Members Shelly Posted July 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 Hi Shelly,A couple months ago I began using the same setup as you, circle light/magnifyer, even though I had to contort my arms/tools/lamp to avoid striking the underside. It made the work so much clearer it was worth it (although I believed I've never had vision problems nor the need for glasses). What seemed to happen is after using the setup for several weeks I seemed to NEED the magnifyer to do smaller details work. It may just be my imagination, but now I even use it to trace and for the larger work as well. Does anyone know if using magnification can train your eyes to not focus as well close up? My doctor said it does happen to a small extent - that your eyes will come to 'depend' on the help, but overall, not really much that you can do as the lenses in your eyes harden with age...I'm very much interested in what Kate mentioned about being able to 'replace' our old hard lenses with the 'softer' ones of our youth...wonder how long that will be?? I'm sure finding a workable solution is going to be the ticket for me, as it is for all of us in this boat. Once we find a tool that works well, I think we all get that feeling of 'why did I wait so long before trying this??'... Quote Shelly
Members Shelly Posted July 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 Hi Shelly,A couple months ago I began using the same setup as you, circle light/magnifyer, even though I had to contort my arms/tools/lamp to avoid striking the underside. It made the work so much clearer it was worth it (although I believed I've never had vision problems nor the need for glasses). What seemed to happen is after using the setup for several weeks I seemed to NEED the magnifyer to do smaller details work. It may just be my imagination, but now I even use it to trace and for the larger work as well. Does anyone know if using magnification can train your eyes to not focus as well close up? I think it sucks - it sneaks up on you when you're sleeping...I didn't think I would have to have glasses either, and get to be one of those lucky ones that you see that go their entire lives, into their 90's, that have sharp vision and a sharp mind...unfortunately, I've suddenly realized that my mind seems to have taken a vacation somewhere, and didn't invite me along!! Hope it gets back soon.... Quote Shelly
Members Shelly Posted July 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 Yeah, sorry... facts of life. Kate DITTO!! Quote Shelly
Moderator bruce johnson Posted July 30, 2008 Moderator Report Posted July 30, 2008 Shelly, I wear the progressives too, and can never tilt my head just right handsewing anything. I used to make fun of mall-walkers and people who looked over their glasses. I don't do the Sears to Penneys laps yet, but I look over the top of my glasses a lot. As far as magnifiers, I have used a few different surgical loupes that fit on glasses, and the flip-down that goes on a headband. I am with Troy. My favorite is still the Optivisor I have used for 25 years. It flips up or down with the back of your hand or arm, is tolerably comfortable, and the lenses are really pretty decent. Most affordable to try for sure. You can wear glasses under it if you need to. Like I said before, I usually flip it up to find the tool or instrument, and then forget to flip it down to use them. I tried a knockoff with a light source on either side, didn't like it. Enough spread to have two lit areas on either side of where you really need it. Quote Bruce Johnson Malachi 4:2 "the windshield's bigger than the mirror, somewhere west of Laramie" - Dave Stamey Vintage Refurbished And Selected New Leather Tools For Sale - www.brucejohnsonleather.com
Members Shelly Posted July 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 Shelly,I wear the progressives too, and can never tilt my head just right handsewing anything. I used to make fun of mall-walkers and people who looked over their glasses. I don't do the Sears to Penneys laps yet, but I look over the top of my glasses a lot. As far as magnifiers, I have used a few different surgical loupes that fit on glasses, and the flip-down that goes on a headband. I am with Troy. My favorite is still the Optivisor I have used for 25 years. It flips up or down with the back of your hand or arm, is tolerably comfortable, and the lenses are really pretty decent. Most affordable to try for sure. You can wear glasses under it if you need to. Like I said before, I usually flip it up to find the tool or instrument, and then forget to flip it down to use them. I tried a knockoff with a light source on either side, didn't like it. Enough spread to have two lit areas on either side of where you really need it. The Optivisor now has an addon light (Quasar Lighting System), for 22.50 - can add the binocular magnifier for another 35.10, each lens plate runs 24.35...www.all-spec.com sells Aven, Head Band Magnifier with Light, AV26415 - $41.58...has a 3 lens system and produces 4 magnifications. Bausch & Lomb Magna Visor Loupe comes with 3 lenses, no light, for 6", 8", and 