Getting to grips with reading glasses (middle age content)

Despite 46 years of perfect vision, I’m finding that I now need to use my reading glasses for more and more tasks – up until now its been stuff like reading a vernier calliper or really small print on the back of a USB charger but more recently ive found myself needing them for reading things on my laptop or even a menu in a restaurant. Decay comes to us all

Unfortunately the glasses I have wont stay put on the top of my enormous bald head when not needed so I never have them to hand when I need them which is annoying.

My specific needs are ive got a massive heid and its completely bald. My prescription is very slight if that makes a difference. Im not particularly bothered what they look like – functionality is key

I suspect the correct solution is a chain round my neck or a magnifying glass  but I cant be the only one here with this need so whats the go-to solution for glasses that will perch on top of a bald head so they are always to hand?

Varifocals or contact lenses. When I used reading glasses they got broken a lot because the only place they are safe from getting crushed in a pocket or sat on is in front of your eyes. Varifocals don’t get broken or lost.

Get foldable ones in a small tube that you can slip into your pocket.

I suspect the correct solution is a chain round my neck or a magnifying glass

The correct solution are variofocals. Even if the remainder of the glass is just plain not corrected for distance. Take a tiny bit of getting used to but a game changer.

Another vote for variofocals here. They’re like a rite of passage.

About 12 pairs of  cheap eBay ones to cover every room of your house plus some (assuming the OH uses them as well)

Its worked for me ;0)

Velcro on bottom of glasses / stuck to head?

On a chain they will swing around and get in the way, on your head they will fall off and elsewhere they will get lost or broken.  If you are fully resigned to your advancing years, far and away the most convenient readers I have found have a magnet at the bridge of the nose

TEYES London Readers

Or there are more speedy/better quality versions, I think one is called Clic

When I’m carrying but not wearing glasses, I tuck one arm down the neck of my tee-shirt.

… one arm of the glasses, before you start.

I’m in the dozen of cheap pairs in many locations camp, but  I have also experimented with the hanging off the neck of your t shirt recently,not done it in the presence of SWMBO yet, so I’m not quite sure if its allowed.

When I’m carrying but not wearing glasses, I tuck one arm down the neck of my tee-shirt.

Likewise. (I am not a contortionist)

You can get skull grip frames – they will stay on top of your head better

Last Tuesday night ride. One of use has a puncture.

None of the four of us can see it to fix it.

I use a mixture of fold ups for when out and about,  Foster Grants are very good with good lenses and can be had cheap online and a pair strung round my neck when I need them for longer periods for work, I also have a pair of good prescription ones that don’t leave the house for reading and night time internetting etc.

One pair of glasses in work

One pair of glasses on my desk at home

One pair of glasses next to my chair in the lounge

One pair in my manbag for when I am sent to the supermarket and need to read the shopping list.

All the aforementioned glasses are mine, not borrowed/stolen from someone else.

Need to be consistent about where I use them / leave them….

Mine kind of balance just above my eyebrows, then a raise of my brows and they drop neatly down onto my nose for reading.

I haven’t found a handsfree way of putting them back up tho

Contact lenses.  I have one in for distance,  one for close. Changed my life! Not everyone takes to them but worth asking for a trial. My eyes figure it out, sounds wrong but it works. I can drive my car and see the dashboard before the lenses I had to pick one

I’d say bifocals with no correction for the main lens

A mate rides in £15 safety specs off Amazinn. They are bifocal with near field correction at the bottom. So that would be a good starting point

Try these; I’ve got quite a few pairs, they’re really comfortable to wear, and because the arms/temples are very springy without hinges they are easy to push up onto the top of my head, and as I basically have stubble up there, they grip reasonably well.
They’re also reasonably cheap, which is why I’ve got a bunch of pairs kicking around. They will fall off if I move around too quickly, but generally I can wear them while I’m out in the garden, or around the house, and because they’re so light I have been known to forget they’re on the top of my head…

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352909252767?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MpxFX55VRpq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=KZ8qbSDdR1O&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I’ve also got a couple of pairs of Waterstones ‘Skinny Readers’ which are just what the name suggests and are great for putting into a pocket without adding any bulk, like a regular glasses case does.

https://www.waterstones.com/product/skinny-readers-2-0/5035393442033

I only need readers nowadays since having my cataracts fixed, for anything closeup, and the eBay ones above I can wear two pairs at once for really detailed work.

I went with occupational lenses – basically varifocals used for reading and perhaps TV across modest lounge distance. With a reflective coating for screens they have been the shizzles.

I’m now thinking I need an eye test for long distance, I was warned a year ago at my test it had started to deteriorated, so I may end up with proper varifocals or two pairs…

When I’m carrying but not wearing glasses, I tuck one arm down the neck of my tee-shirt.

My shirts have pockets for keeping things in.

