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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Looking good Marjorie. Bet you have the specs on that your looking for. 
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Marjorie Firth

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Oh no! Yes, I do!!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Marjorie - it's excellent; that pinky undertone was a very good idea, too. Bifocals, by the way, are an alternative to two pairs of specs, but you do have to be extremely careful going down stairs - the edge of one was about 4" away from where I thought it was when I wore them, with slightly disastrous consequences.  Varifocals suit me well for painting, despite the odd movements I have to make to get things in focus.  
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Marjorie Firth

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Than you Robert. My glasses - what am I talking about? I’ve got bifocals, not varifocals. However, I find them difficult to read with, not a large enough area. Ok for driving.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Very different things, varifocals and bifocals.  What are you talking about?  Now see 'ere - I have enough trouble working out what I'M talking about, never mind interpreting you.... I think - if you are having a bit of trouble - that a word with your optician would be a good idea: tell them that you paint, and whatever your issues are with painting; they'll be much better informed about what you need (and as a bonus, they might even buy your painting: always worth a punt, let no stone remain unturned).   I never got on with bifocals - as you say, too small an area available unless you have HUGE specs.   As soon as I could afford it, or my age and entitlements allowed it, I went to Varifocals - they're not perfect: 20 x 20 vision would be perfect, but they don't present those sudden differences in perspective that bifocals do.   And I've not fallen over once (well: lie - but I've never fallen over when sober) since investing in them.    I remember having to swop my reading glasses for longer distance when painting, and it drove me madder than I already was ....  since my operation, for really small detail I can just whip the specs off, which has been helpful: but that doesn't work if I stand back from the easel - then it's a question of trying to find where the easel went  (I know the little devil's there somewhere, but where: and why have I just painted the chest-of-drawers...?).   Do investigate with your optician/optometrist - they can be very helpful if they just know what you most need.  
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Marjorie Firth

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Ha ha, I have …..talked to the optician ,that is. Here goes - I have a pair of specs for distance  ( in this case the telly), a pair for reading, a pair for using an easel ( further away than the newspaper) and bifocals which I really should wear all the time but don’t. Also old prescriptions which I keep for emergencies when I lose the newer ones ( which I often do).

Colin Berwick

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Posted
Marjorie, you need these.... Multi Specs.  Also available i tortoise shell!
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Marjorie Firth

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Posted
Oh, got those as well, Colin.🤩
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Well Marjorie, I have been having problems with my sight for a long time and have bifocals, I generally get along with them ok , but had a problem reading. Long story short, bought some reading glasses on prescription and job done , what I did forget about and you have just reminded me is I also discussed using them for painting and drawing , only forgot too.  This afternoon out came the reading specks , bloody hell I can see the easel and the tip of the brush and pen , only problem is is I have no excuse for poor work . I think we get out mind set on something like reading glasses  is for a specific purpose and don’t think of other ways of using them . Not solved your problem but certainly helps mine. 
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Marjorie Firth

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Posted
🥳🥳🥳🥳

Bari Marsh

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Posted
I'm with you Robert have been using varifocals for many years and they have improved over the years,  just keep a pair of readers for reading in bed as you hold a book different when laying down...

Edited
by Bari Marsh

Tessa Gwynne

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Well it seems I opened a can of worms here mentioning your specs Marjorie! Having managed with reading/close ups for many years until last year when I realised things had generally deteriorated, I now find myself with three pairs-one for reading, two for tv and driving. I find this annoying because sketching/knitting or trying to do anything else while watching tv means constant swapping. My optician thought that varifocals weren’t needed yet but I think she may be wrong!  Fortunately I can still paint without specs though they do go on and off sometimes.  It seems we are all in the same boat!
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