Fresh from todays visit to the opticians, I am now having to ponder different ways of looking at what I am doing! Criminally short sighted, I have worn contact lenses for 34 years, and of late have been fitted up with monocular vision (one eye for distance, one eye for near). Without lenses, I can gaze in minute detail by pressing my little face close to the work - tricky for soldering, but!
Now I am being changed to corrected distance vision in both eyes, and 53yo eyes will need assistance for close work with these lenses in.
How about the rest of you? Do you use big magnifiers? Keen to know what others do.
Donald
I'm in to bifocal stage now Donald, but I don't wear them when I'm using the illuminated magnifier for close up work, but for general day to day they are okay I do tend to find myself peering over and around them when trying to re-raill sometimes ::)
VARIFOCALS. For the last 20 years, blind as a bat without my glasses on.
no prob but after 25years plus of n modelling have wound up with distance glasses....
I had reading specs since I was 44 and last year, when I was 59, the optician recommended I have some help with distance so I now have varifocals and love them.
I still often peer over the top of them as my distance is not that bad but I now can read the numbers on the bus when it turns up.
I have a magnifying lamp and keep my specs on, which I use for fiddly bits :thumbsup:
Specs for pretty much everything - reading, driving, computer, TV (I can actually read print close-up without if I need to, but not for too long). I have a magnifier on a flexible neck and a daylight bulb (all in one "craft lamp" effort from Hobbycraft) for most modelling stuff.
It's not entirely suprising - all my family wear glasses, I was a teenage computer nerd, and then 20 years to date in the IT industry one way or another...
For close up work i use the fairly cheap reading glasses from the chemist. They are really just magnifiers. I have 1.5, 2.0 and even 3.0. The smaller it is the biggr the number i put on to hold it closer up. For really tiny i might wear two pairs like binocular magnifying glasses.
Then i put the thing i finished about ten feet away on the track and just remember the details that you cannot see from that distance! :smiley-laughing:
I think it`s funny when you go for a new pair of glasses and they say pick a frame, then they get you to look in a mirror and ask you what do you think ???, how the heck do I know when there is no lenses in the damn things :smiley-laughing:
cloughie
Varifocals for 95% of the time ( I see four of everything without them!) and prescription reading glasses for close work. My Dad told me I would go blind, but I went deaf too! :angel:
;D It's a big con Cloughie!
I've never needed anything for modelling as I'm short sighted. I do find myself straining my eyes to watch the TV though, and I have some glasses somewhere that I bought 13 years ago for seeing long distance. I haven't seen them for about 5 years though.....
Quote from: Tank on March 17, 2012, 09:13:19 AM
;D It's a big con Cloughie!
I've never needed anything for modelling as I'm short sighted. I do find myself straining my eyes to watch the TV though, and I have some glasses somewhere that I bought 13 years ago for seeing long distance. I haven't seen them for about 5 years though.....
it`s a catch 22 Chris. you cannot find your glasses cos you have not got your glasses on and if you can let me know when you are going out driving so I can keep out of your way, know wonder insurance is so dear in London :smiley-laughing:
cloughie
Went to a UK opticians once. Pick out a frame she says. I put some on. No, she says, you have a long face, those dont look good. Second frames on... Oh no you have a big nose, try these. :o
Is being insulted part of the service i wondered ??? and decided i would rather leave without glasses but a modicum of my ego in tact, and thats when i discovered the stand in the chemists with reading glasses and no one to tell you that you look like a goon.
Quote from: Mustermark on March 17, 2012, 11:35:11 AM
she says, you have a long face . . .
Quote. . . you have a big nose . . .
Are you sure she was looking at you and not a picture of Mr Ed ? :smiley-laughing:
Worn glasses ever since I was young enough not to have done anything to make me have to wear glasses!
As soon as I could afford them I swapped to contact lenses and still wear them now. Without them it's a case of "what layout?" and "who said that?" 8)
Paul
Had varifocals, found myself taking them off for close up work so ditched them for a couple of years. Now having annoyed myself when every time I was doing some close up work my wife said "look at this" so scrabbled around for glasses. Have now come back from the UK with a new pair of varifocals only to find myself staring over the top of them whilst trying to solder some wires up under the baseboard!!!
