Interesting/Frustrating Eyeglasses Issue

[DaveLeeNC]

I have worn eyeglasses (nearsighted) since the 8th grade (now age 65). I didn't start wearing bifocals until around 1985. They have always been the 'no line' type bifocals. I had pretty much stopped playing golf in the mid 1970's, so at that time had no experience with golf and bifocals. However I played a bunch of tennis in the 80's and 90's and my bifocals were never an issue in that sport.

 

I returned to golf when I retired in 2003 and about that time also changed to a new eyeglasses prescription. I basically 'had no game' at time, but recall thinking 'these new glasses might be a problem' (but without an established game was not sure). So I was EXTREMELY reluctant to change eyeglasses and did not change them until around 2008/9.

 

When I changed them back in 2008/9 I had an instant problem - wearing the new glasses I hit the ball fat, otherwise things were normal. I literally put the new glasses in a drawer, went back to the optician and ordered a new pair of single vision glasses, and continued to ONLY wear my old glasses until the single vision glasses came in. When they did come in I had no adjustment problem and things were instantly fine. But still I was EXTREMELY reluctant to take on new glasses. BTW I was ultimately able to play just fine in the bifocals but I rarely do that.

 

I finally got to the point where I had to get new glasses (old bifocal lenses were so scratched up that it was a real problem). So I had my exam and just got new glasses (both new bifocals and new single vision lenses). I assumed that (based on my previous experience) if I just played golf in the single vision lenses things would be fine (like last time).

 

Apparently this is incorrect. My first round in the new single vision lenses was my absolute worst round of golf since I started my currents stats system back in 2004. The next round after that was only slightly better. So I spent a bunch of time in the back yard today just hitting chip shots (a strength of my game that had instantly disintegrated with the new glasses). And it was like clockwork.

 

1) New single vision lenses - mostly thin

2) New bifocals - mostly fat

3) Old single vision lenses - mostly fat

4) Old bifocals - mostly fat

 

So I am assuming that there is simply going to be an adjustment period for these new glasses that I was just have to put up with. Further I assume that I won't be getting a new pair of glasses until hell freezes over and hell uses the associated ice to decorate Christmas Trees. And this prescription change was (according to the optometrist) 'just big enough to notice if you are really paying attention'.

 

Anyone else had this kind of problem in VERY small prescription changes, single vision lenses (near sighted correction), and their golf game?

 

Thanks.

 

dave

[coops]

I'm 47 and just started needing reading glasses - in fact some relatively low short sight and astigmatism correction and the reading presbyopia on top... and use Varifocals or progressive lenses as they tend to be called now.

I would NOT wear varifocals for golf - i just wear single vision correction - due to the ground view of the ball at address being way off focus due to the reading correction in the lower part of the lens, and bifocals will give you the same issue.

There are some progressives designed to be ok for golf - Definity Fairway (?) - but not sure how they'd work out for you.

Another option i've heard about is single vision with a small reading section off to the side on one lens (rather than down the bottom) just so you can check scorecard etc..

There'll be an adjustment to wearing glasses - so swapping glasses after every few shots to compare is going to really throw you off - best to stick to your single vision as much as possible before gofl - ie wear single vision only on the drive to the course also to let yourself adapt (maybe get transitions type lenses in grey to help out on sunny days too).

Modern soft disposable contact lenses are very easy to use and very, very comfortable and are worth a look - no glass frame issues or sweat, rain on lens etc.

ps With bifocals (or most progressives) - you'll end up moving your head chin down a lot at address to get the bifocal area out of the way of the view of the ball, and that won't be good for any swing.

[Socrates]

Lots of things to consider. Did they change the refractive index of your new single vision glasses? What about changing the base curve? Did they get the optical center in the same place as the old ones? Those are what comes to mind right now. I would take the old glasses with you to the optician and have them compared to see what if anything is different.

[Shambles]

[quote name='Socrates' timestamp='1414270502' post='10350057']
Lots of things to consider. Did they change the refractive index of you new single vision glasses? What about changing the base curve? Did they get the optical center in the same place as the old ones? Those are what comes to mind right now. I would take the old glasses with you to the optician and have them compared to see what if anything is different.
[/quote]


I'm with this post.

I have a few frames I simply cannot get along with because something changed between the time I ordered them and the delivery. Some opticians are way bad at their job and your only solution is to find a different shop.



Shambles

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='Socrates' timestamp='1414270502' post='10350057']
Lots of things to consider. Did they change the refractive index of you new single vision glasses? What about changing the base curve? Did they get the optical center in the same place as the old ones? Those are what comes to mind right now. I would take the old glasses with you to the optician and have them compared to see what if anything is different.
[/quote]

I assume that, relative to this post, the message is that stuff like this matters.

Relative to single vision lenses (after roughly 55 years of wearing glasses) this is my first experience with this issue. In all my lifetime of getting glasses I have never been aware of these parameters being directly part of the decision process (even when I changed from 'real glass' to polycarbonate lens materials). My gut feel is that I have never experienced an optician who knew how to deal with these considerations (and I have seen everything from the national chain places to ophthamalogist based practices).

Guess this old dog has some new tricks to learn.

dave

ps. I think I know what a refractive index is, and from that I would assume, given known single vision correction needs, the 'base curve' is then defined. But maybe not since there are two surfaces yielding two degrees of freedom here. What is an 'optical center'? Maybe the optical line where all optical aberrations are zero? I am somewhat familiar with optical aberrations in refracting telecopes, but have no feel for how these manifest in eyeglasses performance.

