Progressive eyeglass lenses for steelers?

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

As my eyesight gets fuzzier with maturity, I've been researching the best possible type of progressive lenses. I want the entire neck of my steel to be in perfect focus , as much in the middle distance to be in focus as possible (for reading charts), and a bit of improvement in the distance area (so I can see others in the band, and pretty girls dancing).

Anyone have an expert opinion on this?

I current wear bifocals that are designed for close up reading, and computer distance (arm's length, also great for the steel neck), but they make distance fuzzier, so I'm constantly taking the dang things on and off when walking around the world. Or the house.

There are many kinds and brands of progressive lenses, believe it or not. Hoping some of you have already solved this problem and can share your knowledge.

Thanks!
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John Roche · From: England

I wear varifocals , you can see everything from close up to far away.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Hey John, I currently wear blended tri-focals. I used to take my glasses off when I played steel but with the ones I have now I just leave 'em on all the time. They're even the kind which get darker when you're in the sun so I use 'em for motorcycle riding too...........JH in Va.
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Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Like many others, wearing glasses, especially bifocals, drives me crazy when playing steel.

Fortunately, I have never needed correction for distance vision, so for many years I have worn a contact lens in my non-dominate left eye, and nothing in my right eye. This is a common solution for problems caused by bi-focals for close-up work by artists, musicians and others. This method of correction is called "monovision".
For those who may also need correction for distance vision, an additional contact lens for distance vision is prescribed for the other eye.

It always sounds strange to those who have never tried it, but the vision automatically changes from distance to close-up as needed without the wearer even being aware of it.
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D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

I have been wearing those no-line or blended bifocals about 15 years. Took some adjusment when I first got 'em, but no longer than for traditional bifocals. No apparent problems with playing Dobro or steel, just tilt your head very slightly to get the right visual spot, like you do for the newspaper or other close work. As I understand it, they can put a complete prescription into lenses that are only 1" high.

Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

I agree, and also use the no-line trifocals. It takes about 2 weeks to get used to, but they are the best.
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Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

This works for me:
I wear bi-focals for everyday use.
I also have a pair of glasses especially for use when I'm at the computer. The distance from eye to screen demands this in my case.
I use these glasses for steel playing also. The distance eye to strings is about the same.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

John, do you remember the old Blue Bayou in Lakewood? I was playing there with Clarke Rohn somewhere around '84 or early '85 when I got my first ever set of glasses. They were blended bifocals and I thought I looked pretty cool in them so I wore 'em to the gig. The first set was "iffy" and the fretboard looked like it had a big curve in it but I did OK I guess. Do you remember how high the bandstand was in that club? Well at first break I still had the glasses on and started to go down the stairs and stepped where I thought the step was, but it wasn't there and I went down and rolled a couple of times. I felt like I threw my shoulder out of whack for a week or two. I always took 'em off after that and left 'em on the steel. I kept using them for playing though as the neck was more clear and later the "curve" view of the fretboard went away as I got used to them.....JH in Va.
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David Doggett · Posted 30 Sep 2008 8:03 am

I'm near-sighted, so I have always worn glasses for distance. I now also need correction for reading and close work. So I have progressives. The lower part is right for reading and playing steel, there is a middle part that is good for a computer screen or charts while playing music, and the top part is for distance. This works very well for playing steel, reading charts, and being able to look up and see everything out front.

For computers it tires my neck to constantly hold my head up for the right spot in the lenses. So I got a clip-on, flip-up set of plastic lenses that just cover the top half of my glasses. This corrects the whole top half for the computer distance, so I can hold my head at a comfortable position. For distance you just flip them up or take them off. I keep them beside my computer. The clip-ons don't seem necessary for playing steel and reading charts. You usually put the charts down low right over the instrument, so the head position is comfortable enough without the clip-ons. You can get the clip-ons at some opticians, or you can order them on-line (just do a search for clip-on lenses).

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

There is a problem with the progressives. They usually will not give you a very wide field of vision. I just was at my eye doctor and talked to him about them. I wear avaitor frames so totally not in style, but such a classic look that they are at least acceptable to those who concern themselves with style....anyway I wear them because I can look at a full music stand and not have to turn my head from side to side as much. I have a lined trifocal. My wife hates them, I don't care because I can see better with them.

If you get a progressive lense be prepared to always be moving your head around to cover enough territory from side to side. They look very nice in that there is no line for each lens but you do have to make up for that in eye and head movement.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I've worn progressives for years - but they're terrible for steel.