12" distances, #81-42-00, didn't get the price in the printout...JSP Optical Super-Visor - $10.00, with 4 different mags ranging from 1.8X - 4.8X...Optical Supervisor II - Rosenthal - www.rjsintl.com - 4 separate lenses - from 4" to 20" and can be combined to 12 combinations, comes with a light - $18.00...then lastly, www.widgetsupply.com, SFB1 - (comes in different colors) - OptiSight - 3 lens plates, 1.75X at 14", 2X at 10", 2.5X at 8" - no light, and a simple headband, without the velcro on the back... I'm narrowing down to these - Optical SuperVisor II, the Aven (headband looks like it may be the most comfortable), and the OptiVisor, with the lighting and an optional attachment loupe. This one has LED lights (6), that are arranged around the entire lens...might take a look for me and see which would interest you most if you were looking for one for yourself, considering that you already use the Optivisor, and know how it feels, etc. You may be able to tell me more than I can tell about reading specs and various info on these three products...would certainly help me in my decision as to which to order...do I go with the $18.00 special, or the Optivisor, with all the add-ons, for $150+? The Aven then looks pretty decent at $41.58... Quote Shelly
Moderator bruce johnson Posted July 30, 2008 Moderator Report Posted July 30, 2008 Shelly, Just from my experience, I'd go with the Optivisor. I know their optics is probably the biggest reason. I found them at a couple places around $30 on-line. The quasar light attachment for $25, and the loupe attachment for $7. That light looks a lot handier than the one I tried out. Quote Bruce Johnson Malachi 4:2 "the windshield's bigger than the mirror, somewhere west of Laramie" - Dave Stamey Vintage Refurbished And Selected New Leather Tools For Sale - www.brucejohnsonleather.com
Members Shelly Posted July 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 Shelly,Just from my experience, I'd go with the Optivisor. I know their optics is probably the biggest reason. I found them at a couple places around $30 on-line. The quasar light attachment for $25, and the loupe attachment for $7. That light looks a lot handier than the one I tried out. Bruce, That's the way I was leaning...so I ordered it this morning, from Micro-Mark, because they include an extra lens with it - also the lighting attachment, and the loupe - with the cost for shipping, the total came to $78.90. (In case anyone else reading about this is interested in exact numbers) Quote Shelly
Members whtdove3 Posted July 30, 2008 Members Report Posted July 30, 2008 I think it sucks - it sneaks up on you when you're sleeping...I didn't think I would have to have glasses either, and get to be one of those lucky ones that you see that go their entire lives, into their 90's, that have sharp vision and a sharp mind...unfortunately, I've suddenly realized that my mind seems to have taken a vacation somewhere, and didn't invite me along!! Hope it gets back soon.... I can totally relate! I got my first pair of glasses 3 months before my 40th birthday. I would have preferred chocolates instead of glasses, actually, but what can ya do. I have a problem called Cogans Dystrophy, where my corneas have lines and dots (much like a road map) covering them and gradually getting worse with time. I can see, but have the blurries. I have an optivisor, the magnifier lamp and also a pair of magnifiers that clip on my regular glasses (pretty handy). Funny about the mind going away at times. Mine travels off quite often and doesn't even bother to let me know if it even had a good time. Quote
Members CitizenKate Posted July 31, 2008 Members Report Posted July 31, 2008 I decided to do a little research on the web to find the answer to this question, and found 3 articles dated Sept. 2003 on the subject, which described the technology as a polymer gel that is injected into the space from where the natural lens is removed. They describe it as a quick, painless, and unintrusive operation, when it finally does become commercially available. When will that be? All three articles said it would be anywhere from 3 to 10 years from then, and it's now been 5 so far. I found the site of a clinic in Australia that said they expected the product to become available sometime this year. So... could be very soon! I'm due for a trip to the optometrist soon. When I go, I'll ask her then how things are coming along with that. Kate I'm very much interested in what Kate mentioned about being able to 'replace' our old hard lenses with the 'softer' ones of our youth...wonder how long that will be?? Quote
Members custom79 Posted July 31, 2008 Members Report Posted July 31, 2008 (edited) I'm with Kat. A year or so ago I noticed that I was getting a little blurry with the really close up stuff. I picked up the local equivalent of a magnavisor (with little lights attached at the side) for ten bucks. Problem solved. I flip the lens down when I need it and up when I don't. Those are the facts of life! C79 Edited July 31, 2008 by custom79 Quote
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