*New question post #23*How difficult was adjusting to your first pair of Progressive eyeglasses?

[JamesMom]

Two years ago I needed readers to go with my distance vision driving glasses so I got progressives through my eye doctors. It was around $300 with insurance for lenses & frames. Never really got the hang of them, but replaced them with Zenni glasses when I broke the frame during a camping trip 2 months later (would have cost $200 just for new frames!!) for about $60 shipped. The were okay, but last year I asked for 2 prescriptions from my doctor: 1 for computer work and one for driving along with readers. I then bought 3 pairs of glasses off Zenni (computer bi, driving bi, and dedicated readers- best for bed reading so I can look through the whole lens) for less than $100 for all with coatings and sunglass clip ons. Very happy with my color coded glasses and saved an insane amount of cash. I saved about $100 off my kids glasses, too with Zenni.

 

[ronandannette]

so I am still going round and round~ multifocal gas perms are out, bifocal gas perms are out, monovision soft lenses are out, all that is left is some $1400 PER LENS otion that is NOT going to happen. So , looks like I will be limited to my gas perms for distance primarily with rx readers and then I have to decide what type of glasses, bifocal, no line bifocal or progressive, We have a trip planned out west and the Grand Canyon this year, I would really, REALLY like to see it!
Thanks again everyone for the feedback...glad other have had things work out and have options. I may ask for 1 monovision gas perm lens for my left eye ( up close one) so that I have 3 lenses, and if I am going to be doing more up close work can try it, but switching back and forth occasionally will prob be a failure. Guess I would haeveglasses for days like that. With my script tho, I am dreading the size I will need and be heavy/ hurt my nose and ears , esp if progressive as I agree, larger makes sense for better result.

I'd appreciate a little bit of explanation as to what was/is wrong with the options for contacts. I've just had artificial lens transplants done to correct a congenital defect (I'm mid-40's and relatively young for this kind of thing). My distance vision has not corrected completely and now with the implants my near vision is completely gone. I'll definitely need bi-or multi-focal "somethings" for the rest of my life. I've been in progressive lenses for the last 3 years pre-op and would love to have a less expensive option so I'm really considering the contacts. Passing along anything you have learned would be extremely helpful to me. TIA

 

[Forum Jumper]

I haven't read the whole thread but a co worker told me to have the "line" moved down a bit and I would see better with mine and she was right. I got my glasses at Costco and they have sunglasses that clip on magnetically. I have used this same pair of frames for years, now, and just get the lenses replaced. As I have gotten older, my far-sight has gotten better so I have to keep getting the lenses changed. My doc says that is normal for aging. It has been interesting as I am very near-sighted.

 

[FINFAN]

I'd appreciate a little bit of explanation as to what was/is wrong with the options for contacts. I've just had artificial lens transplants done to correct a congenital defect (I'm mid-40's and relatively young for this kind of thing). My distance vision has not corrected completely and now with the implants my near vision is completely gone. I'll definitely need bi-or multi-focal "somethings" for the rest of my life. I've been in progressive lenses for the last 3 years pre-op and would love to have a less expensive option so I'm really considering the contacts. Passing along anything you have learned would be extremely helpful to me. TIA

Hi~hope your transplant is working well for you. The issues I have with the gas perm multifocal is that they keep resting too low on my eye, and every time I blink it is taking 2-3 seconds to resettle and focus. We have tried having weights [laces in various spots in the bottom areas, and have gone to the largest diameter lens, but my Dr says my eyelids keep catching the lenses or hanging them, up. So then we tried soft lens monovision. We tried soft over gas perm as we hoped the risk of any disruption/foreign objects messing with the lenses would be less likely. Since you literally have near vision in one eye and distance in the other, and I was concerned of anything gets under a gas perm lens and it slips, waters over etc. (fiber from kleenex is a biggie for me, blow my nose? get fibers in my contacts and then I lose vision until I was that fiber away)Say I would be driving, something gets in my distance eye contact and I lose vision. Now my other eye is for only up close, no distance and I am in a heap of trouble. However, the soft ones just didn't get me anywhere near the distance vision that is livable and functional~ my up close was great, but could only get maybe 5 feet of distance before it all looked as if I was looking thru vaseline. I have a call in to the dr today and asked as a last resort, if I can try monovision in the gas perms even with my fears, just to see if I can actually get decent vision. I would also have my regular distance contacts which I would wear if my primary purpose is driving. Will see what he says.
Hope this helps explain my issues.

