Frit-Happens !

Technical Forum => Studio/workspace/setup/equipment => Safety/Safety Equipment => Topic started by: firedinglass on May 03, 2012, 08:49:15 AM

Title: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: firedinglass on May 03, 2012, 08:49:15 AM
I need to wear glasses when i lampwork.  I don't wear them all the time  but need them for this or reading etc.  I wear these, didys and clip on magnifyers!!!!   I'm considering prescription didys but have no idea of their cost and as my eyes will change am wondering if the cost is worth it.  I definately need magnifyers.  What do the rest of you do and does anybody know roughly how much prescription didys cost (UK based)  :)
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: afina on May 03, 2012, 09:01:26 AM
Hi!
I decided against them, as my prescription glasses change regularly. I use one of those nicer looking didys that can be worn over regular glasses.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Calico Cat on May 03, 2012, 09:27:58 AM
I also decided against as they are expensive and my prescription does change.

I just wear magnifying clip ons on ordinary diddys (don't wear my prescription glasses when I lampwork)
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Jennie Lamb on May 03, 2012, 09:35:47 AM
My eyes keep changing to so I used the over ones but my optician set the distance on the lens of my own glasses for my torchwork as I wear varis most of the time and close up for well close work!  I would be careful if ur perscription changes it is gonna get expensive and I think the over glasses look very Rock and Roll myself lol!!
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: jammie on May 03, 2012, 09:41:36 AM
i wear reading glasses and diddys over them, my frames are small and light so the diddys fit fine with these glasses!

How are vari focals I was wary about trying them but I have 2 pairs of glasses and it gets confusing.  :)
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Princess Peggy (Priscilla McGirr) on May 03, 2012, 10:03:56 AM
I treated myself to a bench mounted didium screen at the Flame Off, and the freedom it gives me is amazing....no more heavy clip ons sliding down my nose, no more getting my clio mixed up with clear because I can't see the colours properly...I can wear my ordinary varifocals without all the added clutter and it's wonderful! Yes, it's something to negotiate round on my workbench, but it hasn't been a problem...there's plenty of other stuff on there, and i've just got used to it!

It's expensive...But surely not as much as a pair of prescription diddys?
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys or a didy shield
Post by: firedinglass on May 03, 2012, 11:01:59 AM
I was thinking about a shield but  how have you mounted it, don't think i can mount from ceiling, just ordinary shed ceiling  and my extractor vent is in front of me and i don't think there's room beside me , hmm maybe if i move everything around...  Does yours have a long flexible gooseneck with a clamp or a heavy base?  When i planned my workbench which is L shaped i should of had the long end as the workstation and not the short end - but then no window or view.  Do you just wear your glasses with the shield  and feel that's enough ?  sorry so many questions :)
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: sarah t on May 03, 2012, 11:14:47 AM
i dont know what sucess folks have had with the stick on lenses (on sale at tuffers ) 
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: firedinglass on May 03, 2012, 11:42:40 AM
I really couldn't get on with the stick ons, i use clip ons and wire them to my didys as the clip wasn't wide/stable enough to stay fixed on it's own.  i can still flip them up - sort of.  Once you need glasses lampworking it does  seem to become an ongoing problem trying to find the best thing for you!
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Josephine on May 03, 2012, 11:56:13 AM
I got prescription ones about 4 years ago, I think they cost me £250-£300 from my optician. I went in with the details of what I wanted. They were great but now age is creeping up on me and my old prescription is hopeless close up so I wear varifocals most of the time. I now find that I can just wear ordinary didys and see perfectly well. I must be lucky that the point at which my eyes focus on their own now just happens to be at lampworking distance. So I guess it depends on if your prescription is stable and how old you are. Will you find yourself in the same postion as me sooner rather than later or are you too young to worry about become more fixed sighted any time soon?
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Princess Peggy (Priscilla McGirr) on May 03, 2012, 12:45:30 PM
Obviously space can be a problem, but quite honestly I don't really lose any...I just put things on top of it, and my mandrel arm comes up and under the gooseneck. The screen is quite close to my face, and also I feel it protects my eyes.
Here it is after my last torching session.....ooooh what a mess I hear you say...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/6992469642_ddffd19e96.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50810791@N03/6992469642/)
New Didium Screen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50810791@N03/6992469642/) by Princess Peggy1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/50810791@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Steampunkglass on May 03, 2012, 02:24:30 PM
well I got some really nice clip on ones from the states, it worked out a bit cheaper than buying perscription ones, plus it means when I need new glasses I won't need to get new diddys as well. The only two drawbacks are there are different ones for different shaped glasses, I have the 'letter box' style glasses, so the clips ons I have will only suit that style of glasses. I also found that they are quite heavy, and I now wear a sports strap on my glasses when working to stop them sliding off my nose!!!
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Nina A on May 03, 2012, 02:31:00 PM
I think it depends on what strength you need,   I got on great with the stick ons to start with,  but now I use clip-on reading glasses over my diddys.   I've got to go to the optician soon,  I'm going to ask about clip-on prescription ones and take my diddy's with me. hopefully then I can use them with my sunglasses as well, hopefully solve two problems at the same time.  (although not sure sunglasses are going to be needed weather being what it is  :(      )

