Bifoculs and flying ?

[pierre]

Hope this topic fits under technical.
Any body that have any experience with Bifoculs.
It will be nice if the bifoculs can be on top of the lenses but it seems they can't do it.
Does it work, or am i going to waste my money?

[Morph]

I fly with bifocals all the time, but then it is closed cockpit.

If you know what your required formula is for your lens you can get stick on lenses from Wings and Things etc, that you can stick on the inside bottom half of your sunglasses etc.

Remember if you do fly with glasses, by law you need to keep a spare pair in the plane somewhere within easy reach in case the first set blow off etc.

http://www.optx2020.com/

I would not recommend varifocals. I have long distance vision on the top half and sides, and near vision for the dash in the bottom centre. That is it.

[Duck Rogers]

I would not recommend varifocals

Huh? Why not. I fly with them... and so does many others.
I used to fly with bifocals. Could see the instrument panel REAL good. Now I can see OUTSIDE real good as well

[pierre]

I used to fly with bifocals. Could see the instrument panel REAL good. Now I can see OUTSIDE real good as well [/quote]

What do you fly with now ...? Varifoculs ? I believe they use the whole bottom of the lens.
What about like something like a tale dragger ? Very high nose up position with landings ? Will varifoculs not be a problem there.?
Is bifocals not then maybe better?
Must know.... word ook al ouer hê? Pille Brille en Grille And i know the feeling of wrong choices .

[Duck Rogers]

Pierre...varifocals are progressive. That means you see nearby in the bottom and medium range in the centre and distant at the top. This is the simplest explanation I can give you. There is no definite line between the various sections and they progressively "flow" into one another.
They take a while to get used to as you have to move your eyes and/or your head to the correct position to focus for a specific distance. In other words, it's an "all-in-one" spectacles.
Frequent Flyer on this forum can maybe explain better, as this is his line of work, otherwise, go and see an Optometrist who will demonstrate and explain better.

[Morph]

I chose the bifocul route specifically for driving and flying. The whole bottom half of my vision is dominated by a dash, and everything else is outside, long distance. I am far sighted naturally but age has robbed me of the ability to focus nearby (used to blame the length of my arms )

I went to the Optician and told her I wanted to see things clearly at arms length and then infinity. I don't need the progression between and also found the varifocals made me nauseous and required the head to be held still when focusing nearby. The outer sections at the bottom are long distance as well, so when landing the lateral vision is there to help with the flare.

[Duck Rogers]

Morph, what you have obviously works well for you.
I have had no difficulty in adjusting to varifocals at all and don't get nauseous either.
What I have noticed however, is that the smaller the lenses are, the more difficult it is to get used to them because the focal sections are much closer together, hence you having to hold your head still when focusing nearby. My lenses are slightly bigger therefore the focal sections are bigger as well and eliminates the need for holding the head still.
Horses for courses......

[pierre]

[quote="Duck Rogers"]Morph, what you have obviously works well for you.
I have had no difficulty in adjusting to varifocals at all and don't get nauseous either.

Thanks so far guys.
Duck last question. Are you near or far sighted? People that are near seems to adjust quicker.

[Duck Rogers]

Far sighted

[old no 7]

http://www.optx2020.com/

Guys, a good friend Horace Blok on Avcom is an agent for these, or similar stick on lenses.
They work fantastically with your regular flying or dark glasses. Not sure of the price. He is overseas until 18 Feb but will post price once he's back.

[HansH]

Flying the Cubby taildragger wearing bifocals all went well on landing until the nose was raised this resulting in the lower (reading) lens getting in the way and the passing scenery suddenly getting rather blurred. Now have a pair of glasses solely for long distance which work well. And the instruments are also perfectly readable with these glasses.

[bluesmancoops]

Flying the Cubby taildragger wearing bifocals all went well on landing until the nose was raised this resulting in the lower (reading) lens getting in the way and the passing scenery suddenly getting rather blurred. Now have a pair of glasses solely for long distance which work well. And the instruments are also perfectly readable with these glasses.

I currently wear lenses and am going to be changing to specs - my concern with bi-focals was exactly as mentioned above with tail draggers???? Anyone else with a solution

[Morph]

Flying the Cubby taildragger wearing bifocals all went well on landing until the nose was raised this resulting in the lower (reading) lens getting in the way and the passing scenery suddenly getting rather blurred. Now have a pair of glasses solely for long distance which work well. And the instruments are also perfectly readable with these glasses.

This is why the sides of my lenses are far distance, and only the lower centre section where the dash is, is in near vision

Take an old pair of glasses, or a spare pair, a CD marking pen (black permanent marker), then get in the plane. Put the glasses on and using the pen mark on the outside of the lens where you need the near vision window to be. Take that to the optician and they can cut the lens exactly right

[bluesmancoops]

Thanks Greg are these also your "everyday" specs?

[Morph]

Yes, I use them for all things except working on a PC, where I need a much larger near vision field of view, so for the office I use 100% near vision so I can see keyboard, screen and read things on my desk. If I go to a meeting I use the bifocals