I've become a bobblehead.

What could she possibly mean by that, you ask? Well, here's the deal. I recently had a seriously rude reminder that I am...well...getting old. My eyes suddenly exploded, meaning, I couldn't see out of my glasses or contacts anymore, and even worse, I couldn't read without holding the paper waaaaay out to arms length, at which point the print was too far away to see anyway. Yes, my friends, my eyes suddenly caught up with my age, and I have :::shudder::: Presbyopia.

So I went to the optomotrist, who suggested progressive lenses, which I guess are bifocals for the vain, since there's no visible line. Great, I'm vain, and I want to see, so lets do it. I just picked them up tonight, and here's what I've learned about progressive lenses -- they make you feel stoned. And yes, I came of age in the 70's, I know what that feels like (although I thought I'd forgotten.)

I've also learned that I can see anything, near or far, but depending on the distance of the object it is only visible from a very specific, microscopic spot on the lens, so I have to point and/or tilt my head in just the right direction to find that sweet spot to view whatever it is I'm trying to see. And I can't always find it right away, so I'm walking around bobbing and weaving and rotating my head like a flipping bobble-headed dashboard doggie.

Hence the subject of this thread.

And it's even worse when I'm trying to, say, read the TV guide, change the channel and see what's actually ON the TV. My head is lolling around at such a clip I'm afraid I'm going to get whiplash, and I probably look deranged.

Am I alone in this, or has anyone else had a little trouble adjusting to progressive lenses??

They say it can take a good two weeks to adjust to the progressives and yes there were times I too thought I was stoned. I actually have trifocal lenses and it took me less then a week to adjust. You, like me, are at an advantage as you aren't going from traditional bifocals to the progressives.

Wear them constantly and you'll see how very quickly you get used to them.
I'm an artist and never have a problem anymore. I don't even think about it.

They did mention it can take a couple of weeks -- I just wonder if I can deal with two weeks of feeling like I'm in Montego Bay (as in, smokin da ganja...)

I'm relieved to hear that you do so well with yours, Arlene -- that gives me hope!

I had a special computer lens that does away with that - they are much better for reading the newspaper or working on the computer. I don't know the exact name but I don't have to use that sweet spot with that pair of glasses. Try wearing contacts for distance and then try to read - so you have to wear reading glasses that are stronger over your contacts. I am just at the point where I need reading glasses (on a chain -woe is me) to even read the price tags when I go shopping.

Kathy, prior to this I mostly wore contacts. Unfortunately my presbyopia came on so suddenly, and with such vengeance, that I found when I was wearing my contacts, I needed to basically walk around at all times wearing granny-like reading glasses on the tip of my nose. I simply cannot focus on close objects at all. It's bizarre to not be able to look down and see my hands! I decided to go with the progressive glasses since I figure if I'm going to have to wear glasses anyway, I might as well wear real glasses that are little more comfortable.

I'd also like to try to figure out how to get back to contacts. While I was waiting the two weeks for my glasses to be done, the optomotrist had me try out various strengths of monovision contacts, but I had a really hard time with that. In order to be able to read with one eye, it had to be so undercorrected for distance that I couldn't read signs with it. I just could not get used to only being able to see out of one eye. So I'm thinking of trying out those bifocal or multifocal contacts.

But I've got to get used to these glasses before I try anything else out. If I have to roll my head around anymore, it might fall off!

I couldn't wear the monovision lenses. It was too difficult to work. Then I started wearing glasses full time until I had Lasik, which, was not successful. When I went to a new Opthamologist to consult about my problems, he put me in soft lenses - something I was never able to wear. We slighly undercorrected one ey (barely) but, I wear the lenses and reading glasses over them most of the time for work with great results.

I got used to the progressive lenses. I was forced to wear them for 6 weeks when I first got them. I started working a project at a location that did not allow people to wear contact lenses for safety reasons. (A silicone plant where an explosion would melt the lenses to your eyes!). Anyway, it took less than 2 weeks to get used to them. I don't wear them regularly, but when I do I have no problem with them. (Except they'll never work for golf.)

I wear contacts regularly. I went through a time where I was wearing reading glasses with contacts just to be able to read. Distance vision with the contacts was fine, but couldn't read things up close. This became a problem when skiing, scuba diving, etc. I could see the shark, but couldn't read the gauge to know how much air I had left! Couldn't read the trail map. All those kinds of activities where you just can't wear reading glasses!

I have been very happy with a lense in my dominant eye for distance and the undercorrected lense in the other eye for reading. I tried both dominant and non-dominante eyes for the distance lense and it does make a difference which eye. I'm cross-eye dominant, or whatever it's called, so that's how I know it makes a difference.

Hope you get something worked out!

Hate to tell you how long I've had mine and still struggle with them - BUT I get frustrated so go back to my cheap cheaters all the time - mine are great for watching TV but I have to move my head around while on computer - I guess I need to keep wearing them and lock up the cheaters! Joanna

Formally blind as a bat and now happy as heck for the last 4 years. I found my normally horrible astigmatic vision (long range) was further compromised by needing reading glasses. I was always a contact lens wearer and was not a viable candidate for the bifocal lenses. I then tried reading glasses, progressive glasses and hated them both. It became increasingly frustrating when I also wanted to use sunglasses. I then became corrected via monovision. One contact for short range and one for long range. It worked beautifully for me, with a 3 day acclimation (stoned feeling). Give yourself 3 days. Then, I couldn't wear contacts anymore due to a medical problem. I finally had lasik 4 years ago and it has been the most wonderful experience. I had my lasik correct my vision as monovision as well. The only problem I sometimes have is lying on my right side to watch tv from bed. There are solutions to getting old.

Well THAT'S good to know! Got any suggestions for any of my OTHER aging symptoms? (Constantly forgetting things, no longer enjoying Led Zeppelin, being called "terminally uncool" by my teenagers...)

My husband had his vision corrected last year, going with the monovision, and he says he loves it. But he says he can read road signs with both eyes. When I tried the monovision lenses (with one eye undercorrected for reading) it really impacted my ability to see distance. So it's back to the drawing board for the lenses.

Unfortunately, this year it's a choice between doing my cruise with my mom, or getting Lasik. Given that choice, I'm okay with walking around stoned as a Rastafarian for a while. At least I don't get roach burns on my blouse. ;)

Eventually, you will forget so much, nothing will bother you. You won't even remember which parts you have lost; in your case, you just won't be able to see which ones are deteriorating. It could be a blessing. :mecry:

LOL! Yes, I suppose I should be looking at this as a benefit, huh. I've become so forgetful lately that I've been telling my friends to enjoy me now, because pretty soon I won't recognize them.