[Ed Settle]

[quote name='coops' timestamp='1414270338' post='10350047']
I'm 47 and just started needing reading glasses - in fact some relatively low short sight and astigmatism correction and the reading presbyopia on top... and use Varifocals or progressive lenses as they tend to be called now.

I would NOT wear varifocals for golf - i just wear single vision correction - due to the ground view of the ball at address being way off focus due to the reading correction in the lower part of the lens, and bifocals will give you the same issue.

There are some progressives designed to be ok for golf - Definity Fairway (?) - but not sure how they'd work out for you.

Another option i've heard about is single vision with a small reading section off to the side on one lens (rather than down the bottom) just so you can check scorecard etc..

There'll be an adjustment to wearing glasses - so swapping glasses after every few shots to compare is going to really throw you off - best to stick to your single vision as much as possible before gofl - ie wear single vision only on the drive to the course also to let yourself adapt (maybe get transitions type lenses in grey to help out on sunny days too).

Modern soft disposable contact lenses are very easy to use and very, very comfortable and are worth a look - no glass frame issues or sweat, rain on lens etc.

ps With bifocals (or most progressives) - you'll end up moving your head chin down a lot at address to get the bifocal area out of the way of the view of the ball, and that won't be good for any swing.
[/quote]

I am this boat. I am 55 and in progressive lens. I wear single vision soft contacts for golf. It allows me to wear sunglasses if I need to. But, I have to have reading glasses with me for the score card or my phone. Might try a pair of single vision glasses with a "reader" on the outer edges or top of the lens.

[Cicero]

[quote name='2659edward' timestamp='1414277286' post='10350463'][quote name='coops' timestamp='1414270338' post='10350047']
I'm 47 and just started needing reading glasses - in fact some relatively low short sight and astigmatism correction and the reading presbyopia on top... and use Varifocals or progressive lenses as they tend to be called now.

I would NOT wear varifocals for golf - i just wear single vision correction - due to the ground view of the ball at address being way off focus due to the reading correction in the lower part of the lens, and bifocals will give you the same issue.

There are some progressives designed to be ok for golf - Definity Fairway (?) - but not sure how they'd work out for you.

Another option i've heard about is single vision with a small reading section off to the side on one lens (rather than down the bottom) just so you can check scorecard etc..

There'll be an adjustment to wearing glasses - so swapping glasses after every few shots to compare is going to really throw you off - best to stick to your single vision as much as possible before gofl - ie wear single vision only on the drive to the course also to let yourself adapt (maybe get transitions type lenses in grey to help out on sunny days too).

Modern soft disposable contact lenses are very easy to use and very, very comfortable and are worth a look - no glass frame issues or sweat, rain on lens etc.

ps With bifocals (or most progressives) - you'll end up moving your head chin down a lot at address to get the bifocal area out of the way of the view of the ball, and that won't be good for any swing.
[/quote]

I am this boat. I am 55 and in progressive lens. I wear single vision soft contacts for golf. It allows me to wear sunglasses if I need to. But, I have to have reading glasses with me for the score card or my phone. Might try a pair of single vision glasses with a "reader" on the outer edges or top of the lens.[/quote]

I wear contacts for golf as well. I don't wear large glasses, and I have a pretty strong prescription (vision is like 20/200 or so). So when my head turns a little to the left in the backswing, my glasses leave my field of vision, and it's like the ball actually moves. I'd imagine bifocals would have a similar effect.

[Marand]

I can't wear my variable focal length glasses while playing golf, the distortion renders me effectively blind. Rather than going for a fixed focal length, optimized for a ~5' distance, I simply play without glasses, unless I'm using uncorrected Oakley golf glasses.

[Socrates]

[quote name='DaveLeeNC' timestamp='1414276216' post='10350391']
[quote name='Socrates' timestamp='1414270502' post='10350057']
Lots of things to consider. Did they change the refractive index of you new single vision glasses? What about changing the base curve? Did they get the optical center in the same place as the old ones? Those are what comes to mind right now. I would take the old glasses with you to the optician and have them compared to see what if anything is different.
[/quote]

I assume that, relative to this post, the message is that stuff like this matters.

Relative to single vision lenses (after roughly 55 years of wearing glasses) this is my first experience with this issue. In all my lifetime of getting glasses I have never been aware of these parameters being directly part of the decision process (even when I changed from 'real glass' to polycarbonate lens materials). My gut feel is that I have never experienced an optician who knew how to deal with these considerations (and I have seen everything from the national chain places to ophthamalogist based practices).

Guess this old dog has some new tricks to learn.

dave

ps. I think I know what a refractive index is, and from that I would assume, given known single vision correction needs, the 'base curve' is then defined. But maybe not since there are two surfaces yielding two degrees of freedom here. What is an 'optical center'? Maybe the optical line where all optical aberrations are zero? I am somewhat familiar with optical aberrations in refracting telecopes, but have no feel for how these manifest in eyeglasses performance.
[/quote]
Refractive index is usually fairly standard but can be changed if you want really thin lenses (vanity or really bad vision).

Base curves are also fairly standard, but I have run into opticians or optical companies that have have their own ideas and if you change opticians, you can find one that has a different preference.

The optical center should also be fairly easy to place, but depending on the type of glasses you get, they may "decide" on what they think is better for you and you need to be on the same page. It should be directly in front of your pupil when the glasses are sitting on your face properly. This is where the dispensing optician's skill really comes into play (all those measurements that they take and the little dots they make on the lenses). It doesn't take much to make a difference to you.