Thread for Bifocal Wearing Golfers

[DaveLeeNC]

How do you deal with this?

I wear bifocals (am SEVERELY near-sighted and can't read through single vision glasses that properly correct my far vision - reading without glasses is very comfortable). I have always worn the 'line-free' type bifocals that have a transition between near and far vision correction. I have never knowingly had a golfing issue with wearing my bifocals on the course. However my transition from monovision correction to bifocals was when I was not playing golf. So I was already wearing bifocals when I returned to golf in 2002.

In 2004 I made a prescription change. The eye doctor told me that changing lenses was almost not worth the trouble other than the fact that my old lenses were pretty scratched up. I don't recall having a transition problem to these new lenses, although they were very similar prescriptions, very similar size/shape, and (at my request) they placed the transition zone as close as possible to the old one.

A while back I had broken my 2004 glasses just before heading for the range for practice. I got an old (late 90's) pair of glasses from the back of my sock drawer (also line-free bifocals) and headed for the range. They didn't exactly feel right, but I could certainly see OK. But I couldn't hit a golf ball to save my life. Since I am a club builder I used my club building epoxy to repair my normal glasses. Ever since then I have been wearing these old 2004 glasses and have been absolutely pertrified just thinking about changing glasses (for two reasons).

1) The paragraph above
2) An experiment that I did a long time ago with some single vision glasses from the late 1980's. My far vision was acceptable with these things. But not only could I not hit the ball wearing them, I could not even maintain my balance in my follow-through (and balance is virtually NEVER a problem for me). I would literally fall over (or catch myself with my golf club) on the follow-through. It was like someone would give me a big shove just after impact.

But my self-repaired frames were getting to the point that my glasses would not stay on, so (today) I picked up a new pair of line-free bifocals and went to the range. My old glasses were relatively tall and I let the eye glasses lady and my wife talk me into a 'more modern' pair that are not nearly as tall.

I started out hitting 3/4 (60 yard) LW'es. Virtually every one of them was hit about 1/2" fat. One after another, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, ......

So I put on my old glasses. Virtually every one of them was thin, thin, thin, thin, ...

It was amazing. I could just switch glasses and go fat to thin. Astounding. I have pretty much decided that the issue is adjusting to where the far-vision to near-vision transition is. And the best path for me is a pair of single vision glasses for golf, I am thinking. I can remove them and deal with my scorecard - no problem.

But I am curious about other golfer's experiences here and how they deal with them.

Thanks.

dave

[mikec222]

can't answer your question, but my dad has trifocals, even worse.

[jsanatx]

have you tried contacts? i've heard that they can do bi-focal on them now.

i didn't have a problem out on the course, at least i didn't think so.

can't read for crap, but am ok seeing far away. i went to the doc and went through the fitting process and finally found my prescription. now i can read, and i can see the greens alot clearer now. didn't think it was a problem before, but it sure has made a difference. just a thought.

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='jsanatx' post='1988847' date='Oct 5 2009, 03:50 PM']have you tried contacts? i've heard that they can do bi-focal on them now.

i didn't have a problem out on the course, at least i didn't think so.

can't read for crap, but am ok seeing far away. i went to the doc and went through the fitting process and finally found my prescription. now i can read, and i can see the greens alot clearer now. didn't think it was a problem before, but it sure has made a difference. just a thought.[/quote]

I wore contacts when I was younger. My "eyelids are very tight" (according to my eye doctor) and they were never comfortable. After 8 hours I couldn't wait to get home and take them out (and I wore them for 4 years).

Maybe contacts are better now - but I am not enthused.

