Hi Arwen,
Thanks for your offline response. As I regularly bird with transition lens
glasses I know that whilst you do get some colour distortion, it is not a huge
issue, though if I am birding in rainforest areas (where it may be bright and
sunny on the track, but you are looking at birds in the gloom of the
undergrowth) I either use my non transition lens glasses or one contact.
To clarify your query about the one contact option, if you don't need reading
glasses you may still be able to read field guides with both contacts in which
would be ideal. The one contact idea is that you correct your dominant eye for
near sight/shortsightedness (is that a word?) and the other eye allows you to
read. So this suggestion only works if that other eye is good enough to read
without the need for glasses. Also be aware that when you first try this the
visual effect is really weird! The best way I can describe it is a 'ghosting'
effect - double vision, but not, if that makes sense. It takes a few days for
the brain to adapt to it.
Interestingly, for people with cataracts who have intraoccular lens surgery,
my optometrist told me that most people opt to have one corrected for long
sight (reading) and the other for short sight (distance) so clearly the brain
does adapt to this permanent solution. Roll on cataracts as far as I am
concerned! Laser lens surgery costs a fortune whilst cataract surgery is
supported by Medicare.
A final point is that you admit to cringing at the thought of sticking things
in your eyes. My husband just struggles terribly getting contacts into or out
of his eyes! Whilst it is highly amusing to watch his antics, he usually gives
up and suffers fogging up as a consequence.
Good luck!
Judith
From:
To: ; ;
; ; ;
; ; ;
;
Subject: birding and glasses (and contact lenses now)
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2012 07:40:36 +1000
Hi again,
sorry I haven't had a chance to reply since my last email, thanks for all the
additional responses!!!
well, I've been doing some research and I'm leaning towards trialling contacts
(I also found the contact lenses thread) - mostly because of all the issues
with glasses - I don't want to have to switch between normal glasses and
sunnies, and I don't like the idea of having to look through the frames all the
time, then there's the problem with rain/steam/spray, getting used to
glasses+bins, etc.
My research so far indicates the glasses lenses that would be most suitable for
birding are the new (expensive) Japanese freeform lenses - these are multifocal
but with a wider distance field as I understand it - perfect for birdwatching
and also easier to get used to apparently. I thought it worth mentioning for
those out there who said they wanted a wider field of view. I might need to
wait for these, another reason to try contacts.
I am interested in Judith's suggestion of putting one contact lense in the
dominant eye - I didn't discuss this with the optometrist though as I was
really thinking glasses at that stage, but will do so. Apparently you can also
get multifocal contacts now - I'm not sure about those, or how they work.
I do have a question - I thought it odd that the optometrist didn't think there
was a problem using bins with sunglasses (i.e. prescription sunnies) - surely
you need light to see through the bins? Both people I talked to in the shop,
one being the optometrist, were convinced sunnies would hardly make any
difference.
My heartfelt thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and ideas,
there were many points I would not have thought of.
I'll keep you posted.
Arwen
.........................................
Arwen Blackwood Ximenes
> From:
> To: ; ;
> ; ; ;
>
> Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:32:11 +1000
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] birding and glasses
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> thanks so much for these ... insights... (sorry).
>
> Very interesting to hear people's experiences, would be glad to hear more.
> Especially good to know about the issue with the multifocals' gradation,
> Greg, thanks, glad they work better for you now.
> Rob and Dave - contact lenses - yes, I had wondered about those but thought
> maybe try glasses first - but if it makes such a difference in terms of ease
> of use maybe it's worth more consideration. I haven't looked into cost of
> contacts - the multifocals are expensive and I already have reading glasses
> so I could just change the lenses on those if I got contacts or single focus
> and I think it would be a lot cheaper.
> Bill, I have astigmatism too, and glare makes it worse, hence the need for
> sunglasses in the field (or anywhere) - I thought the fitover ones would be
> good but it's probably more cumbersome taking them off to look through the
> bins, though I won't be able to buy prescription ones for a while either.
>
> I'm still thinking multifocals sound like the way to go, I'm just baulking at
> the price tag.
>
> sounds like having glasses is going to be very annoying, but if they get rid
> of the headaches I'll put up with them.
>
> thanks,
> Arwen
> .........................................
> Arwen Blackwood Ximenes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From:
> To: ;
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] birding and glasses
> Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:08:20 +0000
>
>
>
>
> Hi Arwen
>
> I've used contact lenses - now for 20 years. Never had a problem with them
> apart from a dusty dry trip around India, and my eye sight is near perfect
> with them.
>
> I have used glasses successfully but it is an issue in hot and wet climates &
> on pelagics if there is spray (rain, condensation etc.) and in very sunny
> conditions you inevitably get light coming in between your glasses and eyes.
>
> When I have used bins with glasses (Zeiss, Leice and Swarovski)- I can use
> them interchangeably with the eye-cups down.
>
> I once got at eye infection birding on a long trip to India (so the contact
> lenses were a no go) and after a while glasses with bins just become second
> nature and you barely notice.
>
> That said, contact lenses are a lot better in general.
>
> Cheers
>
> Rob Morris
>
> Brisbane, Australia
>
>
>
>
> > From:
> > To:
> > Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:27:05 +1000
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] birding and glasses
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear birding-aus glasses wearers,
> >
> > Numerous headaches later (especially following birding outings!), I have
> > now been told I need glasses, not uncommon in those approaching 40
> > apparently!).
> >
> > I’m interested in hearing what set-up birders prefer. (I have bins with
> > screw down eye cups).
> >
> > Are multifocals good for birders? (and what its it like to use the fitover
> > glasses whilst birding?)
> > What would you go for?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Arwen
> >
> > .........................................
> > Arwen Blackwood Ximenes
> >
> >
> > ===============================
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