[ATM] Plastic Lenses (POLYCARBONITE)

[Eric S. Johansson]

Jarvis Krumbein wrote:
> I too miss Richard's sharp comments and retorts and my daughter enjoys
> the views afforded by one of Richards slumped blanks acquired at a long
> ago Bellingham Optics Workshop.  I also use glass lens for my eyeglasses
> because they are superior to polycarbonate with one important exception. 
> I keep a pair of "plastic safety glasses" when I'm working with anything
> that might possibly cause eye damage.  I've had things bounce off them
> while doing yard work and while working in my shop.  There's a place for
> both in this world.

When I got a pair of glasses last, I was told that getting glass eyeglass lenses 
was virtually impossible because of the the liability issues.  My first pair of 
plastic was polycarbonate.  After I didn't recognize an SUV as an SUV (it looked 
like a fuzzy brown buffalo in my peripheral vision) and I got tired of 
everything having a rainbow fringe, I went to high index refraction plastic (at 
least I think that's what it's called).  At the very least, my peripheral vision 
is somewhat sharper and most of my complaints now spring from progressive lenses 
and how they suck for anything closer than about 3 feet.  For computer use, I 
purchased a cheapo pair of classes for astigmatism correction and a slight bit 
of power.  if you are using progressive lenses and are doing any sort of work 
closer than about four or 5 feet, I highly recommend getting at least one other 
pair which puts your visual sweet spot at the distance of your work (i.e. 
laptop, computer screen, lathe, etc.)

Note that I have had progressives running from the cheapest up to some laser 
corrected versions at around $350.  The more expensive progressives do work 
better by a noticeable margin.   they still suck but they don't suck as badly.

I miss glass lenses and I miss more than anything my optometrist, my friend 
since high school who died from pancreatic cancer a few years ago.  he really 
understood how I see and could match a prescription to that.  that may be the 
key to optical happiness.  An optometrist that understands how you see.

---eric

-- 
Speech-recognition in use.  It makes mistakes, I correct some.