Help for "Old Man Eyes"

[mscher]

I've gotten experienced to the point of where I can repair things, but now at 52, I can't see what I'm doing. Working on cars, tractors. plumbing, electrical, etc.

I"m near sighted and can't see well in low light, up close. Use bi-focals, but most of the time I'm looking over glasses all together, or out under the frames. Unless I use a bright direction light, the workspace is always too dark.

Has anybody ever had specially made glasses, or any other setup. for up-close work?

How about workspace lighting? I use the old style trouble light. I have an LED trouble light but the light output is terrible.

Any tips appreciated.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

how about one of those head bands for hikers that are led? that way where ever you look the lite would be there
i wonder if you could get the bi-focal part of your glasses made bigger,rather than like mine ,which is just a small spot at the bottm.
jewlers have magnifing glass also on a head band.

woosterken

 

[roscoe]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

I have prescription readers, focal length is 16-20", not much good for anything else.

Just got a pair made that are best in the 25'-30" range.
These work well for most things, including the computer monitor.

I have a couple trouble lights with fluorescent tubes, shielded on the back side.

 

[Guest]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Joined the old farts club without realy trying didn't you! I am in the same boat as you are with my eyes but they were damaged from a few too many welding flashes. I worked as a mechanic (retired) for years and did all the shops welding to boot. Now I HAVE to have a bright direct light to see what I am doing.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Mscher, I'm a similar age to you and had the same problem with close up work and low light.
I went for LASIK surgery 2 years ago and it changed my life my friend.
I would seriously consider it as an option as you are hardly old and it did give me a new lease of life.

 

[mscher]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Mscher, I'm a similar age to you and had the same problem with close up work and low light.
I went for LASIK surgery 2 years ago and it changed my life my friend.
I would seriously consider it as an option as you are hardly old and it did give me a new lease of life.

Interesting. I figured I was too old for lasik. Sure hate to give up wearing glasses.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Mscher, I'm a similar age to you and had the same problem with close up work and low light.
I went for LASIK surgery 2 years ago and it changed my life my friend.
I would seriously consider it as an option as you are hardly old and it did give me a new lease of life.

Lasik will not fix your close vision. It will help your distance vision only. For me, it actually made my close vision worse but still worth it for seeing far for me. Before I had the surgery, I could see close up if I didn't have my contact lenses in and needed reading glasses when I did have them in. Now with Lasik, I always use my reading glasses.

I use one of these for close up work.
http://www.harborfreight.com/magnifier-head-strap-with-lights-38896.html

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Lasik will not fix your close vision. It will help your distance vision only.

Sorry bruceb58 but that statement needs qualifying.
LASIK worked wonders for me. I used to wear reading glasses and haven't for 2 years.
It may work for mscher. He need to see a specialist to find out. It really does depend on the current state your eyes are in and whether short or long sighted or if you have astigmatism etc.
I'm no specialist but it worked for me.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Sorry bruceb58 but that statement needs qualifying.
LASIK worked wonders for me. I used to wear reading glasses and haven't for 2 years.
It may work for mscher. He need to see a specialist to find out. It really does depend on the current state your eyes are in and whether short or long sighted or if you have astigmatism etc.
I'm no specialist but it worked for me.

How old are you? Were you near sighted or far sighted? Did you get both eyes corrected for far? Some surgeons will give you the option of undercorrecting one eye so you can see close with it. I decided against this option since I want to have my best vision for sports.

The OP is near sighted which means he can't see far. The close up part is do to the hardening of the eye as you age so that the muscles can't focus anymore close. Since LASIK can't do anything to repair this lens hardening it won't help this reason for not being able to see close.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

The OP is near sighted which means he can't see far. The close up part is do to the hardening of the eye as you age so that the muscles can't focus anymore close. Since LASIK can't do anything to repair this muscle hardening it won't help this reason for not being able to see close.[/QUOTE]

bruceb58 is correct.......the need for reading glasses is because of a muscular problem, it is not a visual problem with the eye lens. Tri-focals are another option that will let you focus without having to move your head into awkward positions.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

I have bunches of reading glasses but no good at work, bought magnifiers at granger on is just bifocals, the one pair that is handy has readers top and bottom making working easier for some things. As far as the light thing know your pain, use flashlights for some things, other things an arra of lights from leds, floresents, and even some halagen.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

The OP is near sighted which means he can't see far. The close up part is do to the hardening of the eye as you age so that the muscles can't focus anymore close. Since LASIK can't do anything to repair this muscle hardening it won't help this reason for not being able to see close.

bruceb58 is correct.......the need for reading glasses is because of a muscular problem, it is not a visual problem with the eye lens. Tri-focals are another option that will let you focus without having to move your head into awkward positions.[/QUOTE]

How old are you? Were you near sighted or far sighted? Did you get both eyes corrected for far? Some surgeons will give you the option of undercorrecting one eye so you can see close with it. I decided against this option since I want to have my best vision for sports.

