Gamera

I wear trifocals and use the optivisor for any detail work being most of the time I'm at the bench.

I simply pull it up when not needed and pull it down to use.  You just need to get used to the new routine just like breaking in a pair of glasses for the first time.  

fermis

So this is what I have to look forward to???

 

At 42, I'm still rockin 20/20+...near, far and everything in between!

I'm sure I'll be stricken blind in the near future, to pay for excellent vision I've enjoyed.

 

Lol, I just turned 48 so I'm not THAT much older than you though I've been near-sighted since I was ten years old or so. Good luck, hope you can hold onto your perfect vision as long as you can. 

So this is what I have to look forward to???

At 42, I'm still rockin 20/20+...near, far and everything in between!

I'm sure I'll be stricken blind in the near future, to pay for excellent vision I've enjoyed.

Thanks again guys! 

I'm not sure how well reading glasses would work for me since I already wear glasses. The Optivisor seems to work well over top of them though. 

I'm slowly getting used to it. I've forgotten and walked to the kitchen or bathroom with it still on a few times lately. Not yet to the door but give me time. 

MrStecks

I've become so used to flipping my opti-visor up and down that I don't even think about it any more.  One night I finished working and flipped the opti-visor up so I could put away my tools.  Then I went downstairs and started watching tv.  About 20 minutes later I realized I was still wearing the opti-visor.  hahahahaha.....

Clear on that, Mark. Once I ran upstairs to answer the doorbell with mine on and flipped up.

Don't remember who it was, but 'twas a stranger and I got a strange look. I had no idea I had them on.

Yes I am 52 and the close in eyesight is not so good anymore.I use a Carson optical aide which is similar to an Optivisior.My bi focals are not great.sometimes when I mask a canopy with blue tape I flip up my glasses and just hold it close to my eyes works a lot better than expected!

I do the same thing,  my kids don't even laugh at me anymore, or let me know it's still on my head.

John

I've become so used to flipping my opti-visor up and down that I don't even think about it any more.  One night I finished working and flipped the opti-visor up so I could put away my tools.  Then I went downstairs and started watching tv.  About 20 minutes later I realized I was still wearing the opti-visor.  hahahahaha.....

As others have said, lighting is very important.  I have a strong daylight bulb in the ceiling fan that illuminates the room, and then a strong desk lamp that has four lighting modes and dimable LEDs, but I just keep them full on, and at 5600K.

Cheers, Mark

I've progressively been dealing with the issue in reverse. I'm far sighted but for most of my life I could still focus on things up close. First I started needing a magnifying glass for reading fine details like small decals, then a couple of years ago I finally had to start using reading glasses. So far just the cheap drugstore ones. Technically I just need the +1s, but I've started using +1.25 and +1.5 for doing really fine work.

Being far sighted, I don't have the adjustment to distance you are dealing with as arms length or further I can just remove the glasses.

My Dad is also a modeler and has the same issue only being older, he needs more glasses. It is almost comical, but he just hooked a coat hanger over his work bench and has probably a half dozen pairs of reading glasses in various powers hanging from it, plus a few spares.

Also agree with the work with good light comments. Initially I was able to avoid reading glasses with good light and it still helps. I ran track lighting over my work bench a few years ago. I've got 325w of light aimed at my work area. All LEDs so it works out to only 40w or so of actual power consumed, and it doesn't get hot. If those were incandecent or halogen lights I'd have a combination model bench / tanning salon.    

LED lights have gotten much better and much less expensive in recent years. I've gone from a they can have my incandescents when they pry them from my cold dead fingers type to a hardcore LED fan. I don't think I even have any incandescents left in the house. I also haven't had to change a lightbulb in several years, I hope I don't forget how when an LED burns out someday.

Also on reading glasses I found some awesome glasses last year, they split at the nose and are held together with a magnet. They are so much more handy than traditional glasses and I don't lose them all the time like I did regular reading glasses. No finacial interest, just a big fan.

Clic Readers

https://www.readingglasses.com/clic/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwx8fOBRD73f7Q1azszvIBEiQA9Wr42Zx7tMeBfxDsTIEZwbtoq85jpBPxuqc6SeOhvoOfv9waAgwO8P8HAQ

Gamera

Thanks again guys!

I'm going to check into getting some better lighting first, if that doesn't work I'll check on reading glasses and some of you guys other suggestions.

 

The light is very important.  As many photographers know, using a small aperture (stopping down) increases the depth of field of the photograph.  Same thing in the eye.  The smaller the iris is in your eye, the sharper you see, and over a longer depth.  That is the great thing about a positionable lamp.  You can bring it down really close to your working area when trying to do small detail stuff, and it really helps.  While the lamps that include magnifiers are nice, I only use that magnifier very occasionally, but I reposition the light constantly, balancing between lots of light on the parts I am working on, to see detail better, versus a wide light field during assembly of major subassemblies.  At least get a positional lamp- add magnifier if you can afford one of those.  Check how large a bulb you can use- neat thing about LED bulbs in lamps with regular sockets is you can use a bulb with lots of lumens that still fits within maximum watts of lamp.