Nina
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: firedinglass on May 03, 2012, 03:51:39 PM
 Thankyou so much for the quick response - i must admit i'm leaning towards a shield, then as my eyesight changes it won't matter. i think i might be able to fix it behind the torch in front of me and under the creation station with a lot of tweeking around!  The photo is great to give me an idea (my working area is a lot messier than that!)  is that a maginfying lens i see in the picture?  I've just got to take a deep breath re the cost and pray it's right for me  or hope to find a second hand one.....
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Pauline on May 03, 2012, 08:20:40 PM
having been a lifelong spectacle wearer with very poor eyesight I took the plunge last june and had intra optical lense replacements (like a cateract op, but done for short sight) and my replacement lenses were multifocal, so I no longer need glasses for distance or close work,  and I only need ordinary didys.  Its much more expensive than prescription didys but the freedom after years of heavy glasses is amazing.  Ray Skene had the same op.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Charli on May 03, 2012, 10:36:01 PM
My prescription didys are fab! I love being able to torch for longer than 40 minutes and non incur a massive headache from all the glasses-weight resting on my nose!

Mine were 150 pounds, from here: http://eyesright.co.uk/, its not on their website, you'd have to email them.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: JaySpangles on May 04, 2012, 12:53:13 PM
I wear normal did days with a pair of cheapo reading glasses on the end of my nose.  I have a few pairs round the house and tried them all until I found a pair I liked but it works well for me.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: marijane on May 04, 2012, 02:39:41 PM
My vision has got worse during my long break from lampwork, I have tried cheap reading glasses under didys, but they were very uncomfortable.  I have just bought the stick on lenses from Tuffnels and they do the trick very nicely.  Hopefully they will pass the test of time.

Mari
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Pat from Canvey on May 04, 2012, 05:20:22 PM
I wear varifocal lenses all the time but bought a cheap pair of reading glasses onto which I put clip on didys. I tied some elastic on the arms to stop them sliding down my nose. I don't have space to use a didy shield on my workbench.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: spexy on May 04, 2012, 06:51:51 PM
I was fine with a pair of didy's in front of my glasses but my variafocal prescription changed recently and I couldn't see close up. So I got a pair of reading glasses which work fine, but they are a bit heavy and I am finding the weight of two pairs of glasses on my nose is very uncomfortable. Like you I am debating whether to go for prescription glasses or not. My optician quoted me £150.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: CelticGlass on October 13, 2012, 05:49:13 PM
Quote from: Pauline on May 03, 2012, 08:20:40 PM
having been a lifelong spectacle wearer with very poor eyesight I took the plunge last june and had intra optical lense replacements (like a cateract op, but done for short sight) and my replacement lenses were multifocal, so I no longer need glasses for distance or close work,  and I only need ordinary didys.  Its much more expensive than prescription didys but the freedom after years of heavy glasses is amazing.  Ray Skene had the same op.


3 years on and my eye intra-ocular lenses continue to improve.... eyes like a hawk....  ;D
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Blue Box Studio on October 13, 2012, 06:10:49 PM
I'm also a life long specs wearer but wear the fit over diddys.  I have got used them sliding down my nose but at first fitted an adjustable specs cord - the kind sportmen wear with the toggle that tightens at the back of the head.  Only I took it off to show someone and seem to have left it behind, somewhere?

Not sure my eyes would be suitable for the ops, my prescription varies every time I see the optician, but the thought of being conscious whilst my eyes were done horrifies me.
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: Redhotsal on October 13, 2012, 06:26:33 PM
Quote from: CelticGlass on October 13, 2012, 05:49:13 PM
Quote from: Pauline on May 03, 2012, 08:20:40 PM
having been a lifelong spectacle wearer with very poor eyesight I took the plunge last june and had intra optical lense replacements (like a cateract op, but done for short sight) and my replacement lenses were multifocal, so I no longer need glasses for distance or close work,  and I only need ordinary didys.  Its much more expensive than prescription didys but the freedom after years of heavy glasses is amazing.  Ray Skene had the same op.


3 years on and my eye intra-ocular lenses continue to improve.... eyes like a hawk....  ;D

I've often wondered about this but was worried about the results. Can I be cheeky and ask how much roughly you had to pay and where you had it done? Also - I was always warned that your night vision suffers from glare or "halos" around lights, especially when driving at night - do you get this? Mind you - I don't know why I'm worried - I'm almost a liability with varifocals at night!
Title: Re: to buy or not to buy prescription didys
Post by: oliver90owner on October 13, 2012, 06:42:36 PM
I pondered on the didymium glass screen (£125 at Tuffer's).  Only one set of glasses and can see clearly all around the rest of the area.  OK, I got the el cheapo's (if they can be called that) in the end.  I will look for some didymium glass and frame it myself if I find some at the right price.  Welding shops - here I come.

The screen does seem to me to be a good solution and no need for another £150 should the eyesight alter.