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Archiver > TMG > 2000-03 > 0953522263


From: "Bill Johnson" <>
Subject: TMG-L: Bifocals et al.
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 22:17:43 -0500


Hi listers,
This thread has been interesting, as I have had some problems along this
line. Some years ago, when I had to go from bifocals to the next step, I
went to varifocal lenses. After a period of adjustment they were fine (I was
nearsighted, by the way). But after cataract surgery (and no longer
nearsighted) they just about drove me crazy. With implanted lenses there is
virtually no accommodation, so had to constantly move my head to find the
right spot to look through. Then I got trifocals, but the middle distance
section was too small to use for the monitor. I had a pair of bifocal
glasses made with reading in the small lower portion, and mid-range for the
rest, usable for the computer and work in my workshop (They were also safety
lenses). I can see at distance pretty well without glasses, but with some
astigmatism, so my regular glasses do help. My latest regular glasses are
bifocals, with reading and distance only. This leaves the middle distance
uncorrected, but that's okay for most daily tasks. For the computer, I wear
these glasses (I could wear my "shop" glasses), with an inexpensive pair of
reading glasses just set on top of the regular glasses. At the grocery store
I bought a pair with +1.25 correction, which is just fine for my 17"
monitor, and in a narrow rectangular shape, and they cover the upper part of
the lens and leave the lower bifocal free for close reading. These glasses
just stay at the computer all the time.
A +1.00 will focus at 1 meter, or 39-40 inches; a +1.25 will focus at 0.8
meter or about 32 inches; a +1.50 will focus at 0.67 meter, about 27 inches,
etc.
I, too, decided a long time ago that those people who advocate the monitor
at eye level have never used a computer with older eyes.

Bill J.

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