Bifocal Sunglasses
 

This seems almost too puerile to ask here... but don't know how else to find the answer - and I've spent a long time searching the net.

A few years ago I saw an ad in the BALPA mag for sunglasses which have a small, clear, area at the bottom for a reading lens. Most of the glass is uncorrected but one can choose the strength of the reading area and they are quite superb

Unfortunately I've lost the details and my pair are knackered! If some kind soul could direct me to the source of these excellent glasses I'd be very grateful.

HD,

It sounds as if you're fortunate enough not to need corrective lenses for distance work, only requiring the reading prescription. I use photochromic varifocals as I need both and they are absolutely fantastic in all daylight situations. Flying in light a/c I can go from map to panel to outside without any change in focus and hardly any head movement. The only downside is the need for increased side-to-side head movement to keep the distance part in focus when scanning laterally but that's no bad thing as it gives the discipline to look properly and not rely on peripheral vision which is not much use for detecting small objects in the distance. Varifocal gives you a range of in-focus distances that most people easily adjust to using, rather than the sharp cutoff given by bifocals.

I think the worst option is the 'half moon' jobbies. One person I fly with uses these and he's forever bobbing his head up & down trying to see round the bar halfway up his field of view. The only use they have in my opinion is to look imperiously over when you want to scare the children.

In short, I'd suggest that you explore the varifocal photochromic option instead of of bifocal.

Cheers,
TheOddOne

Hi H.D.,
You will find them on ebay.co.uk in the Aviation >Pilot Gear section.
Or the manufacturers www.grettoptik.com website. £15 approx.

Thinking of getting some myself for the summer for GA flying. I need reading glasses for setting the altimeter and some map work.
Regards,
Steve.

Oh many, many thanks swp53. I'm very truly grateful. They are most excellent and quite tough for the price. All I would warn is that the lenses are plastic so don't park them lens side down on rough surfaces.

OddOne.. Yes I have pretty good distant vision at present, although it'll probably worsen as I head towards the mid-60s. The glasses in question are excellent for driving - perfect vision straight ahead and then a glance at the dashboard and everything is in focus - and the reading glass area is clear. They're brilliant.

Bren