Well, it seems I am as blind as a bat!

jamesoliverstone

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Well, not entirely, but I have been suffering a lot with eye strain recently and getting headaches from using the screens too much. However, when I bought the new iMac 27 and shoved it on my desk the problems got worse.

So, after a trip to vision express today for an eye exam, I am now sat here wearing glasses for the first time in my 33 years on this planet :(

I am still trying to get my head round how weird the world looks through glasses, it feels like I am walking around with a fishbowl on my head :lol:

Weird thing is, it has shown me how fuzzy my vision was before, and now I am panicking that I have been over sharpening my images to compensate :eek:

Thankfully, I don't think I have, but I am going over my processing again as I am paranoid that I can now see properly!

Weird how I thought my vision was perfect, and I guess I spent my life not knowing any different, until of course someone shows you the difference.

I hope I can still use my camera with the specs on :p
 
Get contact lens is you can't get used to glasses. I've worn glasses since primary school, but the missus only got them fairly recently (well, after she met me....) and wears contact lenses because she does like glasses.

Have you tried taking a photo with them on yet?
 
I am still trying to get my head round how weird the world looks through glasses, it feels like I am walking around with a fishbowl on my head :lol:

lol I remember that feeling when I got my glasses. Thankfully, I do not need to wear it all the time.
 
Well, not entirely, but I have been suffering a lot with eye strain recently and getting headaches from using the screens too much. However, when I bought the new iMac 27 and shoved it on my desk the problems got worse.

So, after a trip to vision express today for an eye exam, I am now sat here wearing glasses for the first time in my 33 years on this planet :(

I am still trying to get my head round how weird the world looks through glasses, it feels like I am walking around with a fishbowl on my head :lol:

Weird thing is, it has shown me how fuzzy my vision was before, and now I am panicking that I have been over sharpening my images to compensate :eek:

Thankfully, I don't think I have, but I am going over my processing again as I am paranoid that I can now see properly!

Weird how I thought my vision was perfect, and I guess I spent my life not knowing any different, until of course someone shows you the difference.

I hope I can still use my camera with the specs on :p

:lol: crap innit!

I got my first pair of reading/monitor specs about your age, but only needed them for longer periods, but recently I realised I was pushing books and laptop further and further away to actually read the screen. Now have to wear them all the time for close up stuff. You will get used it quite quickly but now more than ever, pay attention to the 5 mins away from screen every hour, and take the specs off at same time and let eyes relax on long distance objects or closed. :thumbs:

oh yes, and adjust dioptre on camera, nowt worse than crashing camera against specs and brusing face...yes, done that too when I forgot I still had them on.
 
your vision usually degrades slowly so it can take a long time to realise, and its with things like headaches that you usually notice it.

However, as you've just started to wear them, and at your age, you should really check out laser eye surgery. Offers now like "pay nothing for 1 year and then 2 years 0%"

New glasses every year or 2 can cost between £200-400 a time, plus if you have contacts that is another £20-30 a month. The costs soon start to add up. Compare that to the costs of laser eye surgery its a no brainer. Trying to talk the wife in to having it, but despite sticking her finger in her eye every day for contacts she thinks laser surgery is odd! :S
 
Long or Short sighted? I', guessing short because at 33 it's a bit young for the onset of age degradation of your eyesight....

Why not consider laser surgery - maybe not right now but if your eyes are the same in 6-12 months certainly worth considering - Best thing I've done!! I got the laser treatment for serious short sightedness - I was -5.5 in both eyes - couldn't see 2' in front of me!!

If your degradation is long sighted it could be that it is age related in which case there's no cure for that!

You can negotiate on price a bit I'm sure - for the 10 minute job it can be expensive! Don't believe the £395 per eye rubbish lol
 
I am still trying to get my head round how weird the world looks through glasses, it feels like I am walking around with a fishbowl on my head :lol:

If the world still looks weird after a few days then don't be afraid to go back to the opticians.

Both my wife and I completely gave up on one high street chain of opticians because they just seemed to be incapable of assessing the correct prescription for either of us.

Even with a good optician there are still mistakes. We've had two prescriptions made up incorrectly, even though the optician had done the eye test properly.
 
You can negotiate on price a bit I'm sure - for the 10 minute job it can be expensive! Don't believe the £395 per eye rubbish lol

That has to be the worst piece of advice ever. This is your sight we're talking about here, not a service on a Ford Focus!

The only reason I went through with it (nearly 20 years ago now) was because I was able to have it carried out by the top eye surgeon in the country, a man with a well-earned reputation to uphold.

Having something as potentially life-altering as eye surgery done in the basement of a chain store chemists by someone that's just off the plane from Eastern Europe, just because you can haggle a tenner off the price is lunacy....
 
i would definately recommend contacts too, i first got glasses when i was 17/18 and wore them for afew years, then i decided to wear contacts and would never look back, i hated anything to do with touching my eyes or anything so it was difficult at first but after the first few weeks it was fine :)
 
The missus has warned me off of laser eye surgery. She used to work as a dispensing optition (the one who fits your glasses, though she can do an eye test if supervised, just not qualified to do so) and used to see people regularly with more problems than before. Problems include dry eyes which need regular eye drops.