My shirts have pockets for keeping things in

Good thing you added a picture of yourself as the first thing that came to my mind was Dilbert cartoons 🙂

“A mate rides in £15 safety specs off Amazinn. They are bifocal with near field correction at the bottom. So that would be a good starting point” – this but I’m also “a pair in every conceivable place” guy and it drives me mad! Interested in the contact lens solution, are they disposables?

I’m also “a pair in every conceivable place” guy

Back when I had hair long enough to necessitate tying back, I had a hair bobble.  If it wore out or snapped, I’d replace it.  My partner subscribed to the “one in every conceivable place” theory, if she had one on the go she’d have a dozen.  I always had a bobble, she never had one.

I never got on with reading glasses. As middle age continues is path I now have varifoclas for normal use. Occupational lenses for work, basically varifocals that cover reading, writing and computer work. Then distance only contact lenses for riding. I just guess the menu at the cafe stop?

As middle age continues it’s path I now have varifocals for normal use. Occupational lenses for work, basically varifocals that cover reading, writing and computer work.

+1

Always have pair of these with me in a pocket (or backpack when cycling) for occasional/emergency use. Tiny, flat and completely protected by the case. About £19 on Bezos’s Bargains. Great for short term use. Not a replacement for a proper pair of reading glasses with arms. Looks are bit Poirot (‘pince nez’ I think I’ve heard them called) but I’m past caring about that sort of thing.

https://www.thinoptics.com/en-gb/collections/shop-all/products/readers-silver-keychain-case

Glasses everywhere! I have several pairs of cheap  (£3.99) +1.25glasses all over the shop, but my Swedish architect glassesseem to stay in my bag….

A friend uses a monocle on a string, which seems like an excellent idea! I’m going to get one!

Last Tuesday night ride. One of use has a puncture.

None of the four of us can see it to fix it.

This is where the triple-click on the phone to get the magnifying glass is handy.  Been there before.

Though I like the sound of the safety specs with a little halfmoon in the bottom for viewing the garmin/phone/etc.  Any specific recommendations? Found these on toolstation:

Bolle IRI-s Safety Glasses 1.5 Reading Prescription | Toolstation

With a reflective coating for screens

This however I could not get on with. Maybe it’s because I don’t live an especially clean life in and out of workshops (or I’m just unhygienic!) but these lens coatings just seem to accentuate every smeary mark and smudge or bit of dust. I’ve got two pairs of variofocals and the ones with the coating are measurable harder to keep clean and clear. I have a pet theory the coating is just bollox and a method of upselling like a DFS fabric protection.

A chain or magnifing glass, Jesus Christ grandma.
Get a be pair of full varifocals and maybe a pair of occupationals as well, yes they need to be anti reflective esp if your making teams video calls.

Same here at 50.

I have a set of those thinoptics specially in my trail pack for close work out on the bike after I’d watched a couple of  ‘blind leading the blind’ trail repairs.

For ‘always with me’ utility I also have a pair in a flat wallet stuck on the back of my phone case. For general pottering about I have a home set and a work set.

Thinking about the varifocal route to have done with it.

Don’t dismiss doing eye exercises – people slag off the Bates method but I started doing some similar exercises years ago when trying to manage my exposure to CRTs and flickering flourescant lights whilst working as a software engineer, and they have kept me off glasses except for a minimal prescription for night driving. Still using 32inch 4k monitors comfortably at 100 or 125% zoom and 1m viewing distance at age 60, after 38 years of working with computers.

I move my eyes through full travel for 60 reps up and down, then left and right, then up and down at full extension on the left and then on the right, and it has that ‘muscle-stretching’ feeling to it. Eyes feel much fresher after the reps at full extension.

Then I will do the focus-on-your-finger then focus-on-a-faraway-item for more reps, which certainly makes a difference after a few days of doing it.

And try to avoid phone or tablet usage where the screen is too close, such as in bed.

A lot of opticians will dismiss doing these but some will say it is sensible. It’s worked for me.

I love my thinoptics – keep a pair in my pocket/wallet for when I don’t want to carry my real glasses. Works for menus, etc

I use real (as in expensive) glasses for all day reading and computer work. Have for years now. Don’t need distance correction. But still hate having to carry regular specs to the pub etc. and the thinoptics fill that gap.

I used to buy the cheap Specsaver type specs, they never worked brilliantly and I was always pushing them back on my nose. My better half persuaded me to get some top quality (German) varifocals, not at all cheap but completely transformative. They do everything and go everywhere and are light which is good as I can’t stand carrying extra bits around. Have just bought some Rayban varifocals which have alerted me to how good the German ones are, they’ll stay in the car. However, I do use cheap +2 safety glasses on the bikes. Splash out and be happy and as my Mrs says ‘cost per wear!’

Glasses everywhere! I have several pairs of cheap  (£3.99) +1.25glasses all over the shop

This, multiple pairs of cheap 2.25 in the house, at work, in the bike bar bag, etc. The only downside being my wife, who uses a different strength and has glasses of her own, still keeps lifting them and then god knows where she puts them. For that reason I won’t buy expensive readers as she will just lose them.