>Hi. If you have perfect vision or are under 40, go ahead and delete now!
>
>For the rest of you, can anyone give me some help? I am reaching that =
age=20
>where bifocals are beginning to loom. Yes, that print is getting smaller=
all=20
>the time! Anyway, I can see that this could be a big issue where the =
harp is=20
>concerned. I wear glasses already, because I'm really nearsighted. But =
now I=20
>have trouble seeing my treble strings - a bifocal might help this. But =
how=20
>about seeing music on a stand - should I just jump in the deep end and =
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>straight to trifocals? Any suggestions based on your experiences would =
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>welcome. I know my optometrist is not a harp player, so I'd like to go =
in with=20
>some ideas as to what might work best!=20
Being an ophthalmologist, a novice harper, and a presbyope (user of
bifocals), I guess I can answer for you.
Bifocals will help to some extent, but the reading segment of a
bifocal is set for you to focus at the normal reading distance of 16
or 17 inches. With your harp on your shoulder, the high treble strings
will still be too close to see perfectly. A bifocal will make that
better, but not perfect. Also, most bifocals do not have reading add
at the side edges of the lens, only for the area more-or-less directly
in front of you and down. This is true for both regular (flat top) and
progressive (no line,Varilux) lenses, so you wouldn't see your treble
strings through the bifocal anyway without turning your head quite a
bit. Progressives will have some help at the edge, but not the full
amount. Executive bifocals, which go all the way across, might work,
but they tend to be heavy lenses.
As for the music on the stand, you will probably be able to see
that through the distance part of the glasses if it is more than 24"
from you, at least until you hit 50 or so. Then trifocals would help,
but progressives would probably be better.
If you are just heading toward your first pair of bifocals, I would
suggest starting with progressive lenses. They are easiest to get used
to when they are your first bifocal. People who use regular bifocals
and later try to switch to progressives have more trouble. I use
Varilux Comfort lenses* myself, and have been very happy with them.
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* I have no financial interest in Varilux or any other lens company.
<ELF> - Dr Gandalf - Eric J Fleischer, MD
AlfHeim Imaging
gandalf@access.digex.net