Flying with varifocal eyeglasses
 

I’m a private pilot and recently had my eyes tested. I got a new prescription (age 50 with low-level of short sightedness). Per my low prescription and medicals (EASA & FAA), I don’t specifically have to wear glasses; but it’s a good idea and easier on my eyes. Day-to-day I don’t wear glasses; just for when working at computer, reading or driving.

I got both new eyeglasses and sunglasses with the new prescription. My primary glasses are varifocal (also called progressives) whereas my sunglasses (what I’ll nearly always wear when flying) are a single prescription.

I fly with a Garmin Aera 660 on a Ram mount in front of me and to my right on the bubble. On my first flight wearing the new glasses, I found my distance vision is sharpened up and I see the aircraft gauges fine except for close items. However, I couldn’t read my GPS clearly (was actually much worse than without glasses at that distance) and I subsequently just took the glasses off for the remainder of the flight.

Sunglasses that I cannot use while flying are not a great solution,so I’ve spoken to and am returning to my optometrist to change these lenses. I’m aware one solution could be to have varifocal lenses in my sunglasses also. However, I don’t want any distortion of distance/view when landing/taking-off from confined areas. Another compromise could possibly be a prescription “in the middle” so that my distance is better but not “spot on”.

Anyone have a similar problem and solution?

I've worn varifocals while flying for many years without any problems.

Same here; the last twenty years.

Was the problem with the glasses or the sunglasses when looking at the GPS? Some electronic instruments are incompatible with polarised lenses - maybe this could be the problem?

It was just with the distance in viewing the GPS. The sunglasses are not polarised, as I'm aware some aircraft have instruments with polarised glass .


I was concerned if varifocals would give a difference of your "sight view" when looking around at landing/take-off with either moving your head around (looking through single point of glasses) or keeping head still and moving eyes around.

My AME suggested wearing the v vocals regularly and let the brain sort out the images it's seeing. Appears to have worked :8

I always land my my eyes shut so I can feel the force :ooh: (Luke)

Varifocals have the reading correction increase progressively to the bottom of the glasses. Normal eye movement when hovering is horizontal and when formatting on a blade of grass your head naturally corrects its position to keep it in focus as it does with everything else.

I have been using varifocals for a long time, your head soon learns how to position itself to get the sweet spot, I have to do it very time I get a new pair as the focal length is corrected to where it should be.

I find varifocals are fine for cruise flying and I can actually read the binnacle mounted GPS and instruments while wearing them. However when it comes to final approach I just hate the things and normally take them off as I really don't know where the ground is. Ditto for anything involving hovering. After a few instances when I came into the hover to land and gently went down until I thought I was on the ground, then relaxed on the controls and dropped the last foot like a stone, I now take the things off before attempting it. I find the very low work so much easier without them. I do wear glasses for reading and for driving if I remember, but for very low level flying, no way!

Actually the very worst environment for wearing them is pushing a supermarket trolley. I need them to read the labels on the shelf so I don't wind up with dog food for dinner but the quick repetitive focus switching from shelf to in front to make sure I don't run somebody over does my head in.

Are you trying to tell us that you land that gently?:eek::eek::eek::eek:

I feel it is what works for you, but the polarizing effect can be very noticeable on some screens
Tried VF for 3 weeks hated them & this was the latest wide angle lenses, felt peripheral vision was not as good.
Went back to the trifocals don't even notice the change of lens.
The optician & I had a lively discussion years ago regarding the height of the lens the conversation was I would like it moved his reply was you don't want it moved or words to that effect any how it was moved up by 2.5mm it made a real difference stopped the nodding dog impersonation