I want to talk to just the more mature perusers of this forum. I'll wait while the youngsters leave the room...

...Ok, here's my situation: I'm eligible for everybody's Senior Citizen discount, I have a new eyeglass prescription, and I fly R/C combat whenever I can.

I currently wear bifocals but part of my primary problem is that my mid-range isn't working and the kindly, youthful Dr. suggested trifocals or the new, wider progressive lenses. My problems is that I'm concerned about my peripheral vision when flying in general but particularly during combat.

I'm really looking for advise/recommendations from people in a similar situation.

Thanks,

Ray, you're not alone. When we get on the far side of 60, eye problems become a real problem.

I'm 68 and still fly competition combat and visited my eye dr. this year asking for advice on depth perception. He fixed me up with a pair of brown lenses (I think #4 brown) and the improvement is remarkable. I won't fly without them now.

Peripheral vision is not a problem with me, but if it was, I would seek out another optho dr. and get another opinion. Some of these guys have lots of tricks up their sleeve.

Cajun[8D]

I have bifocals, trifocals, and progressives. Last year I flew exclusively with the bifocals. The trifocals are used exclusively in the shop and the progressives are great for driving and shopping.

I talked to my optical guy about all this and he says to quit switching and pick one and go with it full time. He recommends the progressive and says that the new ones are much better than the older ones. Seems my current progressives are the older type and of a lower quality brand. The Varilux and the very expensive Zeiss are reported to be much better.

Because the progressives have a continuously varying lens strength the midrange is great. There is always some spot you can find that is in perfect focus. Great for the supermarket. Sometimes I go into the shop with the progressives on and they are great.

I must admit that it took a long time to get used to the progressives but they are the only ones that I can forget are on. The long and the short is that the next ones will be progressives and of the Varilux brand. Then I will be buying the best Varilux if different qualities are offered.

Raymond,
This weekend will be the first time I can fly with my prescription progressive bi-focals. My other sunglasses are not bifocals and are only for distance. They have a lighter tint and have worked well for the last year but I think the darker tinted progressives are going to work out better. My new "normal" glasses are very good Ciba progressive lenses and like stripes says they are more expensive but better progressive lenses seem to work in more distance situations. I am going to have to break down one day and buy a good set of progressive lens sunglasses, at least better than the ones I have now. Good luck.

Lou,

I would be anxious to hear how your new lens worked out.

I really appreciate everyone's input. Being retired (fixed income) and cheap to begin with, I am reluctant to spend any more money than I have to - but it doesn't make sense to me to compromise on something as important as my vision - particularly when it comes to flying.

So now I am leaning toward the Varilux lens.

I am also curious about the peel-n-stick things from Zurich. I was thinking that maybe I could use them on UV-blocking sun glasses when I go fishing. Anyone had experience with them yet?