Eye conditions, like
everything else, will vary from individual to individual as they age. We won’t all be subject to glaucoma or
macular degeneration but we will all experience decreased flexibility of the lenses. Decreased flexibility means that the eye
loses it ability to focus on nearby objects.
This explains why so many people over the age of 45 have succumbed to
reading glasses, bifocals, or progressive lens glasses.
You may have noticed by now
that lenses that combine reading and distance prescriptions require you to tilt
your head so that you are looking through the precise area where you need the
most clarity. I was first introduced to
bifocals when I was eight in an effort to retard my rapidly progressing near-
sightedness. I didn’t like them then and
I don’t like them now. I had all sorts
of trouble with stair steps and curbs and even today I complain because I can’t
read or watch television from a recliner or my bed
Laura Johannes wrote an article
for The Wall Street Journal (March 16, 2010) about a “bridge for the bifocal
set” that sounded interesting to be. A
new type of eyeglass called TruFocals (Zoom Focus Eyewear LLC) has been
designed so that you can manually focus the lens. The glasses are made up of two lenses (normal
distance prescription on the outside and a flexible plastic lens containing
fluid behind it). It all sounds rather
complicated but when the slider is moved to the left, the reading magnification
is off and distance vision is on, as it is moved to the right the reading
magnification increases.
Optometrists, according to
the author, give them high reviews but the drawback is that they come in Harry
Potter-like frames. It is ideal solution
for home use but if you are looking for a fashion statement this won’t be for
you. However, we know that design
stylists won’t be far behind.
The adjustability is useful
for computer work because you won’t need to bend your head to line up your
sweet spot. These lenses are safer. If
you have ever had trouble with stair steps or curbs because of your bifocals
you will understand what I mean. Making
the adjustments is a little hard to get used to but an experiences user can
soon figure out how to do it with one hand.
A more fashion conscious
version by PixelOptics Inc. is due out next year with a larger choice of
frames. The newer version will be more
like regular progressives but with a switch to make adjustments easier. I already think that glasses were the best
invention ever and I am doubly pleased that researchers are still working on
ways to make life more comfortable for us.
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