However I used to regularly play tennis with a guy who got bifocal contacts. He couldn't hit a volley to save his life wearing them. I used to ask "Bill - you wearing your tennis contacts?". After about 5 matches he started going back to his single vision glasses

dave

[keygolf]

Dave:
One solution is to go to the distance single lens for golf, but have them put your bifocal portion at the top instead of the bottom. I wear bifocals but don't really look at the ball, but go to a state of defocus when executing shots. I have a friend who went to the bifocal on top and that works for him.
Cheers,
keygolf

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='mikec222' post='1988836' date='Oct 5 2009, 03:43 PM']can't answer your question, but my dad has trifocals, even worse.[/quote]

When you wear the transition glasses (no lines) you are basically wearing "infinity-focals" - every possible level of correction between your very near and very far vision exists somewhere in the lense.

dave

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='keygolf' post='1988864' date='Oct 5 2009, 03:56 PM']Dave:
One solution is to go to the distance single lens for golf, but have them put your bifocal portion at the top instead of the bottom. I wear bifocals but don't really look at the ball, but go to a state of defocus when executing shots. I have a friend who went to the bifocal on top and that works for him.
Cheers,
keygolf[/quote]

VERY interesting solution. But given where I am at (and the fact that reading with my glasses off is ALWAYS the most comfortable for me), single vision is probably the way to go for me (already owning a fairly expensive pair of multi-vision glasses).

But still - very interesting solution.

dave

[wmblake2000]

Dave, I think your brain might accommodate to the new glasses. It's pretty good at doing that kind of stuff. Maybe give it a while, and then see.

[atlanta golfer]

I went to no line bifocals about 4 years ago, after wearing regular glasses pretty much my whole life. I was having a hard time reading fine print (classic sign of middle age!). My Doctor told me some people keep a regular pair of regular glasses for sports such as golf. I did this for about a year then got tired of dealing with multiple pairs. So about 3 years ago I started wearing the no line bifocals for golf. It took me less than a month to completely adapt. I would never go back now.

One of the keys is getting a good quality lens which maximizes the area of focus. Unfortunately, this means paying a bit more. It also is critical to get properly fit for the lenses so the focus areas are in the right places. I think a lot of people give up on them because perhaps they never got properly fit (just like for golf clubs!).

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='wmblake2000' post='1988903' date='Oct 5 2009, 04:14 PM']Dave, I think your brain might accommodate to the new glasses. It's pretty good at doing that kind of stuff. Maybe give it a while, and then see.[/quote]

I believe that you are correct about this.

However I will probably go to single vision lenses anyway, simply because a change in how your glasses sit on your face (for whatever reason) can make a big difference. And I would prefer to take this out of the equation.

My eye doctor told me to not make any decisions about how the glasses were working until I had been wearing them for 2 days. But still I am inclined to take this variable out (since I can just remove the glasses when near vision matters).

dave

[Solutions Etcetera]

I have never been a fan of the progressive lens for any precise vision. I felt too much distortion in transitional areas and had to hunt for the sweet spot I wanted. I am much more comfortable with traditional bi-focs where I know what exactly what magnification I am looking through.

Having said that I had some DriveWear bifocal lenses made up for Oakely frames (mainly for golf). The larger sunglass frames allowed me to put a very small bifocal area at the bottom that was not in my field of vision at address. I simply took my putter to the optician and we experimented with some tape to make sure the read Rx area would not be in the way. Since the ball is closest to me when putting, I figured if it was not in the way with the putter it would not be in the way with longer clubs.

It worked out perfect and I have absolutely no issues playing golf with these bifocals.

[crazygolfnut]

I wear trifocals and cannot wear them when I play. I have a pair of single vision with the distance part only for golf. Every time I purchase a new set of glasses, I wait to make sure everything is ok then order a set of single vision for the course. By the way, if I have to keep score, I usually have to lift up my glasses to write. Not a big deal but someone will usually volunteer to keep score because they feel sorry for me or think I will make a mistake. A little less work for me!

[bellken]

I am very near-sighted, and, I switched to progressive bi-focal last year. I don't have too much of a problem hitting balls while wearing glasses, but, the ball gets pretty fuzzy. I may be more use to being being vision impaired, so, it doesn't bother me as much.

When I play golf, I ususally wear my contacts, and, I carry a pair of reading glasses, which I use if I need them. For normal usage, I am wearing my glasses, which is why I wear them to the driving range.

When you are talking about changing eye glasses(particularly bifocals), there are a whole of lot of different variables, one of which is refactive index, which can really screw up your depth perception.

As far as bi-focal contacts, they are pretty pricey.

