Eyeglasses and falling

[enjoytheride]

I have a problem with keeping my balance sometimes- I do seem to fall more often than seems normal and I have attribute this being due to my not being as strong as I was.

 

I read something today about older people falling and the relation to bifocals or continuous focus lens causing it. I do have contiuous focus lenses, having had pitiful vision all my life. This article said that having a pair of outdoor only, single focal length glasses might help older people to avoid falls outside as they allow better depth perception.

 

I think I will try this especially as I'm outside a lot- today it was chasing the goats out of the garden because I forgot to close the gate. I was gimping along at half speed because of twisting something in an fall earlier this week.

 

Now if a solution to my lack of mental focus can be found...

[betty32506]

Trifocals help me. Single lenses as you mention is probably the same as the reading part of the glasses. You have to learn to only look through the bottom of the glasses for closeup. I never had a problem getting used to multi focal lenses so this was not a problem for me.

 

Betty

[enjoytheride]

I have always love my continuous lenses too. I never had trouble with them from the day I first got them.

 

But what this article was saying is that depth perception is better with a single focal length lens. Which could reduce tripping and stumbling.

 

I would imagine that the "outdoor" glasses would be set for intermediate or distance vision only.

Anyway, since it's been a problem with me, even though I never thought of it as a vision problem, I think I will try it.

[betty32506]

OOOPS Bad typo: Single lenses as you mention is probably the same as the reading part of the glasses.

That should have been same as the top (distance) part.

 

Betty

[Jeannie McClelland]

Ah yes, I once stepped off into space three steps from the bottom of the stairs~ That was a new bifocal prescription, not my normal lack of grace and agility. What a crash...

 

I eventually went with the continuous focus lens after my eye doctor told me that they can adjust on the lens where the near and far sighted bits occur, even though you can't tell where the transition is. He raised my near sighted section up a bit so I could see my feet clearly. (Well, I do have to lean forward a bit to compensate for my, um, cushioning~) That seems to have done the trick. When I drive, I just let my glasses slide down my nose a bit.

 

Good FYI. Nobody needs a fall!