Glasses for Everyday (progressive), Driving, and Office Work After Cataract Surgery
Posted , 6 users are following.
I had a cataract surgery (mono-focal lenses for long distance and astigmatism correction ) and would like to order glasses after getting a prescription from surgeon on 7/28. I did some research on glasses options and would like to get your advices or recommendations on glasses. I found three types of glasses that may be needed to me including: (1) glasses with progressive lenses for everyday use (covering all long, intermediate (computer), and short vision (mobile phone/book), (2) glasses mainly for office and/or in-house use, and (3) glasses (and sunglasses) for driving.
First question is related to glasses with progressive lenses for everyday use. There are a lot of information on different progressive lenses. The prices of lenses are quite different from just around $200 to $1000 (premium lenses). I wonder whether you find significant differences between domestic lenses and foreign lenses (Zeiss, Varilux, Nikon, etc) with respect to wider sharper fields and less distortion.
Second question is about glasses for office and/or in-house use. There are so called glasses with multi-functional lenses. Multi-functional lenses is a type of progressive lenses dedicated for intermediate and short distance vision. The top area of glasses for long distance vision is very narrow, and the middle area is wide for the intermediate vision and the bottom part for the short distance is also reasonably wide. Please let me know whether it is valuable to have a separate glasses for office and/or in-house use, or the progressive lenses for every use is good enough.
Third question is about glasses (and sunglasses) for driving. I drove after surgery and found that I had no problem to drive without having glasses. I can see the long distance well and reasonably see well the car dashboard and GPS screen. Only the problem I encountered was when I drove through, for example, Dunkin. I forgot bringing a reading glasses, so could not see mobile app to pay for. I was embarrassed. I am still not used to bring reading glasses everywhere. One solution I thought about is to wear glasses (and sunglasses) with bi-focal lenses. In that case, the upper half of the lenses has no prescription while the bottom half or even smaller area has the prescription for short distance. Of course, it may not be needed if the progressive lenses for everyday use is good enough, but may still be a good option for sunglasses.
Finally, if any of you ever used CostCo Optical to order glasses with progressive lenses, please share your experience. Their price seems to quite reasonable, so I am thinking to order a back-up glasses with progressive lenses for everyday use. My insurance only covers one lenses in a year, so I plan to make my primary glasses from my OD's office.
I do greatly appreciate it if you could share your experiences with glasses I mentioned above.
0 likes, 9 replies
Night-Hawk gabe03481
Edited
I find standard progessive eyeglasses are good for overall use for distance and reading smartphone/books.
However for intermediate distance like for computer use (2-3ft) the focus range is very narrow and makes it difficult on the computer since you have to carefully move your head to find that focus spot and move up/down and left/right a lot since the focus area is so small for intermediate.
I ordered a fixed single focus pair set for intermediate distance specially for longer term computer use and that works best for that. I had no need for a more expensive special computer progressive pair. I leave my special cheaper computer eyeglasses pair by the computer and I use my progressive pair away from the computer.
gabe03481 Night-Hawk
Edited
Night-Hawk,
I stopped by my OD's office and met an optician. She suggested me to consider premium progressive lens (specifically, Varilux). She said it has wider intermediate areas and less distortion. I have to pay extra $180 because my vision insurance covers a part of premium lens. She also asked me to make an office glasses for longer term computer use. She said it reduces eye fatigue because it has a wider intermediate and short vision. My plan is to order a glasses with premium progressive lenses to see how it works. Then, if I feel the focus range for computer and mobile phone is too narrow, I will order another glasses for office use. Are there anyone who have glasses with Varilux or other premium progressive lens?
gabe03481
Edited
Is anyone having sunglasses with bi-focal lens (top half - no prescription, bottom half - short distance vision prescription)? How's your experience?
RebDovid Night-Hawk
Posted
@melodyNYC is right: the more near- or far-sighted you are, the more you need a higher quality progressive lens. I've worn glasses since third grade; progressives for at least 25 years. In my current, pre-op stage, my glasses are -6.00 and -6.50, which is a modest improvement over prior years. Against this background, about fifteen years ago I switched from mid- to more-premium Varilux lenses. Then about five years ago I switched again to Shamir, in which Varilux subsequently bought an interest.
I found adaptation to the Shamir lenses trouble-free. Currently, my "every-day" PAL is the Shamir Autograph II; my sunglasses are Shamir InTouch; and my computer glasses are Shamir WorkSpace. Were I replacing them now, I'd consider dispensing with dedicated sunglasses in favor of the Transitions flavor that changes even inside a car. (The reason against it might be the lack of polarization.) As for the lenses, I'd probably be considering the Autograph II, Autograph III, and Autograph Intelligence. That said, Hoya and Zeiss both make quality lenses, as does Varilux, although "many people" say they're over-priced for their value and somewhat inferior to competitors like Shamir, Zeiss, and Hoya. As for computer glasses, although the Workspace lenses have been quite satisfactory, I might switch to the Shamir Computer, which sacrifices additional distance vision for an even wider intermediate zone.