When I was a yoof, I had to wear glasses for short distance stuff like reading (dunno why my eyesight deteriorated and refuse to be drawn further :angel:) but over the years something has changed and I now where glasses just for watching TV/driving. Reading and computer work is no problem now, but I do find some very close up stuff with models quite difficult if I have tired eyes. It probably accounts for why I am not bothered if the carriage numbers are the same in a single rake 8)
Quote from: Mustermark on March 17, 2012, 11:35:11 AM
Went to a UK opticians once. Pick out a frame she says. I put some on. No, she says, you have a long face, those dont look good. Second frames on... Oh no you have a big nose, try these. :o
Is being insulted part of the service i wondered ??? and decided i would rather leave without glasses but a modicum of my ego in tact, and thats when i discovered the stand in the chemists with reading glasses and no one to tell you that you look like a goon.
I always wonder how you're supposed to look in the mirror at the opticians and decide on new frames when you can't focus without without your own glasses on.
For what they charge it's about time they had a machine that takes your photo and then superimposes the frames you're trying to choose onto the photo.
Allan
I've been wearing specs/contacts for 50 years. I'm short sighted, but can do close up work/reading without. Easy to take specs off, but not so easy taking contacts out and replacing since changed to soft ones. My optician has a fancy camera device, so you can have a piccy took of you in your new specs, then look at it with your old ones on, so you can see shat you look like from various angles. Unfortunately, the poor lighting last time resulted in me buying frames that, to be honest, were a bit "girlie", as many modern frames tend to be!
Quote from: Bikeracer on March 17, 2012, 03:55:22 PM
Quote from: Mustermark on March 17, 2012, 11:35:11 AM
Went to a UK opticians once. Pick out a frame she says. I put some on. No, she says, you have a long face, those dont look good. Second frames on... Oh no you have a big nose, try these. :o
Is being insulted part of the service i wondered ??? and decided i would rather leave without glasses but a modicum of my ego in tact, and thats when i discovered the stand in the chemists with reading glasses and no one to tell you that you look like a goon.
I always wonder how you're supposed to look in the mirror at the opticians and decide on new frames when you can't focus without without your own glasses on.
For what they charge it's about time they had a machine that takes your photo and then superimposes the frames you're trying to choose onto the photo.
Allan
Allan are you telling us that your optician does'nt have one of those machine's ;D. Cheers john.
Glasses and magnifying glass, :Class31: :NGFWagonTour:
Kevin141
Should have gone to SpecSavers! There, someone had to say it.
Wouldn't go there if I were you, I've known quite a few people that have had problems with poor quality specs from there ;)
Paul
I wear my prescription reading glasses for most things, for closeup work I wear stronger readers that I get from the elcheapo Dollars and Sense Shop for $4au a pair, for extreme closeup work I wear one of these magnifying thingys that you put on your head and lots of bright lights, regardless I still loose those rotten little coupling springs.
:wave: Hi everyone, I have to use glasses to read small print but I find that a cheapo pair from boots plus a magnifier on a stand lets me see most things n gauge - the problem comes when I want to place any stock on the rails - its usually a bit hit and miss ;D ! still I must say that without any glasses on everything I`ve done so far looks good!!! :thumbsup:
Quote from: Sprintex on March 17, 2012, 06:59:17 PM
Wouldn't go there if I were you, I've known quite a few people that have had problems with poor quality specs from there ;)
Paul
I think they are all equally as bad, Boots lost my prescription sunglasses last year and a few years ago the spec I got from Optical express kept falling apart. Unless you are able to pay through the nose and go to an independent ophthalmic practice it seems we are stuck with mediocrity at best ::)
Quote from: jyoungs on March 19, 2012, 12:48:06 PM
:wave: Hi everyone, I have to use glasses to read small print but I find that a cheapo pair from boots plus a magnifier on a stand lets me see most things n gauge - the problem comes when I want to place any stock on the rails - its usually a bit hit and miss ;D ! still I must say that without any glasses on everything I`ve done so far looks good!!! :thumbsup:
Have you got one of these http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=PESL-337, (http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=PESL-337,) only £1.95 on amazon. Cheers john.
Quote from: Lawrence on March 19, 2012, 12:54:25 PM
I think they are all equally as bad, Boots lost my prescription sunglasses last year and a few years ago the spec I got from Optical express kept falling apart. Unless you are able to pay through the nose and go to an independent ophthalmic practice it seems we are stuck with mediocrity at best ::)
Seems you've just had bad luck mate :(
I've had two pairs of glasses from Vision Express and I get my monthly contact lenses from them too, never a problem :) The misses has had a few pairs of glasses and prescription sunglasses from Boots and always been OK too :)
Paul
Quote from: Sprintex on March 17, 2012, 06:59:17 PM
Wouldn't go there if I were you, I've known quite a few people that have had problems with poor quality specs from there ;)
Paul
All three members of my family get their glasses from Specsavers and have never had a problem and always received efficient and polite service.
