tri-focal glasses...

[jetopa]

Hi,

since a few years ago, I've been using corrcfive lenses (glasses) for both near and distant vision correction. Not much correction is needed, but when the (outside) light gets low, I start putting them on.

I have bi-focal glasses with near vision correction on the lower part and the distant vision part on the upper part. This doesn't help me though when looking at my overhead panel which is about 30 cm away from my eyes.

Until now, I've been pulling down my glasses when I wanted to read the overhead panel, but now I have been informed that there are tri-focal lenses that have another near vision part at the top. They are not cheap and before I order some, I'd like to here from anybody about her/his experience with them.

Thanks in advance!

[Jet Jockey A4]

I have tri-focal or multi-focal glasses and I love them!

I really only need them for near vision for reading and when looking at the other side of the instrument panel (diagonal view when scanning) but not for infinity.

I got into tri-focals because in our Globals we have a HUD and it is focused at infinity. Going from the instrument panel to the HUD was a problem with bi-focals and the problem was solved with tri-focals.

FYI... The cheaper you pay for tri-focals the less performance you get in field of view as in width. I paid for really good lenses (expensive ones) and I'm very happy of the result.

[MaffiFaloos]

Similar problems especially in low light situations. More comments greatly appreciated re: Pro's and Cons trifocal for us senior citizens :)

[flyboyike]

Well, gosh-golly-gee, if you need trifocals, then maybe....nah, too easy.

[Gulfstreamaviator]

go on you can do it...... glf

[Regulation 6]

Flyboy - you will need them one day too - if you're lucky!

I'm a fan of varios, I don't think the CAA like them much but for me they do the job very well. But they are not for everyone and it can be a bit dicey going down stairs... Not sure if you can get near correction at the top as well as the bottoms but I presume it can be done. Expensive though...!

6

[Tinstaafl]

I have tri-focals. My first pair. I'm short sighted and can read perfectly well. But now that I'm in my late 40s, my eyes can no longer accommodate sufficiently to my distance prescription to allow me to focus at short distances. That makes reading difficult now, unfortunately.

I've always liked glasses with good height (I don't like having a frame or lens edge in my field of view) so decided to try bi- or tri-focals. I wanted to be able to see documents & charts in my lap & the instrument panel (duh...), distance vision for outside, and the overhead panel. Bi-focals would be fine except for o'head panels hence tri-focals. Vari-focals don't seem to be available as a replacement for tri-focals so tri-focals it had to be.

I've had them for about a year now and am fairly used to them. We mucked around a bit deciding just where the cut-offs should be and what focal length I wanted. I was told that there were certain limits on where the top lens would be depending on where the bottom one was. If I could do it over, I'd insist (or find a different supplier) that the top lens be higher ie about 1/2 its current height. The bottom isn't too bad though. Maybe tweak it to be a bit lower but not much. The end result would be to increase the height of of the distance prescription lens. I find that I have to crane my neck too often to get the upper lense out of the way when trying to look up eg at traffic lights.

[galaxy flyer]

A year ago, I got a pair of Visioflex lenses. Absolutly love 'em. After a day or two, completly natural, but get a real good eye exam first. A shooting instructor recommended a local eye specialist, lots of tests, but once done, it's great.

GF