While they allow you to *focus* well at varying distances, it take a slight head-shift position to do it - they don't magically change; different parts of the lens have a different "prescription" - the bottom for up-close, towards the center for middle-distance (in my case 8-15 feet) and the top for long distance.

It takes a while to get used to the slight head movement necessary when you shift your gaze from one object to another. But the biggest issue is that progressives skew depth perception - which is critical with steel. You can be perfectly in focus, but because the parallax view is Not the same as natural vision you stand a good chance of having the bar in the wrong place.

I found this out years ago with dobro, before I ever played steel. I cannot play while wearing my glasses - that way I sacrifice seeing the back of the crowd clearly, but I can see the steel, bar and my hands just fine and with the correct depth perception.
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Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

I wear progressives with no problem..but one thing to be SURE you get are NON-GLARE lenses.If ya don't the reflections with the progressives will drive ya NU Very Happy

TTS!!!!!!!
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John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Great and quick input, everyone, thanks!

I did try progressives years ago, but the hourglass shape proved impossible, the narrowest mid-range portion of the lens was for computers, I view 2 large displays at work, so about 1 minute with them on revealed them to be hopeless, I felt like a tennis game observer just to see everything on my 2 screens.

I'll investigate all ideas, and my eye doctor has some ideas, too, I'll share any discoveries back here.

Jerry Hayes, I do remember that tall stage at the Blue Bayou. My most memorable gig there was a weekend fill-in with Dale Watson when he still lived in L.A.
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Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

I have to wear my glasses if I want to know where I'm at on my steel guitar neck. The bifocals are perfect for playin my steel and dobro, and I have perscription lenses to help me see at a distance.
Time for a new perscription though.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WILL KEEP MY GLASSES FROM FOGGIN UP? Mad

I've tried the little
soft paper things, the sprays, nothin seems to work.

Terry

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

I wear cheap [eight to ten bucks]reading glasses to read only,tryed these while playing,the neck of my guitar comes into focus great,only drawback when I look up to see the pretty bar room queens on the dance floor,they are out of focus.But they work great to see the fretboard.DYKBC.
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Barry Blackwood · Posted 30 Sep 2008 11:56 am

I had progressives, but went back to lined (trifocals.)
With the progressives, I had to keep moving my head around and guessing where one lens changed to another ...

Steve Alcott · From: New York, New York, USA

I tried the progressive lenses for my bifocals, and when I sat down at the steel, it looked like the ends were curving up. I immediately went back to lined lenses.

Bo Legg · Posted 30 Sep 2008 12:11 pm

I think it is just as important that you get eye ware that makes you look good as well as see better.
Here's a great example. Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

The curving is due to your frames being too large.I had that problem once.The smaller the overall size of your lens the thinner they can be thus less curve.Only have the area of lens ya need to see,without overkill.I'm sure there are some eye docs on the forum someplace,that could enlighten us.I'm only speaking from experience! Whoa!

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SHO-BUD LDG(Cooperized),MULLEN RP SD-10,Webb 614E,'73 Vibrosonic,Mesa-Boogie Pre,Stewart 1.2,TC Electronic M-300,JBL's,Black Box,Walker Seats'84 Dobro,'69 Martin D-28,and assorted other goodies!

David Doggett · Posted 30 Sep 2008 2:58 pm

It is true that the middle part of progressives is narrow. But I don't use that part for playing steel, only the broad bottom close focus part of my glasses. Another advantage of the clip on lenses is that they essentially move that middle part up to the top part and spread it across the whole lens. So you can read charts or view a wide computer screen normally, without having to turn your head. They only cover the top half of your glasses. So the bottom half is your normal close focus part of your glasses. In essence, they convert your glasses to a broad close focus portion at the bottom, and a broad middle focus portion at the top, with no distance part. You have to make do with distance stuff being a little fuzzy, or flip them up or take them off. I don't need them for playing steel, but they have become a real necessity for using computers.

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

i had lasik surgery done about 3/years ago. i dont fall down stairs anymore, the neck on my steel is straight now, can read the fine want adds in the newspaper, the list goes on and on. best money i ever spent..thanks jack

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

I have tri-focals, it took me about 6 months to learn how to walk with them. Machinery with moving parts was an experience. When I finally got used to them, except for driving, I could read and see across the room.

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

John, Check out some of the new progressives, they have widened the field considerably and should work well for you. Sorry I missed Amil's Bash.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 30 Sep 2008 6:16 pm

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