But if, post-op, your prescription is much weaker, you well may be able to get away with less expensive lenses. Also, if you're considering bifocals and you're concerned about either the look or subjective experience of the dividing line, you might consider the Shamir Duo, which is said to conceal the dividing line.
Good luck.
melodyNYC gabe03481
Edited
I wore progressive lens for many years prior to my cataract surgery.
I used to wear progressive glasses during the day (and multi-focal contact lens when I went out at night) . I find that the higher your prescription is - the more you need a higher quality lens.
If you have a high prescription, then you'll notice a huge difference between the cheaper lens - like Costco and Warby Parker - and more expensive higher quality lens. For example, I couldn't see very well with the Warby Parker glasses, and when I took them to my optometrist, she told me the cheaper materials just couldn't function well with my high prescription. So, I returned them and purchased a new pair with the higher index lens at a pricier venue - and - it was like night and day - my vision was suddenly crystal clear. So, the quality of lens when using progressives definitely makes a difference. . .... If you have a low prescription though, then it may not make too much difference.
Also, try to choose as wide of a field as you can afford. The cheaper lens have narrow fields, which means you'd have to turn your head a lot when reading or walking down the street to see anything in your peripheral vision. So, I would recommend the highest index and widest field that you can afford when purchasing progressives.
gabe03481 melodyNYC
Edited
It is such a useful info. Thanks, Melody! I planned to order a secondary progressive glasses at CostCo as a backup, because it typically takes 2 weeks to get a prescription glasses. I will get a new prescription at the end of this month during 1 month check-up. If my prescription is still high and the quality of the lenses of CostCo and Warby Parker is that poor, then I may pay several hundred dollars for having a backup progressive glasses. My vision insurance only covers lens one time per year.
RonAKA gabe03481
Posted
My immediate thoughts would be to get a standard pair of progressives. I have worn progressives for 25 years or so. The last 15 I have been getting Costco Accolade Freedom 3.0 HD Progressive Lenses. As far as I can see these are premium lenses very similar if not identical to Essilor Varilux HD. The last pair I got, were kind of a temporary pair when I had one eye with a IOL, and the other still natural. On that pair I tried the more recent Kirkland Signature™ HD Digital Progressive Lenses. Since I have been using monovision I have not used them very much, and I can't really say from experience whether they are as good as the Accolade Freedom or not. They seem very good when I do use them. I suspect it is possible they are the same lenses without the Essilor name on them....
.
I know of other people who buy special intermediate distance computer glasses, but I have never found them necessary despite using a computer for most of the day.
jimluck gabe03481
Edited
I have been wearing progressives for decades. One pair does it all. Brain and eyes cannot stand switching around for different tasks. Adapt to one pair and use for everything. For sun, I add a $20 pair of fit-over sunglasses. Not clip-ons. Full sunglasses that fit over. Amazon has many choices. They work great. Do not cheap-out on progressives. Go to the best lab and get the best they offer. High index, etc. I pay $750 with good frame from the optician at my opthamologist's office. My prescription is a doozy: 8.25 diopters cyl, -3 sphere, add 2.25, plus prism. Making a progressive well is tricky.Been there and done that trying to get by with cheap progressives. A mess. Penny wise and pound foolish. Your vision is too important. Skimp on something else.
RebDovid gabe03481
Posted
@melodyNYC is right: the more near- or far-sighted you are, the more you need a higher quality progressive lens. I've worn glasses since third grade; progressives for at least 25 years. In my current, pre-op stage, my glasses are -6.00 and -6.50, which is a modest improvement over prior years. Against this background, about fifteen years ago I switched from mid- to more-premium Varilux lenses. Then about five years ago I switched again to Shamir, in which Varilux subsequently bought an interest.
I found adaptation to the Shamir lenses trouble-free. Currently, my "every-day" PAL is the Shamir Autograph II; my sunglasses are Shamir InTouch; and my computer glasses are Shamir WorkSpace. Were I replacing them now, I'd consider dispensing with dedicated sunglasses in favor of the Transitions flavor that changes even inside a car. (The reason against it might be the lack of polarization.) As for the lenses, I'd probably be considering the Autograph II, Autograph III, and Autograph Intelligence. That said, Hoya and Zeiss both make quality lenses, as does Varilux, although "many people" say they're over-priced for their value and somewhat inferior to competitors like Shamir, Zeiss, and Hoya. As for computer glasses, although the Workspace lenses have been quite satisfactory, I might switch to the Shamir Computer, which sacrifices additional distance vision for an even wider intermediate zone.
But if, post-op, your prescription is much weaker, you well may be able to get away with less expensive lenses. Also, if you're considering bifocals and you're concerned about either the look or subjective experience of the dividing line, you might consider the Shamir Duo, which is said to conceal the dividing line.
Good luck.