I've trained and used loupes for the past 21 years. My latest pair I purchased 15 years ago after dropping and breaking my first pair. The process of manufacturing and shipping took about 3 weeks and while the dentistry was getting done in that time, I felt like I was a million miles away and it really threw me how much of an effect not having them had on my day-to-day confidence with very routine procedures and it was almost impossible without them. I have partners who bought them in dental school and never used them and every now and then they try using them again and this far into their careers they have the opposite opinion - they find it almost impossible to work with them. I strongly believe it leads to better work.
Bifocals And Shooting
- Thread starter billt460
- Start date
When I started using them for very fine mechanical work it threw my hand eye coordination off quite a bit. It felt unnatural and it took getting used to. If I slip I may bend a hairspring or space-x a capstone but if a surgeon slips it could be game over. Imagine splicing nerve ends under a microscope with 11-0 sutures. They are what, 0.01mm thin? 12-0 sutures are 1 micromillmeter thin.
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You get used to them and before you know it you need them. I was forced in dental school during preclinical lab to wear them cutting ivorine practice teeth. A couple of weeks later fine motor skills start to sharpen and before you know it you don't even know the loupes are there until you try and do even basic things without them and then as I said you feel a million miles away.
My daughter got her loupes year one of surgery residency. Very cool.
The price is a bit steep, however, for my simple applications.
Had my annual eye appointment yesterday for my contacts/glasses. I spoke to her about this issue. Her comments:
In her 30 years at this, she's had this question many times. There simply isn't a good answer b/c you can't see both far/near regardless as you age - pick one haha. She recommended trying a v. light reader to reduce the overall distance power of my contacts, say like a +1 or even +.75. Issue will be they won't be safety glasses. So a few things I am going to try - playing around at home with this, I can wear a single contact in my dominant/right eye that I normally wear in my left eye, this is my lower power contact that helps me read/up close (b/c it doesn't correct for my distance vision as much). With that, I can see the sights clearly (or clear enough) as well as the target at 5 yards which is my main zone of interest with a pistol. I can leave my left eye alone/not corrected for this. I'll just swap them out at the range and of course swap them back to drive home. Bifocals won't work b/c you have to tilt your head way back to see the sights. I could probalby get a custom set of Rx safety glasses in the lower correction to do the same. PITA but this should help out....I think!
In her 30 years at this, she's had this question many times. There simply isn't a good answer b/c you can't see both far/near regardless as you age - pick one haha. She recommended trying a v. light reader to reduce the overall distance power of my contacts, say like a +1 or even +.75. Issue will be they won't be safety glasses. So a few things I am going to try - playing around at home with this, I can wear a single contact in my dominant/right eye that I normally wear in my left eye, this is my lower power contact that helps me read/up close (b/c it doesn't correct for my distance vision as much). With that, I can see the sights clearly (or clear enough) as well as the target at 5 yards which is my main zone of interest with a pistol. I can leave my left eye alone/not corrected for this. I'll just swap them out at the range and of course swap them back to drive home. Bifocals won't work b/c you have to tilt your head way back to see the sights. I could probalby get a custom set of Rx safety glasses in the lower correction to do the same. PITA but this should help out....I think!
My father did a lot of work in communication panels often above eye level. That is why he had trifocals.
If there's no medical counterindication you can have your distance vision corrected with implantable contact lenses. An ICL is similar to a contact lens but it is implanted between the cornea and the iris. Not to be confused with an intraocular lens or IOL that replaces the biological lens of the eye that is behind the iris. Then wear just reading glasses to compensate for your poorly accommodating biological lens.
At that piont just get lasic surgery...same thing, I would just always need readers.
Sure. How did the LASIK work out?
I didn't get it - I have no interest at this point in correcting my distance vision b/c it's not that bad.
I like Massad but he can be very full of himself, especially when younger. I learned alot from his early videos and translated them in my NC CCH classes when I taught them.
Sorry, I misread. I may need readers.
