Troubles with eyeglasses

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

I'm a new nurse, but not a young one. I need glasses for distance and reading, IV's, etc. When I was in school I had a bit of trouble with juggling reading glasses and my distance spectacles. Tried contacts in the past, but just do better with specs. I'd very much appreciate hearing how you all deal with this kind of problem. I'm thinkin' I may try progressive lenses (when I get a job and can afford new glasses!). How do you keep glasses from tumbling out of pockets, comments on progressive lenses, that kind of thing. Oh, and I've posted this in the ER section because that's my unit of choice and it's got its own flavor of challenges for those of us with wonky eye sight. Cheers!

[NAURN]

Hi, I think I can offer some advice on this. I have worn progressive bifocal glasses since I was 17 (I am 27 now). I was born with eye problems and have had cataract surgery along with other surgeries so basically I can't see without my glasses. I never put my glasses in my pockets because I have to have them on to see. But the beauty of them is, I can see distance, near and intermediate distances without any problems at all, and without having to switch from one set of glasses to another. I imagine how I see is comparable to how normal people see. I do have to readjust myself or things in a position where I can see them, i.e. computer screen, med book, meds, etc. But I have been doing that for as long as I can remember, and especially since wearing bifocals, so it has become second nature.

It does take some getting used to. I have heard of people having problem with dizziness when first wearing them, but that this is normal while your eyes adjust to them. I would say it initially took me about 2 weeks to adjust to them.

They are extremely expensive. I just spent over $700 on a new pair... but I did buy the best lenses out there because my eyes are so dependent on them, its important for me to see as clearly as possible. But you can get less expensive lenses, and cheaper frames to bring down the cost.

I would never choose anything other than progressive lenses. I have never tried regular bifocal lenses, and I never would just because I feel like the progressives give me the most "natural" sight possible... I can turn my head and focus immediately on whatever I want to look at, and can look from near to far without problem, etc.

If you have any other questions let me know.

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

If you're of a mind, there are also progressive contact lenses. Yet another option is monovision contacts, where you wear one contact with your near prescription and one with your far prescription. It sounds weird, I know, but your brain makes it work, and many people preferred this to progressive contacts. Whichever one works!

Since cost is a factor, you may want to look at contacts; it is less money down all at once than progressive glasses lenses/frames, which can get extremely pricey.

Good luck!

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I wear bifocals.

I have never had any problems working critical care or oncology with them. If you get them fitted properly, they do not fall off. I have gotten used to pinching my mask nose to prevent fogging up. And as virtually ALL of my pts are severely immunocompromised, masks are required much of the time.

No falling out of pockets as I wear them all the time.

Getting used to bifocals took maybe an hour or two. Seriously, it is much harder to deal with contacts and having to pop on readers for closeup is so much more of a pain.

How do I answer comments regarding wearing bifocals? I really don't know because in the last 7 years of wearing lined bifocals.

No one has asked about them. Not pts, coworkers, friends, fr/enemies, store clerks, rabbis, MDs..... No one. And really, why should they? There just glasses.

I do really get annoyed with my friends that NEED glasses/bifocals or hearing aides and

refuse to get them. Reading menus to them or having them jack up the TV volume, because they wil not get assistive devices is irritating.

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

Oh, thanks to all of you! I had no idea progressives were so expensive. I failed to be specific about my concern of glasses falling out of pocket. I spent most of my time in my clinicals with my distance specs perched on top of my head because I have that middle thing where I can see well enough to not need glasses for computer, etc., but not recognize someone way down the hall, for example. I just don't want to make things any more complicated for myself than necessary. I will check out the various possibilities in contacts. You guys are great, thank you!

[itsmejuli]

I have astigmatism, close up and distance vision problems.

It took awhile but I finally found Essilor progressive lenses to work perfectly for me.

I had difficulty at first with progressives because the place I went to gave me a lousy eye exam so when the progressives were made they were terrible. I got my money back on them and went elsewhere.

When I got the right vision exam done and the right prescription I had progressives made at a higher quality vision center. I could see perfectly almost immediately out of them.

I always wear my glasses at work, I have to. I can't see anything without them. And no they don't fall off my face.

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

Thanks to you, itsmejuli! It helps to have specific products in mind when shopping so I thank you! BTW, we're the same age so that also helps me in figuring out what to do. Cheers!

[carluvscats]

I wear progressives as well, and have had no problems with them. $700 seems exorbitant for glasses; do shop around and find out who sells what brands... I used to sell eyeglasses in my former life and the upcharge on lenses is beyond belief! You have to give them a bit of time to get adjusted; point your nose and adjust your chin and you will be fine. I also wear a contact lens (one good eye, one bad eye) and I don't have problems with that, either. A good fit is crucial with the glasses.... don't be afraid to go back and get them adjusted, more than once if you need to.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

No line bifocals. And while I've had fellow nurses get lasiks, even if I had 20/20 vision I think I'd wear clear lenses. There have been too many times when I've gotten sprayed in the face and been glad I had something on my eyes. I had a bag of Tygacil burst because of a defect in the bag (pinpoint hole, and when I injected the reconstituted med, it sprayed out, and I got Tygacil from one ear to the other). I've had patients spontaneously and with no warning cough, vomit, projectile vomit, have gassy diarrhea that spattered from the head of the bed to the foot just as I was bending down to pack a wound, or otherwise gotten things on my face I wish I hadn't...

[DroogieRN]

Just FYI: Not everyone can wear monovision contacts; I can't. My brain just would not adjust. The eye doc said there are a select few for whom this type of contact does not work, and sure enough, I am one. I felt dizzy and nauseous and headache-y, no matter how much tweaking of the Rx. I was so bummed.

[mb1949]

I have been wearing progressives for about 5 years now and I have no problems with them, they are a blessing. I tried the seeing reading glasses switch off and was miserable. I wear my glasses all the time otherwise I am pretty much blind, they are expensive. Just got a new pair and they were are you ready, now remember I live in NYC (expensive everything) 1100 dollars, that included the eye exam. However they are also scratch resistant, anti glare, lightweight thin lenses (otherwise coke bottle bottoms) and go from light to dark in the sunlight so 700 is reasonable in this area. I am sure without all the other add-ons that is what they would cost.

[bill4745, RN]

I have progressives and love them. It took about a week and a half to get used to them. I would start by wearing them on your days off to see how they affect you. Be careful driving until you adjust to them.