Hi--

In the course of reading up on some video cameras, I came across your
website and the article on the alternatives to bifocals. Since my
optometrist just told me that it's that time, and I'm not thrilled, it
was of considerable interest.

Do I have it right that you basically are getting lenses for 4 focal
distances set such that they alternate eye to eye, ie

Far distant - right eye top
near distant - left eye top
medium - right eye bottom
close - left eye bottom?

Also, since it turns out we're in the same town, where did you have them
made? Might be best to work with someone who has done it before. It
definately sounds interesting.

Thanks

Kevin

--

F. Kevin Feeney
Senior Information Technology Engineer
Cornell University, Ithaca New York
607-255-5186, fkf1@cornell.edu

Yes, but the order is (for a photographer...)
Far distance in main lens for non-predominant eye.
Medium distance (one meter) in main lens for predominant eye.
Mid-close (c. 1/2 meter) in small (28mm), low-set bifocal for
non-predominant eye.
Close (about 1/3rd meter) in similar bifocal for predominant
eye.
Since the "errors" are minor (about 1/2 diopter), this gives
continuous-focus from infinity to under one foot, with optimization
for the still-camera viewfinder distance (plus three other distances),
with no feeling of "monocular" vision at all (except at night or
in movies for the first couple of weeks - but closing the "offending"
eye for a moment restores things...;-). Most bifocals are also set
too high, too large, and for too close a focus distance for being
optimum, I think - with my arrangement, I just see everything well,
with no gaps (though it is best to have glasses made specifically
for computer-screen viewing, and reading...). Fortunately, we have
a good and open-minded eye-person in town Dr. Wood, at Cayuga
Optical - and the bifocal tops are tilted at the right angle to
make them invisible, a rare thing...;-). Since you are just starting
out with bifocals, though, you probably still have enough focus
range to use conventional bifocals (with the insets set low, small,
and for not-too-close a focus distance) - my arrangement is intended
to avoid trifocals and "lineless" solutions, both poor (though the
4-distance solution will work fine as a first bifocal design...).
BTW, if you get glasses made this way, let me know - you will be
the first (other than me) to do it, obviously superior as this
design is to the usual bifocal or "lineless" glasses (a tribute,
I guess, to "stick-in-the-mudness" of people...! ;-).
Any questions on video or photography? (I answer "tons" of these,
too...;-)