Quote from: MinZaPint on March 19, 2012, 07:45:49 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on March 17, 2012, 12:51:05 PM
When I was a yoof)
What a memory!
:smiley-laughing:Things like that I can remember, but what happened yesterday....nah ???
i have got this eye condition.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus)
with contact lenses i see ok, just about well enough to drive.... i can't wear my contact lenses for more than 10 hours each day as they get uncomfortable, and glasses don't help me as it's the shape of the cornea that needs direct correction.
i suspect that one day i will have to scale up to OO or O gauge... or G.... but for now i stick with n gauge...
Tim
HOW MUCH!!!!!
Went to Vision Express for an eye test at the request of my Company to see if I need VDU glasses, they gave us a voucher free eye test and upto £45 for glasses. After eye test was told I need glasses for close up work and long distance, I could have told her this as I have to move anything I'm reading further away from my nose to see it and I can't focus on anything close up any more. ;) ;)
So after the test results appear, it's off to the racks and racks of frames available. Now never having worn glasses before I spy the £99 frames buy one get a 2nd pair free option, great Methinks £99 for 2 pairs and I get £45 off, waaheey £50 for 2 pairs of glasses, especially as Opticion recommends a 2nd pair for reading and close up work. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Erm no!!! Thats £99 for the frames, the lenses are another £129('cos they're varifocals) on top ??? ??? So back to looking at the cheaper frames and even with my voucher it's £150 for 1 pair of sodding glasses, including Accidental insurance covering scratching, breakages etc. Which if I don't claim over 2 years I get back off of my next pair.
Picked them up today and they are taking some getting used to. Every time I look around I start to feel like I'm drunk ::) ::)
Regards
Neal.
Spotted this item, may be of some use for modellers with eye site problems, hope it helps someone:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-60335-Helping-Magnifying/dp/B001BMSBD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332270334&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-60335-Helping-Magnifying/dp/B001BMSBD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332270334&sr=8-1)
Sympathies Neal.
You will get used to them. Try not to keep taking them on and off.
I'm varifocal double glazed and it gets ever more expensive, even when you claim the 'old git' discount!
Last lot cost £300 so I'm only using one eye at a time in the hope to make them last longer. ::)
Dave
Quote from: Tank on March 17, 2012, 09:13:19 AM
I haven't seen them for about 5 years though.....
They are probably on the top of your head, which is where mine usually are when I cannot find them :)
Being a tight git I dont waste all my time in India drinking and eating, I've found a first class optician who uses better lenses than I get from my optician here (they do however do an excellent eye test).
(http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb474/minzapint/General/DSCF0013.jpg)
on the right my everyday varifocals with reactolite, anti scratch coating and anti dazzle, new lenses in old frames £66, on the left my modelling glasses big old frame fitted with plain varifocal lens to focus down to 6" £27, both excellent, just dont ask why I dont use the latter pair more frequently! (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-rolleyes003.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
How, as the OP asks, do I see my hobby?
Literally, yes! I'm lucky in that I don't need specs but I wore them up to about 1997.
I had Photophobia as a kid and needed them with reactolites, transitions or whatever they're called and a bit of strength in to help.
As I got older my vision corrected itself.
So no more expensive specs for me. ;D
Though as I'm soon to reach that big four O milestone who knows what'll happen! :smiley-laughing:
Only need glasses for distance so not for close up or reading.
Had an eye test today and my eyesight has actually improved and no new glasses needed! :thumbsup:
Quote from: Calnefoxile on March 20, 2012, 05:49:09 PM
HOW MUCH!!!!!
Went to Vision Express for an eye test at the request of my Company to see if I need VDU glasses, they gave us a voucher free eye test and upto £45 for glasses. After eye test was told I need glasses for close up work and long distance, I could have told her this as I have to move anything I'm reading further away from my nose to see it and I can't focus on anything close up any more. ;) ;)
So after the test results appear, it's off to the racks and racks of frames available. Now never having worn glasses before I spy the £99 frames buy one get a 2nd pair free option, great Methinks £99 for 2 pairs and I get £45 off, waaheey £50 for 2 pairs of glasses, especially as Opticion recommends a 2nd pair for reading and close up work. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Erm no!!! Thats £99 for the frames, the lenses are another £129('cos they're varifocals) on top ??? ??? So back to looking at the cheaper frames and even with my voucher it's £150 for 1 pair of sodding glasses, including Accidental insurance covering scratching, breakages etc. Which if I don't claim over 2 years I get back off of my next pair.
Picked them up today and they are taking some getting used to. Every time I look around I start to feel like I'm drunk ::) ::)
Regards
Neal.
Should have read the small print. Cheers john.