old age, sort of, presbyopia and shooting

[gerry]

About the time I hit 38, I lost my great vision and ability to focus just about anywhere and started wearing glasses. Needless to say, the lenses are annoying when shooting. And even with diopter adjustments I still need the extra magnification. I know Canon sells stronger adjustments, but who wants to shoot while constantly putting on and taking off glasses?

About a year ago, at 46, I tried for the first time contacts. Not normal one magnification ones, but bifocal. For a year I wore the accuvue bifocal, and it made things pretty good.

But this year, when I went to my eye doctor, I tried the new focus progressives. What a difference. They work great. I see like a young man again. They even have a new daily progressive contact that makes soaking and rubbing a thing of the past.


Why am I relating this on a photography forum? Why not? Most of you are old guys right? Anyhow, it's really self-interest that motivates me. Whether you are old or young, one day you'll need help with your vision. If you hear about progressive contacts and try them and buy them, the economy of scale will start to kick in and my cost for my contacts will go down.

So if you're suffering from presbyopia, here's a solution that doesn't require glasses.

God Bless.

[Leighow]

GERRY:

I have been lucky with good vision so far -- but it was nice to hear that -- if not -- the the treatments/ solutions are geting better all the time.

Are you active again with the camera?

HOWIE

[gerry]

i never gave it up

just found it more difficult

[oops]

Presbyopia (Latin, "old eye") led me to lasik surgery about 4 months ago and I wish I had known about progressive contacts before I made that step. I had tried monovision contacts (horrible) and bi-focal contacts (worse yet) but didn't know progressives existed.

Of course, nobody at the lasik surgery center mentioned progressives as an alternative as I stood there with the cash in my hand. All I knew is I hated glasses.

Thanks for posting this, Jerry. And those thinking of lasik correction: try these first.