I don't think I have much help to offer, but, it might just be that you need time to adjust to your new eye glasses.

[HitEmTrue]

[quote name='DaveLeeNC' post='1988811' date='Oct 5 2009, 02:30 PM']I wear bifocals (am SEVERELY near-sighted and can't read through single vision glasses that properly correct my far vision - reading without glasses is very comfortable).[/quote]

This describes me, except for the word "SEVERELY". My current glasses are single vision, lower profile with no rim along the bottom of the lenses. I look below the lenses to read. I can play golf with these, or with my prescription (also single-vision) sunglasses. Don't have any problem seeing under the sunglasses to read/write, either.

When wearing my glasses, sometimes I am distracted when my head moves, especially if the ball moves to the lens line or a little below mid-swing. When using the larger sunglasses, this hasn't been a problem.

If you can read without correction, is there any power to the lower portion of your bifocals?

[CurtisBen]

Dave
Just a question in the op you stated something about monovision. Were you referring to just a single vision lens to a bifocal lens or were you talking about actual monovision correction. I am an optician and while I would much rather you were glasses because it helps people like me have a job. Doctors are prescribing more monovision contacts where one eye is corrected for the distance and one for the near and the patients brain will actually take over the vision and use which eye that focuses best.

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='HitEmTrue' post='1989016' date='Oct 5 2009, 05:13 PM'][quote name='DaveLeeNC' post='1988811' date='Oct 5 2009, 02:30 PM']I wear bifocals (am SEVERELY near-sighted and can't read through single vision glasses that properly correct my far vision - reading without glasses is very comfortable).[/quote]

This describes me, except for the word "SEVERELY". My current glasses are single vision, lower profile with no rim along the bottom of the lenses. I look below the lenses to read. I can play golf with these, or with my prescription (also single-vision) sunglasses. Don't have any problem seeing under the sunglasses to read/write, either.

When wearing my glasses, sometimes I am distracted when my head moves, especially if the ball moves to the lens line or a little below mid-swing. When using the larger sunglasses, this hasn't been a problem.

If you can read without correction, is there any power to the lower portion of your bifocals?

[/quote]

To read without any glasses I need to get things pretty close to my eyes (14-18 inches). I can read at 2-4' with my bifocals. They are most useful when viewing computer monitors of varying sizes.

dave

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='CurtisBen' post='1989018' date='Oct 5 2009, 05:14 PM']Dave
Just a question in the op you stated something about monovision. Were you referring to just a single vision lens to a bifocal lens or were you talking about actual monovision correction. I am an optician and while I would much rather you were glasses because it helps people like me have a job. Doctors are prescribing more monovision contacts where one eye is corrected for the distance and one for the near and the patients brain will actually take over the vision and use which eye that focuses best.[/quote]

I'm not sure exactly which comment you are referring to. But I have never worn anything other than.

1) True mono-vision correction (glasses and contacts). I have never worn any kind of visual correction where one eye was corrected differently vs. the other eye.
2) Progressive bifocal eyeglasses

dave

[CurtisBen]

I am sorry for the confusion when I said mono-vision I meant monocular correction as in one eye correction not both. I would probably agree with the post about the drive wear lenses they are a wonderful lens for golfers and yes you can get the bifocal set low enough to not bother you but you would have to change to a straight top bifocal instead of a progressive on meaning the kind you can see on the outside of the lens. That is what I would recommend.

[DaveLeeNC]

I was back on the range today. And I found myself adjusting to my new glasses and figured that in another day or two (max) things would be 'back to normal'.

Then I went to the putting green. Short putts were an absolute disaster. I seriously considered taking my glasses off when putting from inside 10'. But I found that moving them down my nose about an inch was a better solution.

