Reading glasses solutions

[Gnomon]

I'm interested in hearing what solutions people have found for using reading glasses in the cockpit. My distance vision is actually 20/20. Here's the issue as I see it:

If I use normal half lens readers, I get good reading coverage in the cockpit (gauges, maps etc.) and good outside visibility. Unfortunately, that creates a problem on sunny or hazy days, as when I pop on the Raybans, reading goes all to hell. Still, the normal readers are my backup solution.

I've tried progressive lenses with clip on shades, but the clip-ons are pretty lousy sunglasses, and seem to darken the cockpit interior too much.

I have a prescription for multi-focal contacts. The way they work, as I understand it, is that my master eye has the reading prescription, and the other eye is tuned for distance. This works pretty well, and has the advantage of allowing me to just pop on the raybans when I need them. The only downside, is that if the contacts got misaligned (very rare, but happens) I'd have to somehow get them out of my eyes, and go to the backup solution.

I'm about to give progressives another try, but with transition lenses. In other words, progressive lenses that darken in bright conditions.

Anyone else given this any thought?

Rob

[Blakey]

I have had good luck with these.

http://www.thisnext.com/topic-clip-on-f ... ng-glasses

They clip on the outside of your sunglasses and you flip them down when you need to read something. Buy a pair of really strong ones and use them when you're fishing. It's easy to tie on a hook when the line looks like a rope!

[Carrier]

Rob, you are almost there!

For years I used contact lenses with good sunglasses until I reached the age when reading glasses became necessary. At first I tried the half moons but they are not suitable for varying and rapidly changing light conditions. I then faced the same dilemma as you.

Here's my answer, tried over several years and a few thousand hours of flying. Use progressives which darken in bright conditions. They will work fine outside and in every day normal use. However, behind a windscreen when flying or driving the transition darkening will not work or does not work well. You will then need clip-on shades but of a suitable type for flying. Note also that clip-ons are much easier to put on and take off for a pilot as unlike ordinary sunglasses they do not have to fit under and disturb a headset.

I found the answer online at a website of an aviation glasses and sunglasses supplier in Wimberley, Texas named Hidalgo's Inc. I believe he might have retired by now. He advised that the best sunglasses lenses for aviation use are the Top down gradient-density Kontraster, blocking most of the light at the top and considerably less at the bottom. This was for ordinary sunglasses but I thought the same would work for clip-ons. It does! Assuming that my transition lenses will not darken, the next time I needed new frames I ordered the appropriate clip-ons with similar top down gradient-density. They are nice and dark at the top to block out the extreme glare coming over the glareshield and they are lighter below, particularly in the lower third, to give good vision of instruments, switches and maps and notes on one's knees.

Any decent glasses supplier should be able to fix you up.

[Gnomon]

...Use progressives which darken in bright conditions...

Hi Carrier,

Thanks for your suggestion! I'm wondering, if the transitions don't darken sufficiently in the cockpit, why use them at all if you have the gradient clip-ons? I ask, because I already have a pair of progressive glasses at the correct prescription. Would your suggestion work if I just found the gradient clip-ons? By the way, how do your clip-ons attach - do they flip up, or hook on to the lens frames?

Thanks,

Rob

[crooked timber]

we have a guy in the department who just doubles up- sun glasses and a pair of reading glasses further down the bridge of his nose. not the most elegant solution... but as someone who sometimes wears two headsets at once i'm in no position to judge.

[xsbank]

Doubling up, for sure. Gradient sunglasses, readers over top. Only looks funny on the outside, I'm behind them!

2 headsets?

[Castorero]

Why not XSB...?

Everybody knows that "two headsets're better than one..."

[5x5]

I've been facing the same situation. So far, I've managed with reading glasses in my pocket as I only need them occasionally. But it's getting worse so I've been looking at these - http://www.airplanethings.com/ They sound like they might do the trick.

Anyone tried them?

[crooked timber]

2 headsets?

QC15s + clarity aloft = quiet as a library

[mooneym20c]

I have had the reading glasses problem for sometime now. I have progressions however when I look up to see the panel and switches above I have the same problem (hard to focus). I think the reading glasses in the pocket might be the only solution for me. Any other suggestion.

cm

[CLguy]

Take your Rayban's to an Optometrist and he will make you a set of bi-focal lenses for the frames. Have been using them for a few years now and all is good.

[Carrier]

Good news! Hidalgos is still in business. They moved to Louisiana. Here is their website: http://www.hidalgos.com/ Readers should go to the link for Selecting Sunglasses. That should provide just about all you need regarding selecting them.

I found out about Hidalgos' relocation from this thread on PPRuNe: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/141379 ... dvice.html Note that NickLappos has posted the answer to mooneym20c's question regarding overhead switches and gauges. I came across this years ago when I found out from a serious billiards/snooker player that players who need glasses for ordinary wear have a small segment in the top of each lens for use at the table. Some also have hinges in the temples to enable the lenses to be tipped up for making a shot. Don't get into a game for serious money against anyone who wears such glasses!

Rob, I have needed vision correction for distance since age 15. I used contact lenses until my reading focus deteriorated. I tried the half moons for a short while. I then went to progressive transitions lenses. These have an anti-reflection coating. When wearing my glasses in normal use I am equipped for distance, reading and bright light without changing or doing anything to the glasses. It all happens automatically. They do not darken well behind a windscreen so I have the clip-ons for flying and driving. These have four clips, two on each side. The metal clips have silicon sleeves to avoid scratching the lenses. Two drops of super glue for each silicon sleeve ensures that they do not come off the clips when the clip-on is removed from the frame. When flying or driving it is easy to don or remove the clip-on with one hand. I still have some contact lenses and good ordinary sunglasses but it is all so convenient that it is years since I used the contacts.

I am wondering why there are so many questions from posters on this thread who have obviously been to a vision correction person. The suggestions I have mentioned have been in use and reasonably well known for many years. Any professionally competent eye-doc who makes a reasonable attempt to keep up with what is available in his profession should have explained the options to you. Perhaps you should consider using another vision/eye wear professional.

[ArcticKat]

Well, if you have a few bucks you could get these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkLDVCdF1iE

I've got transition lenses and ended up buying prescription sunglasses because the transition effect does not work quite so well when sitting in a shaded area. The transition technology needs direct light to dim, therefore, unless the sun is shining directly into your eyes you don't get the full effect of the transition.

[beaverbob]

I don't like wearing glasses with earphones. Lets in too much noise.
So, I just wait for my passengers to loudly suck in their breaths, then pullup.