Eye glasses and the long descent and prepping

Submitted by Teresa from Hershey on Tue, 08/18/2020 - 12:31
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The First Circle: Your Physical Health and Your Mental Welfare

I've had my progressive trifocal glasses for about three years. I'm 60 and my prescription doesn't change fast. I take care of my glasses, washing them with soap and water at the sink regularly, rather than scrubbing the lenses on my shirt. The lenses last much longer with fewer scraps. I'm gentle and don't slam my glasses around.

The screw came loose, I retightened, and finally, the screw stripped for good. Of course, this being Covid-19, I couldn't just walk into my eye doctor's office. I had to make an appointment.

While waiting for my appointment, I dug through my stash of older pairs, looking for the best match. I found one pair (out of the three I had). The screws couldn't be moved over. The pair that I did find had a warped frame so the lenses popped out easily.

I just got back from the eye doctor.

My good pair cannot be fixed. The company has 'moved on in fashion' and don't make that style of frame connections anymore and my local eye shop can't get that exact screw to fit that exact housing. They'd have to cannibalize another old frame.

My second pair, which is tearing up the back of my ears, is also a catastrophic fail. It seems that the plastic used to make the frames degrades over time, shrinks, and then rolls away from the lens, leaving the lens free to pop out at any moment! This is a KNOWN flaw in the optometry business. This frame is also unrepairable.

Thus, I made an appointment for another eye exam with a new pair of glasses in my future. That's $$$ and, what's even more annoying is that because I wear progressive trifocals, I need the biggest frame style possible to accommodate my prescription. Big frames go out of style so good luck getting a frame large enough!

What does this mean? That if you wear glasses, you need to keep your old pairs. You need to take meticulous care washing the lenses. You need to examine the frame structure carefully and ask questions about long-term viability. You need to ask if your frames will degrade, even if the lenses are fine.

Another point. Photo-gray transition lenses will degrade. These are the lenses that automatically darken into sunglasses when you go outside. No matter how careful you are with cleaning the lenses, transition lenses develop a web of cracks all across the lens. This is another catastrophic failure that cannot be repaired and the industry knows it. It's why I replaced my glasses the last time.

This is so frustrating and it's one more problem anyone wearing glasses has to watch out. You have to see! Yet you can't rely on the optics industry to make repairable frames that don't warp.

Any helpful suggestions?

Sweet Tatorman's picture

Sweet Tatorman

Tue, 08/18/2020 - 16:54

I have had nothing but good experiences with the online glasses supplier Zenni Optical.
https://www.zennioptical.com/
Prices are incredibly low. I routinely have my OD write additional Rx for reading glasses for several distances. Typically I will get reading only for distances of 12" and 20" in addition to my usual bifocals. Typically I pay $20 or less for the reading glasses. Ask your OD to record your IPD (inter pupillary distance) on your Rx as you will need this when ordering online. If ordering reading only glasses subtract 3mm from the value. You can measure your IPD yourself but I think it better to have your OD measure it.

Sweet Tatorman's picture

Sweet Tatorman

Wed, 08/19/2020 - 10:49

You say the screw stripped and not the hole it threads into. In either case, if it is a thru-hole vs a blind hole it may possible to drill out and tap the hole for a larger size screw. A suitably equipped and skilled eyeglass shop should be able to do this. Alternately you may be able to have it done at a jewelry shop.

Teresa from Hershey

Wed, 08/19/2020 - 16:45

It's a blind hole. The staff at the shop said they'd have to cannibalize another pair of glasses as the manufacturer doesn't make this frame type anymore. The shop is large too. They also checked the sister store in Harrisburg and nothing.

David Trammel's picture

David Trammel

Thu, 08/20/2020 - 11:00

While this hole is probably too small for this hack, what I've done on blind holes is modify the tap by grinding the tapper at the end of the tap on a second same size tool. Taps have a taper to start them into the threads/hole but that taper doesn't let the tap get all the way to the bottom. If you grind off the taper carefully, you have cutting threads all the way, and it will get to the bottom of the hole.

Be careful when using these taps though. The taper also acts as to divert the waste shavings which build up. I usual only cut a quarter turn, then back out the tap to blow it off. Also, use plenty of cutting oil as well.

For really small holes like this, a thru hole and going one size larger is probably best.

BTW, you can purchase very small taps and the drill bit to go with them at scale model train stores. The screws and nuts too. I have a selection of them down to like 00-90 I believe.

I once made a miniature steady cam rig for a GI Joe doll for a camera man in Los Angeles, who was using the doll as a logo. It was all small pieces of aluminum and screwed together. You have to be extra careful when working that small, since if the tap breaks off in the hole you're screwed.

lp

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 20:24

Based on a suggestion on one of JMG's posts, I'm trying the techniques at EndMyopia to see if I can improve my vision. It would be great to get rid of glasses, or at least move to a much lower prescription, in case getting certain lenses becomes an issue.

https://endmyopia.org/
https://endmyopia.org/how-to-improve-eyesight-five-steps/
https://ongjason.com/how-i-cure-my-myopia/

temporaryreality

Tue, 03/01/2022 - 17:28

Thanks for those links, lp. Through Jason Ong's site, I found this interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Efg42-Qn0. It's a talk about several methods of natural vision improvement (and an explanation of what myopia is) - I appreciated that he compared his method to the Bates method and explains why the Bates method doesn't work (for most people anyway).