But immediately after my practice session I went back to the eyeglasses shop and ordered a pair of single vision (lightly tinted) glasses for golf. I just don't want to be dealing with this variable any longer.

dave

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='CurtisBen' post='1989018' date='Oct 5 2009, 05:14 PM']Dave
Just a question in the op you stated something about monovision. Were you referring to just a single vision lens to a bifocal lens or were you talking about actual monovision correction. I am an optician and while I would much rather you were glasses because it helps people like me have a job. Doctors are prescribing more monovision contacts where one eye is corrected for the distance and one for the near and the patients brain will actually take over the vision and use which eye that focuses best.[/quote]
Ben, Thanks for chiming in on the thread. I need some suggestions if you don't mind giving free advice over the internet. If you were in Maryland, I'd be more than happy to come in and pay for the advice. Here's my situation.

I currently have some Flex Dollars I need to spend by Nov 1. A little more than $500. And my game has really gone down hill this year, I'm just not hitting the ball as solid with my irons as I have in the past. One of the only variables between this year and last (other than a year older little less flexibility) are my glasses. I went to a new style this year based on the lady in the Dr's office as for what fit my face and looked good. I should also say at this point, my current eye doctor is a wonderful guy and has been great over the past 7 or 8 years I've seen him. However, he's not a golfer and while I've discussed with him my needs and how they relate to golf, he seems to react like I'm talking gibberish.

I don't know my exact specs off hand, but I'm very very near sighted (?) I can't see past my nose basically. I have a severe astigmatism (sp) in my left eye. I currently wear transistion, progressive lenses in a very small rectangular shape frame. I had to move on from contacts several years ago, due to not being able to read with them. I found the reading glasses on and off very cumbersome and tough to keep track of. One of the drawbacks which I knew going in about Transistions is they don't darken while driving. But I figured I never had sunglasses on before so I would live with this.

My Doc, mentioned the mono vision contacts but didn't sound very convincing that they would be the solution for me. And at the time I couldn't afford to make a costly mistake. Not that I can now, but as mentioned I have the Flex dollars and insurance as well.

All that preamble said: here's what I was thinking of options.

1) Just buy a pair of straight up presciption sunglasses for golf and other normal sunglass needs. Don't worry about the progressive as I could probably muster by reading the scorecard and other items. Thinking I wouldn't have to worry about the progressive aspect while playing golf.

2) consider progressive contacts as or someone else mentioned, maybe these have come a long way in the last several years. Then I could just buy regular sunglasses.


3) trying to find a new Dr. that is familiar with golf and has delt with progressive glasses/contacts issues before and just see what he says. However, I really am loyal to my Doc, as several years ago during a routine eye exam he picked up on something that he thought looked like a detached retna. He sent me to an opthamologist, who confirmed and then sent me to a retna specialist who performed some freezing procedure on it. He was very impressed that an optometrist would pick up that during a routine exam, and wrote a nice letter to my doctor stating as such. So I feel some loyalty to him and he always trys to make sure I get the best of service.

Sorry for the long post, but I was beginning to look into this as I need to spend the dollars befoere the month is out.

[retexan599]

I do wear trifocals & with specific lens segments. The intermediate vision segment is a narrow lens just on top of the reading lens(so the sequence from the bottom to the top is reading, intermediate, distance). I also have a set of trifocal sunglasses, with a somewhat older prescription in the intermediate lens. It turns out that I see the ball most clearly through the intermediate lens of the sunglasses (which I wear almost always outdoors here in Houston). What I have trained myself to do is to set up with my view of the ball through the intermediate lens; then, when I am making my backswing, I [i]must[/i] keep my head still in order to continue to view through the intermediate lens. If I find myself with a blurry sight of the ball, I know I am moving my head too much. So, I find I can put the trifocals to a good use and that is to help me not move my head. This way I can easily follow the subsequent ball flight through the distance lens, and read the scorecard, etc. through the reading lens without having change or move the glasses, etc. It may sound like a clunky solution, but I have been using trifocals for so many years that it is 2nd nature.