I think I'd rather go with ICLs that can be replaced than have my cornea invasively reshaped. LASIK removes cells from the cornea, thinning it. That is more of a problem with high corrections. However, the potential for artifacts like glare are very common. There's a very small risk of endothelial cell damage with ICLs. I'm very lucky to still very good vision. Contacts and glasses would not work for me because of my activities. There is another method of correcting distance vision. It involves wearing an orthokeratology contact lens while you sleep. This lens reshapes the cornea so you have mostly corrected vision for many hours while not wearing the lenses.I have been watching some of this stuff, eh, it's good but some of it is a bit much for me. His voice is v. soothing.
I have worn glasses (and not contacts mainly) for distance correction since I was younger. Contacts for the last 20 years have been a game changer; dailies are so good now and you always have freshies....just not a low-cost option for sure at ~$800 a year or so after rebates. I like the flexability I have, get up in the morning, not corrected, can deal with the morning well enough without glasses/contacts but can put my glasses on if needed to see clearly at distance..but can always see up close without. Put my contacts in, monovision (one eye at full power distance and the other at ~1/2 power distance so allows me to not need readers) allows distance and up close (to some degree) without readers most of time...still wear them occasionally (+1.5s). Can wear regular sunglasses. No glasses with helmets on mountainbikes, snowboards, or car on track. It's about as good as I can get right now without surgery and again, my eyes really aren't bad enough to bother with any surgical procedures.Sorry, I misread. I may need readers.
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Whatever works for you! Watersports and glasses or contacts do not go together. Also, I live in a rather dusty environment and that would cause problems. For optical performance, I would have to go with RGP lenses rather than disposable soft lenses. It just would not work. My dad is in his mid-70s and just recently started needing reading glasses. I can still see at 2.5 inches at age 48.
I have worked outside and in many dusty areas as a geologist for the last 25 years without much drama w/r to contacts. Also have surfed with contacts without issues, just have to remember to not open your eyes! Why can't you wear soft contacts?
Well, I guess I like to keep my eyes open.
I suppose I could wear them but I wouldn't be getting the best possible protection. Optically, soft lenses do not match a rigid lens. Soft lenses, disposable and reusable, are molded. They are made of a very spongy hydrophilic material. They flex a lot. That's why they are not an ideal option for those with astigmatism. A rigid toric lens may be required for astigmatism. Rigid lenses are molded, ground, and polished to very precise specs. Eye and lid infections are less likely with rigid lenses. On the plus side, soft disposable lenses are always fresh and they are more convenient compared to rigid lenses that require daily cleaning and conditioning. Anyway, If my distance vision goes, ICLs for me.
Like I said, whatever works for you. We have many options now. All of them beat a monocle.
This is why I don't shoot for groups any longer. My eyes are fine on my pistol sights if I'm not wearing my glasses but anything at 6-7 yards is fuzzy. With my glasses on, and I always assume my glasses will be on if I REALLY need to shoot, the sights are a mess but 6-7 yards is clear.
I do shoot both with and without glasses. I prefer without.
point and shoot fairly well.
I do shoot both with and without glasses. I prefer without.
point and shoot fairly well.
I am going to try to swap contacts next time I go so my lower distance power is in the right/dominant eye and see how my accuracy improves...I only shoot at 5-10 yards max.
For quick refraction (spherical only, 0 cylinders) you can use these optical flippers. They are under $20 each. I use them to help my buddies find eye correction that works for them on the range.
You can use them to tweak your current glasses or contacts prescription. Find out how much your refraction is off. I'd suggest getting +/-0.25 and +/-0.5 diopter versions. You can also use these to find out how strong your readers need to be. Remember, this is for spherical correction only. If you have astigmatism you need a proper refraction that includes the cylinders.
You can use them to tweak your current glasses or contacts prescription. Find out how much your refraction is off. I'd suggest getting +/-0.25 and +/-0.5 diopter versions. You can also use these to find out how strong your readers need to be. Remember, this is for spherical correction only. If you have astigmatism you need a proper refraction that includes the cylinders.