Also remember eyes can and will change, I have my glasses updated ever 18-24 months roughly. This won't change with surgery so you will still be coughing up regularly. Also this is not an "instant fix" like glasses, it can take weeks for your eyes to heal.

Glasses and an SLR isn't too bad, though I do often bash the view finder with them which can be annoying. I've been in them since I was 20 when I averaged 18 hours a day at uni on a computer for long periods which unsurprisingly ruined my vision very quickly.
 
New glasses every year or 2 can cost between £200-400 a time

I replaced my spectacles last yea for the first time in eight years. I wear them all the time, at -7 dioptres I have no choice.

Despite buying a "designer" brand frame and rather spiffy Carl Zeiss dual layer glass lenses the cost was only £360. I'm probably the last person in the country that still has glass lenses in their glasses, but plastic scratches and I don't like looking though a haze introduced by my spectacles. Given how I specified them (through an independent optican) I'd imagine going to a big chain and buying their own brand frames with plastic lenses would be a very great deal cheaper.

The previous pair had to be replaced as the frames snapped, but assuming these last as long, at £44/year I can't say that I find the cost excessive.
 
Ive been wearing glasses for about 10 years now, I had a similar experiance to you - I was at college and was certain that I didn't have anything wrong with my eyes, I though it was normal to have to keep asking what was being written on the white board until one of my friend gave me his glasses to try - what a revelation!

I tend to replace them every couple of years now - there are always good deals from places like spec savers - Ive just got a buy one get one free deal - one pair of regular glasses and a pair of presciption sunglasses.

My biggest recommendation would be to get a pair of prescription sunglasses, worth their weight in gold!

I am used to taking photos with glasses on now so no problems on that count
 
Well, not entirely, but I have been suffering a lot with eye strain recently and getting headaches from using the screens too much. However, when I bought the new iMac 27 and shoved it on my desk the problems got worse.

So, after a trip to vision express today for an eye exam, I am now sat here wearing glasses for the first time in my 33 years on this planet :(


im having the same issues at the moment but on my last visit to my preffered eye doctor he said only one of my eyes was failing itself the other one was compensating, but this is only the case 50% of the time, so somedays its fine others i get banging headaches, i wish they were either fine or shot, atleast then id have an answer, but ive been expecting bad eyesight for many years due to my dads very poor eyesight (he has +13 lenses on both eyes XD)
 
You will soon get used to them I have been using glasses for about 18 months now and to be honest I hardly notice I have them on.
 
Thanks all :)

My prescription certainly isn't that strong as its +1.00 on both, and I have a stigmatism in the right eye.

I certainly noticed it this morning when I woke up, I could read the writing on a box on top of the wardrobe and I assumed my eyes just had that "morning film" on them so I was rubbing my eyes like mad trying to focus on it, then I put by glasses on and bam, it was as clear as day... I guess thats all the proof I needed!

I have tried to use my camera this morning and found it to be a real pain, but I can use it well enough with them off, so for now I shall have to do that. I like to get my eye firmly into the eyepiece to get rid of external distractions when I shoot. I may have to look into the options for the eyepieces on Nikon's range.

As for surgery, no thanks! I have read to many stories of that going wrong and I think I wouldn't risk it. I could bear to think of the life I would have if something went wrong, so I think I will stick to glasses or contact lenses!
 
Got my eyes lasered 3 years ago, pardon the pun but I've never looked back :lol:

My prescription wasn't that bad (only around -1.5) so I needed glasses/lenses for driving and playing cricket.

I got on OK with lenses but after splitting with my wife I started going out more and sometimes ended up staying out the night when I hadn't originally planned to ( ;) ) and as a result didn't have any of my contact lens "equipment" with me.

The surgery was amazing and my eyesight was 20/10 after :D

I paid £2,000 for mine but as other's have said, when you consider contact lenses at £12 per month and £100+ glasses every couple of years for 30-40 years (I was 31 when I had surgery) it doesn't work out too bad :cool:
 
Thanks all :)My prescription certainly isn't that strong as its +1.00 on both, and I have a stigmatism in the right eye.

You have astigmatism. (Sorry, but I just couldn't help myself :$, my wife has "a stigmatism" as well, no matter how often I've corrected her :shake:). That probably explains the goldfish bowl feeling, because the astigmatism makes vertical or horizontal lines appear to curve slightly. Your brain has adjusted to this over the years, and is now confused by the corrected image.)
 
