Well, I recently got new glasses. These are especially for singing and for drawing: the two occasions when I have to be able to see equally well up close, and far away, and shift quickly between the two distances. Until recently, I've been wearing my contact lenses for singing, with a pair of readers down on my nose that I look over when I glance up at the conductor. But I don't wear my contacts regularly -- especially not for days like this, when I'm at the computer most of the time: my eyes are drier than they used to be, and by the end of the day they're tired.
Still, that routine was working all right, but when I started doing more outdoor drawing I really had problems. I never knew when I was going to want to sketch something, so I might have on my distance glasses...and then not be able to see the drawing paper. Or I'd try my reading glasses, the prescription ones corrected for my astigmatism, and then not be able to see the subject well enough. Outdoors in bright sunlight with my contacts on, I absolutely have to wear sunglasses- but then what about the readers?
Some of my friends have gotten progressives, but for singing, almost all of them have had problems, because (they say) you have to move your head to see properly. I finally decided to get a pair of old-fashioned bifocals, which is what these are, in a sort of hip, oversized frame. I ordered them online, the same way I've bought several other pairs, and they were very inexpensive. Better yet: they work beautifully! I can't use them on the computer, but that's fine: I just continue to use my reading-only glasses for that.
What really surprised me, though, was that I had expected a really visible line or half-moon shape, but when these are on my face, you can barely see the semicircular bifocal part. Is this something new? In the close-up below, you can just barely see it. The stigma of bifocals may be a thing of the past: my vanity is intact, and there hasn't been any adjustment period at all. What a relief!
I wasn't aware there was a stigma attached to bifocals. How strange. I don't wear bifocals because of the expense, so I use reading, distance and distance sunglasses. I also use an old pair of reading glasses for the computer screen. I notice you use the term 'progressives'. I assume from the comments made by your friends who use them that they are what we call 'varilux', or 'varifocals'. I find them almost lethal for driving purposes. Specs can be a problem. (Then of course there are hearing aids!)
Posted by: Tom | June 13, 2013 at 05:18 PM
They look really good on you! I know all about the contacts/glasses/reading glasses shuffle, as a myope and presbyope.
Posted by: andrea | June 13, 2013 at 05:33 PM
I never knew you could order frames online. I wished I'd done that. I mistakenly ordered new frames that I was hesitant about, but got talked into them by the saleslady who said they looked great. What a dope. They look like real "old lady" glasses. I could kick myself. These really look great on you.
Posted by: mary | June 14, 2013 at 01:29 AM
I switched to progressives years ago, and they have always been 3 zone "trifocals". I do remember picking up my first pair, taking one turn around the mall, and returning to the optician to state my belief that some mistake had been made. He suggested I try them for a week and give them a chance. I drove home with my old specs on, because it seemed suicidal to drive with the progressives, but adapted to the new ones quickly. They do require a little more head turning, but it seems mostly side to side, not up and down, and I don't notice it anymore. I think it has probably kept my neck limber over the years. They are expensive though, and yours look nice. I may investigate your setup next time around.
Posted by: mike | June 15, 2013 at 12:05 AM
Great picture of you, Beth - is that a new hairdo? The glasses are fine too.
I'm incredibly lucky not to need glasses at all - for a while I had trouble with small print and tried reading glasses but they seemed to make my vision worse when I took them off so I stopped using them. Now (touch wood) my vision is fine, no problems even with very small print etc. And I don't eat a lot of carrots!
Posted by: Natalie | June 15, 2013 at 05:52 AM
"Glasses for singing" - the phrase stopped me in my tracks wondering how seeing aided hearing. Of course you make this obvious. But I delight in the phrases that stops my mind in wonder over how the senses of perception are entangled: "singing seeing" seemed like poetry just for a moment there! :)
Posted by: Pat | June 17, 2013 at 10:32 AM