 

[ronandannette]

Hi~hope your transplant is working well for you. The issues I have with the gas perm multifocal is that they keep resting too low on my eye, and every time I blink it is taking 2-3 seconds to resettle and focus. We have tried having weights [laces in various spots in the bottom areas, and have gone to the largest diameter lens, but my Dr says my eyelids keep catching the lenses or hanging them, up. So then we tried soft lens monovision. We tried soft over gas perm as we hoped the risk of any disruption/foreign objects messing with the lenses would be less likely. Since you literally have near vision in one eye and distance in the other, and I was concerned of anything gets under a gas perm lens and it slips, waters over etc. (fiber from kleenex is a biggie for me, blow my nose? get fibers in my contacts and then I lose vision until I was that fiber away)Say I would be driving, something gets in my distance eye contact and I lose vision. Now my other eye is for only up close, no distance and I am in a heap of trouble. However, the soft ones just didn't get me anywhere near the distance vision that is livable and functional~ my up close was great, but could only get maybe 5 feet of distance before it all looked as if I was looking thru vaseline. I have a call in to the dr today and asked as a last resort, if I can try monovision in the gas perms even with my fears, just to see if I can actually get decent vision. I would also have my regular distance contacts which I would wear if my primary purpose is driving. Will see what he says.
Hope this helps explain my issues.

Thanks, that's lots to think (I mean worry ) about. I just had my second implant done today and spent a little while this morning saying "good-bye forever" to my near vision. My distance correction is a little less than the surgeon anticipated but I'm relatively sharp at about a 10' raduis, which is good for next to nothing. Will still need distance correction and definitely near vision correction and that needs to happen SOON. I'm already going crazy and it's only been 8 hours...

 

[FINFAN]

Thanks, that's lots to think (I mean worry ) about. I just had my second implant done today and spent a little while this morning saying "good-bye forever" to my near vision. My distance correction is a little less than the surgeon anticipated but I'm relatively sharp at about a 10' raduis, which is good for next to nothing. Will still need distance correction and definitely near vision correction and that needs to happen SOON. I'm already going crazy and it's only been 8 hours...

glad that all went well with your second implant~there are so many options I am sure once you have healed one will help greatly. One issue giving me trouble is having astigmatism in both eyes and distorted corneas from wearing hard lenses for so long. I have given every option a try, except for the $1400 lens, at least for now. Sorry you had to say good bye to your up close vision , but hopefully it is temporary once you can start trying lenses!

 

[ronandannette]

glad that all went well with your second implant~there are so many options I am sure once you have healed one will help greatly. One issue giving me trouble is having astigmatism in both eyes and distorted corneas from wearing hard lenses for so long. I have given every option a try, except for the $1400 lens, at least for now. Sorry you had to say good bye to your up close vision , but hopefully it is temporary once you can start trying lenses!

I really appreciate your input. The only other people I know who have experienced something similar are elderly cataract patients, and my thing is not exactly the same as that. I ended up begging my Optometrist to see me on Saturday and talking to her brought me back in off the edge, a little. I've also been humbled and have a new degree of sympathy for people struggling with "real" serious illnesses and injuries. I've been really blessed with robust health all my life and am trying to keep everything in perspective. (BTW - I've got my screen font-size turned up to 72...look at me learning new coping skills! LOL)

 

[FINFAN]

I really appreciate your input. The only other people I know who have experienced something similar are elderly cataract patients, and my thing is not exactly the same as that. I ended up begging my Optometrist to see me on Saturday and talking to her brought me back in off the edge, a little. I've also been humbled and have a new degree of sympathy for people struggling with "real" serious illnesses and injuries. I've been really blessed with robust health all my life and am trying to keep everything in perspective. (BTW - I've got my screen font-size turned up to 72...look at me learning new coping skills! LOL)

isn't it great that we CAN increase font size? You have a very positive frame of mind . I bet you will have options to try and little by little will gain better vision. I guess in my case the best way I can describe the difference in vision quality between gas permeable and soft lenses is like HD television and tube television. Te gas perms give me the HD version, but so far, only in the distance lenses, not mono vision. I can't even imagine if the multifocal had worked. Not needing glasses on top of contacts ? NO WAY! However, not gonna happen. Luckily my dr. is super patient and helpful. He called me at home today to try and trouble shoot and is fitting me in on his lunch tomorrow so we can maybe try the mono vision in the gas perm, eve tho not optimum but at this point leave no stone unturned. I will admit my eyes are getting a little tired and irritated after weeks and weeks of being poked and prodded, hopefully when you start your lens solution happens smoothly.

 

[ronandannette]

isn't it great that we CAN increase font size? You have a very positive frame of mind . I bet you will have options to try and little by little will gain better vision. I guess in my case the best way I can describe the difference in vision quality between gas permeable and soft lenses is like HD television and tube television. Te gas perms give me the HD version, but so far, only in the distance lenses, not mono vision. I can't even imagine if the multifocal had worked. Not needing glasses on top of contacts ? NO WAY! However, not gonna happen. Luckily my dr. is super patient and helpful. He called me at home today to try and trouble shoot and is fitting me in on his lunch tomorrow so we can maybe try the mono vision in the gas perm, eve tho not optimum but at this point leave no stone unturned. I will admit my eyes are getting a little tired and irritated after weeks and weeks of being poked and prodded, hopefully when you start your lens solution happens smoothly.

Good luck - keep me posted. Funny thing about right gas-perms; they were the ONLY type of lens than ever gave me crisp vision (I was being corrected for myopia only back then) but I had to give them up because the climate here is so extremely dry that almost nobody can comfortably manage hard lenses.