I've been disappointed that my eyesight held steady for many years (mostly because I didn't wear my glasses) but then started to decline about 7 years ago to the point where I have to wear glasses to drive now. I'm going to attempt these methods (I'd used positive lenses a little before but not regularly) and see if I can't avoid the glasses death spiral.

Ken's picture

Ken

Mon, 01/03/2022 - 19:15

15+ years ago I had Lasik done on both eyes up in Vancouver, BC. I had a very minor correction but quite bothersome astigmatism and, other than minor dryness in the left eye sometimes, I couldn't be more pleased. Turning my face up to the rain without my glasses being a spotted mess was a joy I cannot begin to describe! Obviously it was not cheap ($2800) but considering the obscene prices charged for exams and glasses times the last 15 years and I think I am money ahead already, as well as having 20:20 vision. I researched the heck out of the doctor and certainly recommend that you do thorough research as well, but I'm a big fan of fixing any problem that is fixable, and (some) vision problems are quite fixable. I still need readers, of course, because of my age, but that is inevitable regardless and the 3 pack of cheaters at the warehouse store is very affordable if not very stylish! I do think about stocking up on packages of varying strength cheaters as a non-degrading trade good... a case of those puppies stashed away in the attic might be far more valuable than gold to my grandson someday!

lathechuck's picture

lathechuck

Sun, 02/13/2022 - 13:38

... could run when the sun shines, or when the wind blows, and just sit still until next time it can run. (I'm sure that there's some amount of start-up time; you wouldn't want it to run for 30 minutes out of each hour, but to run two or three days each week should be fine.)

I think I may go out for another box or two of the readers that I like. Thanks for the idea. Since I don't mind searching to find products Made in USA, I ran across "AmericanReadingGlasses.com", which offers reading glasses in bulk, such as for humanitarian projects. The best deal seems to be 100 pairs (min.) at $0.99 each, wire-frame. If you really think that they'd be a valuable barter item in the post-carbon environment, there's your chance. (I have not been able to verify that these particular glasses are Made in USA, by the way, so I doubt that they are.)

Ken's picture

Ken

Sun, 02/27/2022 - 20:00

As I close in on 60 laps around the sun, I am reminded daily (sometimes hourly) of the irreplaceable nature of reading glasses for people over 40 years of age. It was a bit of a startle when my eldest daughter began talking to me about needing reading glasses! But it reminded me that reading glasses could be valuable trade goods that do not go bad in storage, and are (presently) remarkably affordable. Whereas in a post-carbon world, what does it take to make a pair of glasses? A whole lot of tech that may or may not be available! Which means that a box of 100 pairs of reading glasses in various strengths might be one heck of a good investment; just to put in the attic for my grandson. Maybe he'll be able to barter a couple of pairs for a mule someday! It beats a stack of gold doubloons that the first bastard with an Kalashnikov wants to relieve you of... reading glasses have ZERO value if you don't actually need them, whereas IF you need them they are worth (more than) their weight in gold. Just trying to get ahead of the curve here...

pygmycory

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 13:02

I looked into laser surgery a little bit. Unfortunately, my eyes are so myopic that I'd still need glasses afterwards, I have astigmatism it isn't supposed to fix, and I already have issues with dry eye and a history of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome that messed up the last few years really badly, so I've figured it's a really bad idea for me.

Ken's picture

Ken

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 20:37

Lasik surgery corrected my astigmatism. Because of my age, I still need reading glasses, but that's no hardship unless there aren't any to be had! I suggest talking to a genuine professional about Lasik and avoiding the fly-by-night eye zappers advertising the cheapest rates. It's entirely possible that you aren't a good candidate for that kind of surgery, but wouldn't it be good to hear it from a knowledgeable person?

gkb

Sun, 02/13/2022 - 20:17

You can use coated craft wire to connect the temple piece to the lens frame and wrap the hack with a bit of stretchy waxed floral tape and a nice piece of fabric glued down. But it is not oculus reparo like magic.

You can try to find sunglasses frames in a larger size, they often cover the whole eye-socket, especially for people who have light sensitivities. Look in a medical supply store. The optometrist can fit your large trifocal lens into one of those frames.

You can use nail polish to re-resin the earpiece where the plastic degrades and wears down. Many coats are needed, but it does work to re-coat the metal skeletal core inside. It might be worth investigating if a tiny drop of nail polish or superglue could secure the lens to the degraded frame and then coat the frame with clear nail polish very carefully.

You know the type of plastic used to make those molded copies of wooden beach/deck chairs? Rubbing petroleum jelly on them restores them so they look practically new. It is like putting lemon oil on wooden furniture—the plastic just sucks up the petroleum jelly like it is food. If your temple pieces are of a similar plastic, it could help to renew them.

There are people making wooden and bamboo frames but these are costly and rare, difficult to locate. You could try out the new Warby Parker thing being advertised and buy a lot of cheap frames all at once and keep them on hand for the hardware interchangeable parts.

You could insist on having metal frames or wire frames with a pince-nez adjustable bridge. You could ask people in Italy to help you shop – all my best frames were made in Italy, but the NY ‘fashion’ scene has stopped importing them.