[CurtisBen]

Carolina,
Because of your near-sightedness you will be limited in sunglasses. You might not be able to get the pair that you want and in my experience you(the patient) hates being limited on what they can get. With that much money already in a flex account though Maui Jim will make some wrap solutions that may work for you and also Costa Del Mar you would probably have to talk to your optician that makes your glasses now to figure out if you can get them through them. I am pretty sure your are not going to be able to get them at somewhere like sun glass hut. Of course if you would rather you could get contacts and then there would be no limit on the sunglasses. Just a thought if you have a problem with the transitions i would not suggest the drivewear lens for your everyday because they do not lighten up enough to use inside. Let me know if you have any questions.
Ben

[CurtisBen]

[quote]I also have a set of trifocal sunglasses, with a somewhat older prescription in the intermediate lens. It turns out that I see the ball most clearly through the intermediate lens of the sunglasses[/quote]

That is because of the fact that as your presbyopia worsens your old lenses in the intermediate and near will correct farther away from you. This is why whenever you get new glasses with bifocals they always seem like you have to hold them closer to your face. Also if you would let the doctor know they can correct a pair of just bifocals to your intermediate.

[The_Lama]

Interesting thread. This is a common problem. I've been wearing bi-focals for the past eight years and cannot play golf while wearing them. My solution, although inconvenient at times, is to just wear contacts for golf and tennis. My eye doctor gave me a prescription with one eye corrected more for close vision and the other for distance. I don't have any issues other than the close vision contact isn't quite sharp enough to read finer print, but I can manage the score card just fine.

I tried single vision prescription glasses and sunglasses, which worked okay but I didn't like having to keep track of multiple pairs of glasses.

I just purchased a new pair of eyeglasses with a stronger prescription and I had the optician put the bifocal in the smallest possible area of the lens. I haven't worn them on the course yet, but I may stop at the range to see if they work.

I've played both sports for years with single vision lenses without any issues, but with bi-focals the magnification/vision change on the backswing is a prescription for disaster.

Does anyone know if Lasik (sp?) surgery would be a permanent solution for sports?

[Lefty4par2]

Hi all, I wear progressive lenses as well and this past season got a new set of Oakely single vision sunglasses. I wore them for EVERY single round. My OP office is full of golfers so the suggested a specific brown lens (very similar to that in the Peak Vision lenses). They were great with bright sun here in Colorado, as well as cloudy days...dusk, etc. VERY versatile lens color. I never take them off during play, I can read putts better with them and have really enjoyed this.

That single vision has made all the difference in the world! Go with that... IMO.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Ben,
Thanks for the feedback. LOL!!! You're right about us customers being frustrated in what we can't get. Sometimes it's hard to understand our condition prevents us from getting something stylish. Like I wanted to go with the rimless or at least half rimless glasses last time and they told me my lens requirements just wouldn't allow it.

I set the appointment with my Doc, just barely getting in Oct 29th. I may go back to the contact route, I had them for almost 20 some years before going to glasses about 10 years ago or so full time. As you said then I could get whatever sunglasses I liked.

I've read this morning about mulit-focal and lenses from B&L. I don't know if that would still present the current problem I'm having with the progressive lens or if it makes a difference since they are closer to the eye.

Still decisions to be made and I guess I will know more on my visit when I see what my current vision is and what new things may be available.

Thanks for you time and answers.

[DaveLeeNC]

I started this thread (and all the paths that this thread has taken are interesting, IMHO). But to review.

I have always worn progressive bifocals and had postponed getting new glasses in anticipation of adjustment issues and golf. When I got the new glasses 2 days ago in my first range session I found myself hitting the ball (VERY consistently) 1/2" behind the ball. I could change to the old glasses and INSTANTLY was hitting the ball thin. Old glasses - thin... New glasses, fat ... It was amazing.

I had two range sessions with the new glasses where I could get to the point of hitting the ball OK, but it seemed a bit of a struggle. Today was my first day on the course.

Talk about a disaster. My current index is 4.5 and after 10 holes (new glasses) I was hitting damn near everything just slightly fat and was 9 over par. I was absolutely sick of this so I changed back to my old glasses. I hit NOTHING fat from that point forward and pretty much every shot from there on was thin. I even skulled two consecutive 20'ish yard LW pitch shots (a shot that I practice in EVERY practice session and I am a practice hound). After changing glasses I played the last 8 holes in 8 over par. My differential of 18 strokes is the worst round that I have recorded since the start of my current stats methodology over 5 years ago.

