big kat Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 I wear varifocal glasses all the time and can't see very well without them. The problem I have with them is my spatial awareness when standing up on the bike is, unless I'm looking straight down, is ****e! I was wondering if other spec wearers have this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westyfield7 Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 ..absolutely have the same problem, plus mine are also Reactolite so struggle riding in and out of shade too. I've found one particular old pair are best for riding in so maybe try a new prescription and ask the optician for advice on lenses?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naichuff Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 I have the same problem When I got my last pair the optician moved the distance part of the lens down I do not use them in trials yet but need them to drive on the road (to be legal)I also find when making part they look bent when they are really straight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterh Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) I wear bifocals all the time as cannot tolerate the varifocal type lens. The bifocals give me the distance and the fine reading, which is what i use when riding. I also have a pair that are bifocal for mid range and reading e.g. good for work on the computer and reading but also great for working on the bike and then on the bench e.g. taking the carby out and then reading the jet sizes. Have been thinking about trying these http://www.neweyeco.net where you have a prescription insert that you can swap in and out of different frames including safety glasses. Edited November 10, 2016 by peterh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetupfun Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 Yes I'm 57 and same problem here. To see well when riding trials I have had a set of single focus (distance) lens glasses made and they are really great for riding trials. Only problem is I cant see clearly up close so using a smart phone or fiddling with carby jets is not on. I also had bifocals made with only a tiny bottom lens but I didn't like them anywhere near as much as the single focus pair for trials riding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcman56 Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 When I first got varifocal glasses, spatial awareness was pretty bad. Walking down stairs was particularly scary and I used to take them off for stairs. Over time I became used to them but still did not wear them for trials. I think your brain learns to interpret what your are seeing. Last year, I started wearing them for trials but struggled. First, they magnify the bottom of obstacles and make them look 30% bigger. Second, looking up and down by moving your head gives a different result than looking up and down moving your eyes. I had a good fall which I think was due to that spatial awareness issue so I stopped wearing them. I tried again while setting up a trial over a period of weeks. I was riding quite a bit but not challenging myself much and sort of adapted. I think your brain just needs a little time to adapt. Prior to using them to ride, I used to wear them most all of the time. When I took them off and started to ride, everything would look rather strange for 10 or 15 minutes and then I would adapt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitsua Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 I changed to varivocals many years ago I was a machine tool fitter and have always thought they were the best thing since sliced bread no problems distance or close up Don't know if it's because I always have had Zeis lenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quentin Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 As a retired Dispensing Optician and a, very retired, Trials rider, this is an interesting question. As I have never riden a bike seriously with varifocals on I can't speak from experience, but I do know from many years of fitting and advising people about varifocals that it is extremley important that the measurement and fitting of the varifocals is spot on. The modern individual design lenses are much less likely to induce these feelings of spatial displacment, although they are expensive, but how much did you pay for that latest trials motorcycle? mcman56 makes the very true statement that the brain learns to interpret what you see, after all every thing the eye sees is presented up side down to the brain. Overall I would suggest separate distance specs for riding and a cheap pair of ready readers in the pocket for adjusitng that carb. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithns Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hi I had the same problem wearing my varifocal lenses, a few years ago I mentioned this to the optician and he said why not try contact lenses, I was not too sure about poking something in my eye but gave it a go, the result is I now wear mono vision lenses (distance lense in one eye and close up lense in the other [it's that brain training thing again]) for trials and they have been a excellent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherfive Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 Lots of comments over a short period, we must all be old on here !!! I use varifocals all the time except for trials. Even the helmet affects position of your specs. I use contacts and they are great and have advantages in rain or when you get hot and steam up your glasses. I'd suggest you give them a try, might even make you look younger - bonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboxer Posted November 12, 2016 Report Share Posted November 12, 2016 I use varifocals & have never thought about it either on my road bike at 100 mph or my trials bike in a section May explain why my trials riding is getting worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guys Posted November 12, 2016 Report Share Posted November 12, 2016 I've used varifocal glasses for everything including trials and mountain biking, with no problem whatsoever for several years now. I got used to them fairly easy, as others complained they had difficulty climbing stairs and such. The same goes for the bifocal glasses I use at work. The only problem I have, is adjusting to my sport glasses wich are single distant focus. They make me slightly dizzy when looking at obstacles close by. It takes about 15 minutes to get used to them. I've tried contact lenses but couldn't get used to them, to much irritation. I'm hope I can get my eyes "lasered" one day, when my eyesight doesn't deteriorate anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantic240motor Posted November 12, 2016 Report Share Posted November 12, 2016 Varifocal wearer too. I can ride trials wearing them but they're not ideal. I bought some cheap ready made distance glasses that have been great. I tried on various strengths until I found 1.25 were perfect. They sharpen the near and mid distance that helps me focus on the ground I'm about to tackle. I don't need to read while riding so don't miss the varifocal part. They only cost a fiver and have flexible metal arms that avoid putting pressure on my head so are comfy and less chance of breaking. I have just bought a second pair to wear on my road bike. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htrdoug Posted November 18, 2016 Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 I had Lasik done earlier this year at 57 yrs old,absolutely made trials riding much more enjoyable. I carry some readers in my toolbag as I can't see squat close up to fix anything,but I had lost my near vision anyway so at least I have distance vision now. Money very well spent! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_t Posted November 18, 2016 Report Share Posted November 18, 2016 I wear varifocal glasses and hadn't given it much thought but I have been wearing glasses since I was 10 so at 53 they aren't something I give much thought to. I switched to varifocals about the same time I took up trials (6 years ago) which may be why I never thought about them but I am tempted to try distance glasses and see if that is why I am having so much trouble figuring out the darn double blip my mind might be too busy figuring out how close the rock is to have time to figure out what my clutch finger is doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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