CaptYoda

Wanted to know what works best for your guys for the glass cockpit and the simulator. I need vision correction for distance and now also for reading. I wear contacts for distance and usually reading glasses. I found that while distance is never the issue, it's the close work (especially in dark environment) that is problematic especially with the overhead panel and chart reading. I have progressives as well but they seem hard to adjust to. It's a real pain! I have read about trifocals, HD etc and Adlens and Superfocus but not sure if they would help. Also considering LASIK or PRK for the distance part. My wife (non-pilot) had PRK and now has 20/15 with no complications. Any thoughts?

Airhoss

Same issues here. Also have progressives. Some things to worry about with LASIK or PRK is that while it will correct for distance it makes your near vision even worse. Also if you do have complications you could be done with flying forever. Night vision/halos/just plain old messed up.

I don't know what the answer is. I have seen glasses with a focal in the top of the lens as well. I might try those.

CaptYoda

I have stayed away from LASIK and have been wearing contacts for over 35 years now for the very reason you mentioned. Like they say statistics are great until they affect you. When they say only 1% of folks have this and that complication, as long as you are not part of that 1% all is well!

I have to admit this vision issue is frustrating and it will be nice to find a good solution. You are right in mentioning that having 20/20 or better is great for the distance portion but it makes the near vision issue worse.

UAL T38 Phlyer

At first, I thought the thread title meant "More than 40 pilots wear reading glasses."

Those who have done old-fashioned photography with film, developer, fixer, dark room, etc probably know that the f-stop---the size of the aperture for controlling how much light gets in---determines depth of field. With a small aperture, things that are close AND far will be in focus.

But with a wide aperture, such as night: only things at one specific focussed range will be clear.

That's why everyone's night vision is crappier when the lens gets less pliable with age, and therefore, has limited ability to change range of focus.

I started wearing bifocals in my early 50s; may need to get tri's soon. I made the optics shop cut the different lenses to make it easier to use. Just a tiny sliver at the bottom for very-close reading; slightly bigger area for mid-range (the panel), and clear glass above for looking out the window.

It took a lot of trial and error to find out where the cutoff points should be.

I'm hoping my next pair can be tinted at the top, and progressing (degressing?) to no tint at the bottom, for the same reasons about depth of field and night vision, above.

FirstClass

Your vision is probably just starting to get problematic at 40 for near vision. Why not just get some cheaters from walmart for reading the plate at night?

Also, do a search on ebay for biofocal sunglasses, lots of choices.

Bainite

I have progressives but rarely wear them. Walmart cheaters worn down on my nose so I can see over them seems to work best at night. I use L.L. Bean gadget readers for daytime, basically non prescription bifocal readers sunglasses that aren't polarized so you can read electronic displays and see through airbus windscreens.

badflaps

I couldn't deal with "focals" big-small, big-small.. you know, went to Vari-lux progressives, problem solved. (Except for subway stairs). Copilots always encouraged subway use. They also come self darkening lens.

buddies8

Hotel. Now i sue. doctor said I have good eye sight be for my fall now I can't see well. Any questions.

OpenClimb

I'm just getting to the point of needing reading glasses. As you mentioned, it depends on how tired I am and how dim the lighting. I bought a 4-pack of +1.25 reading glasses from Costco and they've done the trick so far.

My AME says I still see well enough up close that I don't need the notation on my license. I've been on the same airplane for over a decade so I had the luxury of having the overhead panel memorized long before my eyes started going bad. If I can catch a few letters here or there, I can properly identify the switch or button.

If I needed really crisp vision for the overhead panel, I'd look into having some specialized readers made. Some people call them librarian glasses because librarians have a need to look up and read small print on the spine of a book. The optician puts near vision correction at the top of the lens. I've been told by some old-timer airline pilots that these glasses work pretty well for us, too.

Might be worth asking your eye doc. They might not come up with the suggestion on their own because I'm sure librarians are even more rare than airline pilots these days!

Welcome to being middle-aged!

CaptYoda

That's a great suggestion. I guess I really need to talk to a "pilot friendly" eye doctor. I am actually beyond middle-age (54) but didn't need reading glasses until just a few years ago. I figured anyone over 40 should have some insight!