Thanks again guys!

I'm going to check into getting some better lighting first, if that doesn't work I'll check on reading glasses and some of you guys other suggestions.

TB: Don't tell me to take more breaks- that's the issue now. I'm modeling for about fifteen mins and then taking a three hour break!

Hi Gamera !

 Oh Ho ! The age monster gotchya huh ? I use the optivisor as well as my tri-focals which are due to change , DOC says my Cataracts ain't " Ripe " yet ? Now , as mentioned , lighting is important . Have you heard of OTT LIGHTS ? I have two over my bench . I got the ones with the Natural Bright lights in them .

 This way colors are correct and the work area has little to no shadow . Now another suggestion . Work an hour , Take a break and rest your eyes . I do and it works . You'll still get the model done with maybe an hour or so added to the build time . Catchya Later , Now where did I put my glasses ?  Maaa! ! T.B.

I use reading glasses ordinarily at my work bench.  Nice now with so many dollar/discount stores, I get them for a buck apiece. I ordinarily use 2.25 diopter, but have a couple others, of slightly more and slightly less power.  I also have one of those positionable lamps with a fluorescent ring tube light and a six inch magnifier in the middle. If I need really high magnification, I look through the magnifier on the lamp while I have the readers on.  The magnifying powers add.

I'm going to look into the LED lamp for my work area and my painting area.

Hey, Cliff, 

I kind of have the same issue. I wear contacts to see in the distance, which is good. But, now I have to wear reading glasses to read. I really don't like the optivisor, so I bought higher strength reading glasses off Amazon. Depending on how close I need to see, I change between +3, +5 or +6 reading glasses. And I echo what Kalifornia says, good lighting is a must.

I wear blended bifocals as well, and find them OK for most things, except closeup stuff like modeling. The solution was to have a pair of "reading glasses" built that are specific to the distance I need to focus on when doiong handwork.

I have an optivisor, but I find it's really annoying to wear, and to deal with the flipping issues described above. My next hobby prchase will be the illuminated magnifying lens that Cadet Chuck mentioned. They're commonly available from Amazon or eBay sellers as well as MIcro-Mark.

I had cataract surgery on my right eye last week. Until I get my left eye done, I'm still wearing my blended bifocals. Over my bifocals I wear an Optivisor. I'm thinking about getting stronger lenses for the Optivisor so I don't have to wear my bifolcals. My wife recently bought me a visor that is worn like eye glasses with a selection of lenses and an LED light that I'm experimenting with as well.

Thanks guys!!! Guess I'll just have to get used to it. 

I do fit the visor a bit back on my head so I can look under it. It does help that the paint bottles, box of kit parts, TV and laptop are lower down so it's easier to glance down at them. 

Chuck: I didn't think of a magnifying glass, that does bear looking into (pardon the pun please).  

templar1099

I too have bifocals and optivisor.Get use to the bifocals,it's all head angle;reading,tv and distant. After that it's a lot of flipping optivisor up and down.

 

This is pretty much what I was going to say. Especially the "Lot of flipping optivisor up and down" part.

It all becomes second nature once you surrender to the way it is. Maybe take a little time, but it'll come. I went from better than 20/20 as a kid to 40+ yrs hiatus, then back at it with bad eyes so like so many others here, I'm right there with ya, my friend.

I have the lenses of my optivisor slightly high, so when i lift my head up i can look under the lense. Also, i don't have one of those with the enclosed lenses, so i can easily look out to the side. I have no problem switching from close up work to looking at the TV, the kit instructions or a bottle of paint.

I too have bifocals and optivisor.Get use to the bifocals,it's all head angle;reading,tv and distant. After that it's a lot of flipping optivisor up and down.

I have progressive trifocals.  I put the opivisor high, so that I am useing the top part of the glasses to use it.  By tilting my head back and looking under the visor, I can see the table.  As for the TV, you'll just have to left the visor for the good parts of the show.  This is a good thing, as the visor does cause eye strain, and looking to a distance will relax the eyes.

I use an illuminated magnifying glass on an arm that I can position over my workbench.  I find this very helpful for small details, even though I am nearsighted and have good upclose vision.  I believe Micro-Mark sells those devices and I think it's well worth the price.

I have many of the same issues.  What works best for me is use my opti-visor for upclose and the non-bifocals part of my glasses for see distant.  If I am reading I take off my glasses and hold the item close enough to read.  I fine reading without glasses is easier on the eyes.

I wish there was a one pill solution but I haven't found it.