[stickman]

I can't believe I'm having trouble seeing very fine detail. Its been noticeable for months maybe even a year and I have been in denial.My eye doctor said I would need bifocals soon and I thought he was nuts I'm only forty years old .I thought that bifocals were for much older people(no offence to the more mature )

I don't need them for every day things just fine detail work.I was wondering if any body has used those magnifying glasses you wear on your head some of them also have a light attachment on them .they look like just the ticket

Hell I don't even know what there called and if some are better than others or how much they cost any opinions would be helpful

[Bob_in_TN]

Alright Stickman, I'll admit to being just a little older then dirt, and to prove it, I've had bifocals for years, trifocals for a while and I still use the magnifying lenses once and a while. That should make you feel good! Actually I think I was born with glasses on, (think I remember my Mother complaining about additional pain) but my eyes have always been correctable, so I'm very thankful for that. They haven't changed enough over the last 9 or 10 years to warrant a change in lenses. If you decide on the magnifiers, make sure you can get different lenses, the focal distance is usually pretty tight.

[Thor]

Hi Michael,

When I woke up on my 41st birthday, I couldn't read the phone book. Prior to that, I had excellent vision that I took for granted. Now, years later, I have about 5 pairs of the inexpensive reading glasses lying around so I can read sales tickets, menus, books, and I carve with an even stronger magnification pair on.

Another artist and I were laughing at ourselves and he shared that occassionally he puts on 2 pairs of magnifying glasses to see "real good".

Welcome to the "first thing to go" club.
Thor

[bygeorge]

Stickman, you are not alone. A few years back, I too was in denial. I was into modelrailroading at the time and was handlaying track. Couldn't understand why I was having trouble seeing the little spikes. Thought it was just the light, but decided it was about time for a checkup. Seems I can see a deer a mile away but can't read text one foot in front of me. Reading glasses work for me and yes, I do use the magnifing thing you are speaking about. My brand is called (just a minute, gotta put my glasses on to see the writing), Accur Site. I'm sure most of them are about the same, but this one works for me.

Chuck

[AlArchie]

Michael, I went right from not needing corrective lenses to needing bifocals when I was 40. Best move I ever made (well, one of them anyway). The bifocals eliminate the need to carry around a pair of reading glasses, although I have two pair of those, too. One a 2 diopter and one a 3 diopter. I use them for close work that the bifocals don't work for.

If you have to go to bifocals, might I suggest you get the "line-less" type with the variable focus? they really help when working back and forth for short disatances, and those no lines let ya walk without tripping down the stairs!

The head type magnifier I have has the regular lenses, then two flip down "add ons' that up the magnification incrimentally and one small swing in loupe for an almost microscopic look at things. Boy there's some neat stuff out there.

Al

[Colin_Partridge]

Michael,
Dont feel bad there was a time (not that long ago) that my wife used to get me to thread a needle for her. Now and it seems like over night I need my glasses to do that now. I use my glasses and the magnifier now when doing fine detail. My wife gets mad at me now because she says I need a hearing aid. I really dont I have just been married to her too long and just tune her out (He He)
Colin

[mark yundt]

Got my first pair at 40 as well,,at times I also use the maginfiers that clip on to my regular glasses and flip up when not needed,,love 'em,,need 'em.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have the same as Mark Y. and they are more convenient than the head band type, altho I have some of those as well. remember that with all of them you get different percentages of magnification, actually, I would suggest getting a higher mag. than you think you need......I didn't and now could use it stronger! as for glasses.....I started out life I guess with astigmatism, didn't know it until I was 33.....so 40 seems kind of old ha ha....but now 65 and everything is a blur without glasses. But thats all ok, cuz when the Lord comes back I will have the eyes of an eagle LOL!

[whitecree]

Obviously, you're not the only one with the vision problems. All you can do is chalk it up to part of the aging process.

I use one of those swing arm lamps with a bright bulb and a 3x magnifier. Works pretty well. I tried one of those head-clamp things with the light and magnifier, but the silly thing kept slipping. I'd spend almost as much time adjusting it as using it, but like most things, you need to try it for yourself.

[jillsy]

Michael,

My friend, Gary, uses his magnifying glasses you describe for a living (he's sculpts prototypes for toys) and swears by them.

Matter of fact, he's in the newest release of "Lost" magazine (based on the hit show). The TV cameras went to the company where he works and took pictures of the sculptors working on the prototypes. Anyway, he's wearing them in the picture. They look big and awkward, but he tells me he can't live without them (like many of us can't work without our favorite knife or thumb guard!)

Jillsy