The OP is near sighted which means he can't see far. The close up part is do to the hardening of the eye as you age so that the muscles can't focus anymore close. Since LASIK can't do anything to repair this muscle hardening it won't help this reason for not being able to see close.

All I know is that 2 years ago I wore reading glasses and could not read a book without them.
Now, after LASIK surgery I can read a book without glasses.

I'm sorry if you don't believe me. Just trying to help OP.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

A low cost alternative. Costco, off-the-shelf readers. They are cheap and come in about a half-dozen magnifications. You can figure out the distance at which you do most of your work, and get the magnification that gives you the best vision at that distance. I've got a pair for reading, a pair for working under the car (also keeps the crap out of my eyes), a pair for computer work and a pair for general shop work (not to mention the pair I keep in the car for general use, reading restaurant menus and maps, etc.

 

[cribber]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Interesting. I figured I was too old for lasik. Sure hate to give up wearing glasses.

My grandmother had lasik surgury when she was 89. She still wears glasses that are kust plain glass since she's worn them all of her life. She's 96 and still driving!!!

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

Mscher, I'm a similar age to you and had the same problem with close up work and low light.
I went for LASIK surgery 2 years ago and it changed my life my friend.
I would seriously consider it as an option as you are hardly old and it did give me a new lease of life.

SO the Lasik was that good?? 've been thinkin bout it for years, my deal is when it rains at work, and I have to work in it, darn glasses fog up - hate it!! But all my girlfriends love em - geesh - go figure, lol

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

All I know is that 2 years ago I wore reading glasses and could not read a book without them.
Now, after LASIK surgery I can read a book without glasses.

I'm sorry if you don't believe me. Just trying to help OP.

A lot depends on how old you are and what the LASIK was intended to correct. If it was used to correct far sightedness that is one thing but if you are over 45 and had LASIK to correct near sightedness and it corrected your ability to read, then you are in the group of a fraction of a percent where that does that.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

My grandmother had lasik surgury when she was 89. She still wears glasses that are just plain glass since she's worn them all of her life. She's 96 and still driving!!!

I think I love your Grandma!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

I had LASIK in '98 to correct myopia (nearsightedness). The degree of correction I needed was more than the FDA allowed in the US, so I went to Canada. Then I turned 50 (or so) and developed presbyopia (which is a loss of flexibility of the lens, not actually a muscular problem per se as has been stated by others). Drug store reading glasses do the trick for me, but I am now up to the +2.50 diopters maximum I've seen. But I get a much larger visual field than bifocals have. YMMV

 

[bigdee]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

[ developed presbyopia (which is a loss of flexibility of the lens, not actually a muscular problem per se as has been stated by others). Drug store reading glasses do the trick for me, but I am now up to the +2.50 diopters maximum I've seen. But I get a much larger visual field than bifocals have. YMMV[/QUOTE]

I am glad you brought this up because I was wrongly told that it was muscles that changed the focal length of the lens. But the main point to mention here is that lasik will not correct this problem...like you said only diopters will. The problem with diopters above +2.50 is that they reduce the field of vision. I have +3.25 in my glasses and it is a pain in the neck,literally.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Help for "Old Man Eyes"

I had LASIK in '98 to correct myopia (nearsightedness). The degree of correction I needed was more than the FDA allowed in the US, so I went to Canada. Then I turned 50 (or so) and developed presbyopia (which is a loss of flexibility of the lens, not actually a muscular problem per se as has been stated by others). Drug store reading glasses do the trick for me, but I am now up to the +2.50 diopters maximum I've seen. But I get a much larger visual field than bifocals have. YMMV

Bingo.
There has been some absolutely shocking (and absolute) advice offered in this thread....probably well intentioned.... but...there are treatment options for presbyoptia, myopia has numerous causes, many are treatable...etc. etc.

With all due respect to the engineers and accountants who have stepped up, best to leave eye surgery advice to the trained professionals....and by that I mean trained in that particular specialty. :facepalm: