I found the perfect old-person glasses for riding.

[BonS]

If you have to wear readers as you get older you might want to read this. It took me way too long to figure this out! I use reading glasses and have always had problems with my GPS because I can't wear my readers while riding. Recently I got some safety glasses at work that have built in readers on the bottom of the lens. The beauty of the safety glasses is that the reader lens is set much lower than normal glasses. Thinking about my riding problem I ordered some with a slight difference. I usually use a 2.25 diopter for reading but that is good for about an 18" reading distance. I need about 24"-30" for my GPS and instruments so I ordered 1.5 diopters. When looking straight ahead the top of the reader lens is just below the bottom of the windshield of my IS - perfect! The road is clear and I'm not having to look "over the lenses" but when I glance down everything from the speedometer to the GPS is in perfect focus. I bought one pair in smoke grey and the other pair clear for night riding. While I was at it I bought a pouch to store one pair or the other in my trunk. Each pair was only about $17 and the bag was only a couple of bucks. I've dedicated these glasses to my riding so I don't drag them all over the place and have to look throughout the house and cars trying to find them when I'm ready to ride. I started needing readers about 15 years ago and I'm so #$@ glad that I've finally, finally found the right combination for riding. It's about time. I hope this helps someone else.

[Hoser]

Got a source?  hoser

[BonS]

I'm sure there are a lot of sources but I used MSC Industrial Supply aka MSCdirect.com. Page 2667 has a selection. I have the Smith and Wesson 30-06 Readers with clear lenses and the AOSafety BX Readers in smoke grey. I have some others models but for one reason or another I don't like them as well usually because they don't have the reader lens placed low enough. Combined they were around $30.

[laserpat]

I found some at walmart

[Mo Lee]

That is funny because I just recently discovered reader safety glasses my self, and have been searching stores for more. My work place started cracking down on safety glasses and I was having to use safety glasses over my regular glasses one of the younger guys was complaining about his safety glasses and showed me he had bought readers by accident. I tried them on and found them to be perfect for me because of the low placement of the bifocal. Since I ride with then all the time and have found out it comes in handy to be able to read the speedometer.

[Jabba]

What is this?  A Goldwing board?

You bunch of old bastids!!

Just kidding.  I have not gone to readers yet... but I have recently started to have to read over my regular lenses.

 

Jabba

[doubletee]

I just switched to bifocal contacts last Tuesday. !*&^$^@)(@&* old age!     

[Spirited-6]

I just switched to bifocal contacts last Tuesday. !*&^$^@)(@&* old age!     

BIFOCAL CONTACTS ??? What happens if you put them in up-side down ?

[Black Dog]

Another source for the 'clear' lense cheater saftey glasses is Rockler or Woodcraft stores...  I'm a woodworking hobby guy, and got mine at Rockler for about $8.00...

Black Dog

[Joe Hummer]

I have been wearing multi-focal contact lenses for a couple of years now.  They are pretty nice and you never have to worry about things being at the right distance.  Here is a demo on how they work...  http://www.goodbyereaders.com/demo.html

Joe

[John Schmidt]

Well, my eyeballs must be in pretty good shape judging by the other posts. I had been near-sighted all my life, wore contacts for about half the time up until about age 58, then had Lasik sugery done to both eyes. Believe me, that was an emotional revelation. Even with the protective goggles on while riding home, I was excited because I was reading license plates a half block ahead of us....with no glasses or contacts. After the healing process and a followup exam, I was actually better than 20-20 for distance, and about 20-40 for reading. I found I could do the majority of my work on the job on the computer without reading glasses. That was 14 years ago. I still have 20-20 for distance, but have to use some 1.50's for reading if I want to be comfortable, although if the page has good contrast I can often still read without the glasses. That definitely doesn't include the phone book...I'm sure they keep using smaller print every year.    So, for the last few years I've been carrying some half-lens 1.50's in my shirt pocket, keep a pair in the shop, and use full lens 1.50 at the computer....got tired of sitting there with my head tipped back at a 45 to see through the half lens. I can use it without the glasses, but if I'm on for long it gives me a roaring headache. I never used anything but sunglasses while I was still actively flying, but now need the cheaters to read a sectional chart.....I'm sure the same people that print the phone books also print the charts. 

