Harrow ]

[Bob Smalser]

Originally posted by Jack Heinlen:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> I use a granny cord.
I thought of this, for a pair of close focus glasses, but then thought it a bad idea around power tools. Especially, but not limited to, a lathe.</font>[/QUOTE]As my bifocals hang 6 inches below my chin, there's not much danger of my machines catching them...but if that were to happen, cord affixes to the temple pieces with mere rubber bands that give way pretty easily.

Neckties and shirt cuffs a different matter...rolled up sleeves and clipons a good idea when ties are required.

Rather than shell out for an expensive jeweler's binocular magnifier for close work in gunsmithing, I buy those cheapo dime store 2X and 3X reading glasses and keep them hung by granny cords near those work stations.

I also like those round, florescent work lights with a magnifying glass in the center of the lamp.

Using sufficient magnification and lighting so your head can stay a safe distance from the work and an attendant better view of your hands is probably the single best safety feature out there.

[The Gentleman Sawyer]

This may not help, but many woodworking supply companies sell safety glasses with built in "readers", in diopters up to +3. Here is a link to Highland Hardware (my personal favorite)http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/product.asp?0=286&1=287&3=4358, but others such as Hartman Tool and Woodcraft sell different styles. Hope this helps.
The Gentleman Sawyer

[ 10-16-2003, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: The Gentleman Sawyer ]

[DavesFlatsBoat]

My Dad likes monofilament fishing line - melts a hole through the earpiece and knots the line. He also goes with the multiple pairs so he can find at least one. You can tell it's been a day when he's got a pair around his neck and one on top of his head and he's asking, "Have seen my glasses??"

[Alan D. Hyde]

Until two years ago, I had 20/10 vision, and could see clearly items within 6 inches or more of my eyes.

Now I need reading glasses to see anything well if it's within an arm's length. At distances beyond that, I'm still 20/10.

So I have (at this point) 9 pairs of "150" reading glasses in the house, shop, cars, boats, office, etc. I probably need a few more. And then I have one pair of "275"s for very small very close-up work...

Alan

[ion barnes]

Hugh; I know what its like. Got graduated tri-focals and I still have to lift the glasses to read the fine print etc. Made a remark to my eye dr. about the overhead thing and those kind of reversed glasses are standard issue for electricans and drywallers as Margo said.

The other option offered was to have one pair of glasses the works from real close to medium distances, like reading glasses, keep them only for the shop work.