Eyesight problem (bifocals needed?)

[bardolph]

This is to everyone old enough to have bifocals... I have reached the age where I need bifocals now, I will be getting some soon. One problem I'm having is that when I leave the piano after a couple hours' practice, my vision is all messed up and takes hours to recover. Will bifocals help?

[abell88]

Maybe...part of the problem with bifocals is the thing that also makes them so handy, namely that the bifocal part is only part of the lens (the bottom part). I find when I'm playing at my fairly modern upright my bifocals serve me fairly well, but when I play at a grand where the music rack is higher, I have to tilt my head back if I actually want the music to be in focus.

In the meantime, I suggest you take frequent breaks (at least every 15 minutes) where you turn your eyes away from the piano/music and look at things that are further away...it sounds as if you're straining your eyes by constantly focusing on your music.

I have heard that you can have special "musician's bifocals" made. I don't know if you'd want to go to the expense, as you'd probably still need another pair for reading.

[Glyptodont]

The problem with my bifocals is -- like the other poster said -- to see the music clearly I have to tilt my head back.

In the past I have gotten glasses at a retail outlet that sells a special if you buy two pairs.  As I recall, one pair at full price, second pair at half price.

I need to have my eyes examined again.  I am going to order one pair of glasses in bifocal and a second pair JUST in the "close-up" prescription.

My piano teacher recommends this.  She says such glasses used to be called "reading glasses."

Right now I play with no glasses on, because the bifocals are just impossible.  I really don't see the music very clearly.

[vera]

I have 3 pairs of spectacles now. One for reading (also used at an upright piano), one for the grand piano, and one for distance. Bi-focals wouldn't be any good, because you want the keyboard clear too ( at the grand). To keep the cost down, I recycle my frames. And as the eyes are changing quite a lot at this age, I always go for the cheapest lenses, so I can replace them more often. it is no fun really, but you have to put up with it.

[timothy42b]

I have bifocals.  I put off getting them for a couple of years after I needed them but eventually I had to.

They were great.  I could see up close better than in years, and across the parking lot better than in years.

But at the distance of music, not at all. 

Bifocals are designed for specific focus distances and music is normally not one of them.  Most serious musicians have a separate pair of reading glasses made for that distance.  These aren't bifocals, normally, though I've heard of people who have done that, usually if they play in an orchestra and must watch a conductor.  It is even possible to have them made in reverse, so the near vision is at the top instead of bottom.  But for most of us, single vision reading glasses focused for the music distance will work. 

[bardolph]

Thanks for responses everyone, I see now that it's not a simple question of bifocals solves everything....

[Glyptodont]

I will come back again on this one because I learned a few things today.

I had my eyes examined and my Rx updated.  I asked the optometrist a few questions.

Turns out bifocals are not very good for a grand piano because -- as he explained -- the "close" lens in bifocals is for reading, which for most people is 16-18 inches distance.

There's another situation for either computer or piano, where the eye is normally further-- perhaps 20 to 24 inches? 

The mall store has a "two pair special" price.  So I had one pair as bifocals.  I had a second pair at the slightly greater distance ("computer or piano" as the optometrist explained).  The piano glasses are not bifocals.  Just one Rx throughout.

Even if your focus is not too bad at the grand piano distance, if you are like me you have a few problems like astigmatism.  So if you normally wear glasses and put them aside to play the piano, you lose the astigmatism correction and other benefits of a good Rx.

I am playing what for me is very difficult material right now, and the last thing I need is a major handicap of blurred music.

If your grand piano is like mine, you can slide your music lyre back and forth at least 6 inches.  This can help to "target" your close-vision lenses more precisely to your needs, so your music appears razor sharp.

Hope this helps.  I pick up my new glasses in about 2 hours . . . . .

[c18cont]

There is an effective musicians' bifocals..had at MAJOR opts..Never used any...

In my case I use no lens except a fairly weak reading glasses...bought for $5 at the druggists ..(or Chemists...) Find a pair with a pretty long focal length and you are ready to go...

John Cont