As for hearing, no problem. I was raised during a time prior to the Walkman and all the noise makers that followed. As a result, my dumbo's pick up sound quite well....I can hear the thermostat in the kitchen click on/off from our bedroom over 50' away. My wife thinks I watch TV with the sound off so goes in a different room and cranks it up so she can hear. If we're watching the same program, I just turn my sound off because her's is up high enough for both. It's symbiotic I guess. 

[Jabba]

I have been wanting lasik for years.  I just can't get off the dough.

I have worn glasses for 28 years and my prescription has NEVER changed.

I hate glasses and hate them while doing sports and hunting especially.

Jabba

[Willow]

I have not gone to readers yet... but I have recently started to have to read over my regular lenses.

John, it sounds like you're there but still lingering around Egypt.
 

[John Schmidt]

I have not gone to readers yet... but I have recently started to have to read over my regular lenses.

John, it sounds like you're there but still lingering around Egypt.
 

We have too many John's on the board. Hmmm....OK...maybe I should rephrase that; we have too many members named John. 

[Willow]

We have too many John's on the board. Hmmm....OK...maybe I should rephrase that; we have too many members named John. 

When one reaches a particular point in life there can never be too many johns.    

(Always check the quote box for clarification.)    

[Jess from VA]

I've been wearing bi/trifocal/varilux for years, but only wear single/distance vision to ride, and can still read the instruments well enough. 

[Skinhead]

I have been wanting lasik for years.  I just can't get off the dough.

I have worn glasses for 28 years and my prescription has NEVER changed.

I hate glasses and hate them while doing sports and hunting especially.

Jabba

DO IT!  I wore glasses since 2nd grade.  Got Lasik at 43.  Wish I had done it a lot sooner, better return on the investment.  It is worth every penny!

[BonS]

LASIK is great for a lot of people. For "old eyes" that can no longer adjust the eye & lens to see near images, though, there's a compromise that is commonly used with LASIK surgery. One eye is made to see best at a distance and the other eye is adjusted to see near images. This is referred to as monovision. It works well for many. My concern, when riding, is both depth perception issues and when stuff gets into my eyes. I'd hate to have only my near-vision eye working while I clear my other eye of FOD. I also, at night and in tunnels, close one eye to get or maintain dark-adaption while I deal with bright lights or dark tunnels. Monovision would keep me from maintaining this safety practice.

[GreenLantern57]

Got LASIK at the age of 51. Wife thinks it is a waste of money since I have readers all over the place. BUT, I love being able to wear off the shelf sunglasses. I have had glasses since first grade and the emotional release was worth the 4k.

As for the safety glasses, they are a great product. I have a clear pair and lost the dark pair. Love being able to read the gas receipt when I fill up. I plan on repalcing the dark pair soon. Love the idea of dedicating them to bike riding. Thanks for the tip.

[John Schmidt]

I had the same comment at work; how come you still need glasses to read after the Lasik? The two are totally unrelated, but had a heck of a time getting them to understand that. Most finally understood that the "readers" are associated with the age factor....you'd need them whether you got the Lasik or not, even if you were blessed with 20-20 from birth. I wore glasses from about 3rd. grade until after the military, then went to soft contacts until age 58 when I got the Lasik. I'm now 72 and can see into the next county and everything in between, but up close I need the readers even though I test at about 20-40. That's basically unchanged since I had it done....just think of all the money and aggravation I've saved in the last 14 years.

And Willow....I knew what/who the post was meant for, I always refer to the "quote." Was just a lousy attempt at some humor. And I most definitely know what you mean re. age-johns-trees-large bushes, etc., when traveling. 

[Madmike]

I just switched to bifocal contacts last Tuesday. !*&^$^@)(@&* old age!     

BIFOCAL CONTACTS ??? What happens if you put them in up-side down ?

.................. you can foretell the past.....