Eyes failing

[lvlacleod]

I'm sitting here tying and I'm starting to notice even with my glasses on I have noticed I am having to pull my head away more and more just to focus. Now I know that means I'll more than likely need new glasses but here is my question.

How hard is it to adjust my eyes if I was using a magnifying glass with light?

The reason I ask is if I have to strain to focus for any length of time I get a mother of all headaches and have always tried to avoid using a magnifying glass but now I think I don't have a choice.

[sage5]

Hi, i use a magnifyer with a light,and i could not manage with out it,and do not have any problems focusing. maybe you could try one out and see how it suits you

regards Duncan

[arkle]

This has been covered here several times before. ANY magnifying glass WILL distort the image & get in the way of many tying proceedures.

Either a new pair of reading glasses at a higher than normal magnification or a pair of picture restorers glasses are a far better bet. If you go to a shop that sells the ones on a stand, check them out as you may need different magnifications for each eye. Solution Buy the 2 pairs & swap the appropriate lenses.

[Cap'n Fishy]

Originally Posted by lvlacleod

I'm sitting here tying and I'm starting to notice even with my glasses on I have noticed I am having to pull my head away more and more just to focus. Now I know that means I'll more than likely need new glasses but here is my question.

Aye, it come to us all. I have varifocals that do me well for everything, except for tying flies or for tying on a fly at the waterside. For those 2 jobs I have 2 pairs of cheap and cheerful +4 diopter readers that I bought from the stand at the supermarket. Last time I was at the opticians for an eye test (and a new prescription ), my optician gave these things his blessing, saying there is no point in trying to add this extra job to the varifocals, and I am just as well to use the +4 readers for the specialist jobs I am using them for.

So, I wear my varifocals for everything, but change to the +4 readers when tying flies, or changing flies at the waterside. The +4 readers were about £3.99!

Col

[maharg]

My mate was forever changing his glasses for close up/ distance stuff.
He went and got contacts with one lens for close up and one for far away!!
Sounds mad but the brain works it out and he has the best of both worlds.

[lvlacleod]

I just can't believe how bad my eyes are getting. I got new glasses less than 12 months ago (after an eye test) and now the glasses aren't much cop at all now.

Not even 50 yet

[Cap'n Fishy]

Originally Posted by maharg

My mate was forever changing his glasses for close up/ distance stuff.
He went and got contacts with one lens for close up and one for far away!!
Sounds mad but the brain works it out and he has the best of both worlds.

That is interesting, and I can believe it. They famously do these tests where they get someone to wear specs that turn everything upside down and, while it is all weird and wacky initially, after a couple of days everything appears completely normal.

I'm sticking with my 'lookers' and 'see-ers' though

Col

[lvlacleod]

Going for an eye test on Friday so let's see if new specs make any difference

[scotfly]

Originally Posted by lvlacleod

Going for an eye test on Friday so let's see if new specs make any difference

Before you go, sit at your vice in your normal tying position and measure the distance from the hook to your eye. Then tell the optician you want a pair of glasses made for close work, the distance from the hook to your eye being the focal distance you need.
That's what I did and it made tying small flies down to 32's fun again.

[flytier07]

I agree-my eyes began failing over twenty years ago and got to the point where I just couldn,t see to tie flies on at the water so I invested in clip-on magnifiers from a well-known fly fishing supplier and they did the trick, but last time I went to specsavers had a word with the optician and he made me a pair of varifocals that make the clip-ons obsolete and though I still use my vise magnifier for flies size 20 and above manage any larger with ease.