revtothelimit - motorbike forum

At the grand old age of 60blur, I'm wondering about changing from specs to contacts.

Of course, reality would be a mix of the two and, since current specs are varifocals, I realise that reading specs would be needed too.

Reason is restricted neck rotation from the head op means less 'peripheral' vision when looking to the side.

Any thoughts?

Horse wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:57 pm At the grand old age of 60blur, I'm wondering about changing from specs to contacts.

Of course, reality would be a mix of the two and, since current specs are varifocals, I realise that reading specs would be needed too.

Reason is restricted neck rotation from the head op means less 'peripheral' vision when looking to the side.

Any thoughts?

I like contacts and only don't wear them because I'd need glasses as well.

BUT - you can get varifocal contacts! No idea how they work or up to what prescription they work. But I'd be up for giving them a go when I have enough French to talk to an Optician!!

Horse wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:57 pm...

Of course, reality would be a mix of the two and, since current specs are varifocals, I realise that reading specs would be needed too....

Any thoughts?

Reading specs would be needed but only for when you haven't got the lenses in.

Some people can wear one lens for distant vision and one lens for near vision. The distant vision lens goes in the dominant eye and the brain "sorts it out". This is the cheaper option. My brain isn't clever enough (or is too clever for its own good) and I found that although it worked I was constantly uneasy. I use multifocal lenses. One lens is biased towards distance, one is biased towards near but they both correct the sight for near and distant. I only use reading glasses when I'm reading in bed, or when I need to read some small print.

Saga Lout wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 2:45 pm

Horse wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:57 pm...

Of course, reality would be a mix of the two and, since current specs are varifocals, I realise that reading specs would be needed too....

Any thoughts?

Reading specs would be needed but only for when you haven't got the lenses in.

Eh? That's false news that is...

I'm wearing lenses now and need reading specs to read this forum on my phone, without lenses I don't need reading glasses...

I tried contacts for the first time at age 16...they belonged to my girlfriend, I had to go to A and E to get them removed!

I changed to varifocals a long time ago having flirted with contact lenses in the past. I got on OK with them, no problems at all but I was still wearing glasses and that was a pain so in 2019 I had new lenses fitted in both eyes, about 3 months apart.

It was one of the best things I've ever paid out for. It's basically a cataract operation, 20 minutes each eye and a couple of hours of slight discomfort "Don't rub them!". I have a pair of cheap reading glasses in the house for when I'm doing close up model making stuff but otherwise I haven't worn glasses since I had the first eye done.

For me, it was all about quality of life and it was worth every penny.

I have to wear hard lenses for distance and they're a pain in the arse.

Dodgy knees wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 5:34 pm I have to wear hard lenses for distance and they're a pain in the arse.

Putting them in the long way, eh?

I'm very shortsighted (-7.0 /-7.25), and usually wear specs (varifocals for several years). I also wear contact lenses especially when I'm on the bike, so I can wear decent sunnies when needed. I now use 1 single vision and 1 varifocal lens, and that works well, tho I will also add a pair of cheap reading glasses for real detail - the kind of detail I can get by taking my specs off and going in close. Go for it - it should do what you want, but try first. S/S let me try a set before I committed.

My wife went for Lens replacement over 5 yrs ago ....no longer needs glasses or contacts either for reading it driving ..at around £400 a year for specs it’s well on the way to being paid for and no chance of ever developing cataracts ..

TBH, lens replacement scares the cr@p out of me ...

I have had varifocals for years, never tried contacts because I am always rubbing my eyes, and I don't think that would be a good idea with contacts.

Wife tried contacts a few years back, but after trying several different types she reverted to varifocals. She just could not get used to them at all.

Daughter has used contacts but has now reverted to glasses for most of the time, contacts reserved for when she wants to look exceptionally glam.

OTOH some people swear by them

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:24 pmto look exceptionally glam.

To be honest, I'd overlooked that benefit

Horse wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:38 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:24 pmto look exceptionally glam.

To be honest, I'd overlooked that benefit

I know I am biased, but she has a head start on you in that department.

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:43 pm

Horse wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:38 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:24 pmto look exceptionally glam.

To be honest, I'd overlooked that benefit

I know I am biased, but she has a head start on you in that department.

Fair cop. I'd struggle with just 'glam'.

I've been wearing contacts for 20 odd years as I was slightly myopic. I used to wear dailies every day in the office but my eyesight changed a few years ago and I found myself wandering into the kitchen for better light to read things (wtf ). Following that change my myopia improved but I became short-sighted so I don't really need glasses now unless I'm riding/driving. However, with my contacts in, I need reading glasses for print/phone/menus. I've been offered varifocal lenses though not tried them yet.

I think contact lenses are great! It takes a while for your eyes to adjust to them as they need to create more moisture and you'll get advise about that when you first purchase them. I've followed the opticians advise to the letter, washing my hands before putting them in and taking them out. Opticians will give you lots of trial pairs to find out which ones you like the most.

I have what's known, in optometrist jargon, as 'failing vision due to getting bleeding old'. Having had laser (you have to say that in a Dr. Evil voice) surgery 16 years ago, I noticed I was struggling to see things in the distance a few years ago. Not a problem, I'll get 'em zapped again, I thought.
Wrong! Eyesight not bad enough to warrant it, apparently, plus I'm too old (51) as I'm now on a slippery slope to the grave, so nothing would be constant anymore.
OK, contacts it is! Had 'em before in the old days, I'll have 'em again, I thought.
Wrong again! My wonderful optician dropped the lenses in the geeky glasses, got me to read the board...BOOM! Bottom line, no problem. Then she handed me that card with the varying sized text on it. Bugger. Could hardly make out a word. As she put it, 'I can one or the other, not both'.
So, compromise. She fitted me with one lens for righty, whilst lefty gets nothing. The brain sort of get used to it and I can now drive/ride in the dark, which was my main concern, and I can still read texts, etc, close up albeit slightly fuzzy. After a day righty gets a bit itchy too and that's when the lens comes out.

Maybe give that a go. Works out cheaper too, as you only use one lens at a time.


(I know somebody who did the whole lens replacement thing. Says it was brilliant. Perfect eyesight. Again, my eyesight isn't bad enough (yet) to warrant it)

Contacts here for years, but now wearing varifocals. My son is -16 in each eye and surgery is not an option, so poor lad has to wear bottle top glasses which we do get thinned down (for the little different it makes) and buy good frames. Costs around £600-800.

Trinity765 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:27 am I've been wearing contacts for 20 odd years as I was slightly myopic......Following that change my myopia improved but I became short-sighted so I don't really need glasses now.....

Is that what you really mean? - as myopia = short-sightedness.

Wossname wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:38 pm

Trinity765 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:27 am I've been wearing contacts for 20 odd years as I was slightly myopic......Following that change my myopia improved but I became short-sighted so I don't really need glasses now.....

Is that what you really mean? - as myopia = short-sightedness.

Ooops. Thanks. I was myopic but have become far sighted (hyperopic).

I think that's common in advancing years (sorreee!). My granny, who was short-sighted all her life, ended up looking over the shoulder of the person in the pew in front to read her hymn book. It's why as you get older, you need longer arms to read stuff.