I ordered some single vision glasses yesterday, but am really uncertain as to how to proceed in the meantime (delivery is a mininum of 1 week off - could be as much as 2 - I live in a small town and what can you do). So I have decided to "shelve" the new glasses (put them in the sock drawer and leave them there) until the single vision lenses come in. I have no idea, at this point, what kind of adaptation mechanism is involved here. But at least I have a history of having been able to adapt my golf game to the old glasses. Right now it is clear that I have (somehow) managed to "unadapt" myself to both pairs of glasses.

I postponed new glasses for 2 years fearing this result. Should have ordered the single vision glasses when I placed the initial order.

For some reason my putting with my old glasses is OK. Putting with the new ones is HORRIBLE and I even putted with no glasses (short putts only) on a couple of the "new glasses holes".

dave

ps. I believe that (in retrospect) the issue with today's round was the fact that in my practice sessions I did not change clubs every swing. I would hit some 5i's (for example) until that was OK, then on to a new club. Had I changed clubs every shot (on the range) I would have known in advance the kind of trouble that I was in.

[CurtisBen]

Dave I am not a doctor mind you but I think I understand why your are going from fat to thin. You see the new glasses, I am going to assume that the script changed and the bifocal power got stronger, with a stronger power you have to be closer to the object for it to come into focus until you become adapted to the new script. This may be the reason you are going from fat to thin because the older pair you would actually have to be farther away from the ball to get the same focus. I can't believe that it takes you a week to 2 weeks for single vision glasses I live in Mississippi and I would not consider it rural but still I can get those same day at worst. Please don't get discouraged about new glasses it is just with presbyopia as it gets worse it takes some time to adapt to changes.

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='CurtisBen' post='1992881' date='Oct 7 2009, 04:06 PM']Dave I am not a doctor mind you but I think I understand why your are going from fat to thin. You see the new glasses, I am going to assume that the script changed and the bifocal power got stronger, with a stronger power you have to be closer to the object for it to come into focus until you become adapted to the new script. This may be the reason you are going from fat to thin because the older pair you would actually have to be farther away from the ball to get the same focus. I can't believe that it takes you a week to 2 weeks for single vision glasses I live in Mississippi and I would not consider it rural but still I can get those same day at worst. Please don't get discouraged about new glasses it is just with presbyopia as it gets worse it takes some time to adapt to changes.[/quote]

Thanks for the comments, Ben.

IMHO, the real issue here is that my old lenses are WAY BIGGER than my new ones. And the new ones are WAY BIGGER than what the optician lady wanted to sell me.

The script changed but it wasn't much of a change. So I doubt that the presciption is the issue. But as I said I really don't understand what the issue is, so maybe ......

Regarding the 'time for new frames' I was pretty much PO'ed at the long delivery times. But I had no idea (at the time) that this would be the result and I went to the only local place that honored my (limited) insurance coverage for the initial set of glasses. I would have gone elsewhere for the single vision sunglasses, but I really wanted to be sure that I ended up with lenses with the same refractive index as the bifocals (which I assume are what I will wear 'normally'). But I was not happy with the delivery times.

Such is life in a small town. Heck - I remember when I was a kid and first discovered that I needed eyeglasses (early 60's) - I had to drive 70 miles to get fitted. So at least things are better than back then.

dave

[DLiver]

I am 54 and have needed reading glass for a number of years. My distance vision has been okay, but now needs some correction. I wear progressives just about full time, except when I golf. Several years ago, I felt like my green reading wasn't as good as it used to be, and went to an eye doc for some help. He gave me a Rx for a single vision lens that allowed me to see the ball clearly at address, and also to see clearly out to about 20 feet. This solved my green reading problems (and in fact made me a better green reader because the enhanced contrast of the lenses allowed me to see contours even better!).

The problem is that I can't read scorecards, yardage books, etc. I tried to find someone to make the so-called occupational bifocal with the reading portion at the top, but was unsuccessful. So my work around has been to use these plastic "reading glass" stick-on lenses that you can use to make readers out of ordinary sunglasses. I cut these into thin strips and stick them to the top of my Rx Oakleys. It works pretty well.