You have astigmatism. (Sorry, but I just couldn't help myself :$, my wife has "a stigmatism" as well, no matter how often I've corrected her :shake:). That probably explains the goldfish bowl feeling, because the astigmatism makes vertical or horizontal lines appear to curve slightly. Your brain has adjusted to this over the years, and is now confused by the corrected image.)

aaaah, it all makes sense! see, even the optician didnt bother explaining that :lol:
 
You have astigmatism. (Sorry, but I just couldn't help myself :$, my wife has "a stigmatism" as well, no matter how often I've corrected her :shake:). That probably explains the goldfish bowl feeling, because the astigmatism makes vertical or horizontal lines appear to curve slightly. Your brain has adjusted to this over the years, and is now confused by the corrected image.)

thats brilliant, that the explanation i was looking for, it seems my ray-bans must correct slightly for this then as it gives me a 'odd' feeling to images
 
As for surgery, no thanks! I have read to many stories of that going wrong and I think I wouldn't risk it. I could bear to think of the life I would have if something went wrong, so I think I will stick to glasses or contact lenses!

really? I've not heard of any!

On one forum I visit this question comes up once a month, and there are usually 3-400 responses that are positive with 0 negative.
 
That has to be the worst piece of advice ever. This is your sight we're talking about here, not a service on a Ford Focus!

The only reason I went through with it (nearly 20 years ago now) was because I was able to have it carried out by the top eye surgeon in the country, a man with a well-earned reputation to uphold.

Having something as potentially life-altering as eye surgery done in the basement of a chain store chemists by someone that's just off the plane from Eastern Europe, just because you can haggle a tenner off the price is lunacy....

Don't get me wrong - I agree with your sentiment - But you can haggle a price no matter where you go! - No matter who does it!

Not everyone will have the chance to get the top eye surgeon in the UK doing their eyes - Although having had it done the surgeon's job is not that important as the machine and laser does the job. I was more worried about the machine stopping!

If you look at the stats - no-one (that is zero) has lots their eye sight due to these procedures and the only issues with people having problems seems to be the people who do not look after their eyes after the surgery. Yes there is the halo issue that a lot of people seem to have suggested is an issue but no matter who does it that would still potentially be there.
The dry eyes issue is not long term. You are advised of this prior to surgery and if you look after your eyes and use the prescribed drops there are no issues.

My point is that no matter where you go they all want your buisiness - Same as any other business and you can do a deal to save you some money. I totally appreciate that this is a serious decision but I'd rather save money off a top surgeon as pay through the nose for one.

Anyway this is way off topic nmow I think :)
 
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try sitting infront of a computer all day every day, watch your eyesight go out of the window.. lol

these days i have to wear my goggles for anything screen distance or closer, i.e. computers, reading.

yeah it all adds up, especially when you get in to anti-glare coatings etc but fortunately work pay for the tests and contribute towards the glasses.

laser surgery? erg, no ta.. have you seen what they do to youre eyeball :gag:
 
Not everyone will have the chance to get the top eye surgeon in the UK doing their eyes - Although having had it done the surgeon's job is not that important as the machine and laser does the job. I was more worried about the machine stopping!


My point is that no matter where you go they all want your buisiness - Same as any other business and you can do a deal to save you some money. I totally appreciate that this is a serious decision but I'd rather save money off a top surgeon as pay through the nose for one.

Actually it was no more expensive having the work done by the top guy than having it done at Boots. Regardless of that, I can't think of a better example of false economy than shopping for the cheapest price on something like that!
 
I would just like to point out that bats aren't actually blind... but then, neither are you so all's well !
 
these days i have to wear my goggles for anything screen distance or closer, i.e. computers, reading.

I know EXACTLY how you feel, have sat in front of a monitor for the last 22 year, :thumbsdown:

funny thing is, anything over 10 feet away and I don't need my glasses on and I don't need them to look through the viewfinder either :clap:
 
I need glasses for the PC and reading, everything else is OK including the viewfinder, the 7D's LCD is an improvement as I can just manage that without having to don the glasses better than the 350D
 
Having not read all the interesting replies (so there could be the same thing mentioned) but I think everyone should be made to have an eye test every 10 years or so just to be on the safe side. As a motorist I took and passed my test at 17 and had to read a number plate from 25 yards.......I don't need another eye test till I am in my seventies, according to my licence. This can't be right.

It just shows that the only thing they can't replace on your body (apart from brain maybe) we take less care of.

I have had lots of eye tests and I still don't need glasses but I will know immediately when I do because I look after my eyes.

I am not affiliated to any opthalmic profession or trade (just before you all start saying 'Whats in it for you mister')

Hope you can read all the replies well James. (and maybe you should get your fantasy football goalie a pair)
 
Weird thing is, it has shown me how fuzzy my vision was before, and now I am panicking that I have been over sharpening my images to compensate :eek:
I have an astigmatism too. My vision has gradually been degenerating, and this last 6 months seems to have kicked on a pace.
I keep meaning to go get an eye test, but always have the excuse Im too busy, or whatever.
Funny how reading this one sentance has given me the kick up the butt I need to actually do it!
 
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