Somebody please explain this vision problem and suggest a practical solution

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 4:38 pm

I wear no-line bifocals. I have a pair of special single vision glasses that were set for music reading, but they no longer help. I was playing in an auditorium Monday with bright overhead light and noticed that when I shielded my eyes with my hand, I could see the music a lot better. Other than wearing a visor or ball cap (cheap easy fix, but not very practical), any suggestions?

Thanks!

Zandit75 · Post by **Zandit75** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:44 pm

Can you get an anti-reflection/glare coating applied to your lenses?

2bobone · Post by **2bobone** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:58 pm

I've seen quite a few people wearing darkly shaded "panels" that attach directly to the frames of their conventional eyeglasses. It seemed they'd had cataract surgery and had to limit bright light intrusion into their vision process. Might work ??????

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 7:19 pm

Zandit75 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:44 pm Can you get an anti-reflection/glare coating applied to your lenses?

Already have it. Thanks for the idea, though!

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 7:22 pm

2bobone wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:58 pm I've seen quite a few people wearing darkly shaded "panels" that attach directly to the frames of their conventional eyeglasses. It seemed they'd had cataract surgery and had to limit bright light intrusion into their vision process. Might work ??????

Flip-up clip on sunglasses might do the trick. Thanks for the tip!

greenbean · Post by **greenbean** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 7:44 pm

Those clip-on sunglasses are good for motorcycling, too!

Bach5G · Post by **Bach5G** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:12 pm

I’ve used a ball cap for rehearsals.

Maybe a golf-style visor would be a little more discrete?

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:14 pm

Bach5G wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:12 pm I’ve used a ball cap for rehearsals.

Maybe a golf-style visor would be a little more discrete?

I have an old Wendy's visor for informal rehearsals, but I don't think the community band conductor would look kindly on it, let alone the conductor of the orchestra I might be playing in starting next month

Post by **Doug Elliott** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:49 pm

I have that problem too.

Another thing to note is that you continuously get more farsighted, so a prescription that you got a year ago to focus at 30 inches now focuses at more like 4 feet.

2bobone · Post by **2bobone** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:57 pm

I actually was suggesting the "panels" that attach to the arms of your glasses to obstruct light from entering from the sides as well as something along the lines of "flip-up" sunglasses. You'd look kind of sexy at the same time !

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:41 pm

2bobone wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:57 pm I actually was suggesting the "panels" that attach to the arms of your glasses to obstruct light from entering from the sides as well as something along the lines of "flip-up" sunglasses. You'd look kind of sexy at the same time !

I'm a trombone player. Sexy goes without saying

.

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:42 pm

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:49 pm I have that problem too.

Another thing to note is that you continuously get more farsighted, so a prescription that you got a year ago to focus at 30 inches now focuses at more like 4 feet.

Could be. I got a new "music" prescription a few months ago and will compare it to what I had.

Eyedoc · Post by **Eyedoc** » Wed Dec 05, 2018 11:42 pm

Call my office in the morning and schedule an appointment

Can you see well with the music glasses when you have good light on the music and not shining into your eyes?
Do you have difficulty seeing at any other times? Driving at night or especially on a dark ( no street lights) road with oncoming headlights? Do you wear sunglasses in bright outdoor light? Do you see better on a bright day or cloudy day?
Your symptoms sound like a problem with glare. The source may be anywhere from the cornea (front) of the eye to the retina ( the inside lining like the film in the camera). The most common cause is early cataracts which is an imperfection in the crystalline lens inside the eye behind the pupil. If you have had cataract surgery, there is a secondary cataract that can form. You can have 20/20 vision on an eye chart and drop to legal blindness with a bright light in the eye. A proper exam should identify the cause.
If your only problem seeing is that playing situation, you can make adaptations. If you notice vision has changed, you should see your eyecare provider.
Adaptations: clip on sun lenses flipped up (like baseball player) is good but you may have light coming above or around the filters. You can make a small visor that slips over the earpieces and sits on top of the glasses but may have same issue with light over the top. Fit over sunglasses are called glare filters in low vision practice and are a ready solution because they block extra light from the sides and top. Color of lens is very personal. Polarized usually best. Available in dark grey, amber (dark brown), high contrast copper color, and high contrast yellow. Other colors available. You need to try out different colors and see what is best. Often a dark grey makes everything too dark. You may only need the side and top protection and can pop the lenses out.
The first option of a visor is excellent. If your director has a problem, refer them to the Americans with disabilities act! Don’t be afraid to look a little different if it does the job. I use the ergo bone because it relieves all of the pain from shoulder impingement and often a thumb brace when not playing for arthritis. Function is most important.
PM me if any questions.

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:33 am

Thanks, eyedoc! I was diagnosed with the first glimmer of cataracts a few years ago, had my last eye exam (Opthalmologist) a few months ago, no progression. No, my old music reading glasses don't help any more in any light. I got them maybe 10 years ago, though, and will compare my latest fixed focus music prescription to the old one and if the same will definitely go back for an exam to figure out what is wrong. I will say that my music glasses had two advantages - music was crisper, conductor was blurry. Win-win!

Eyedoc · Post by **Eyedoc** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 11:09 pm

The effects of early cataracts and mildly out of focus glasses are additive. Given good lighting, the old glasses may be sufficient to read the music, and with good focus glasses the glare may not be bad enough to hinder reading the music.
The bright overhead lights may be coming into the pupil just right to glare off imperfections in the crystalline lens(cataract) especially with early posterior subcapsular or cortical cataracts

timothy42b · Post by **timothy42b** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 1:15 pm

I've had the exact problem this year. My formerly good single vision music glasses stopped doing the job, and it became hard to tell which was better between those and my bifocals. I found myself changing my stand height and distance, and bringing a light to formerly okay venues. Add to it headaches and struggles with my monitor at work, and the tv at home.

So yesterday I had cataract surgery in the left eye. Next week the other eye. I'll let you know how it progresses.

The horn is in the case. My doctor said he saw no reason to stop playing, but the guidance is mixed on this point, and I found a study of intraocular pressure while playing that was a bit scarey, so even though I trust his knowledge I've decided to be over cautious.

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 2:36 pm

Thanks to everybody for all the input. My eye doc made me a new music reading prescription based on a visit in April and it is definitely different - old ones were -3.25 both eyes, new one -2.25 one eye and -2.00 on the other. No wonder the old ones weren't working! I plan on getting a new pair using the new prescription with anti-glare coating. The doc said not to worry, we'll look at everything at my next appointment.

Eyedoc · Post by **Eyedoc** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:43 am

<t>That is a large change but not unusual for 10 years. It should be a night and day difference. It may seem odd, but a gradual decrease in minus (myopia) like that is common in healthy eyes. Doug Elliott was spot on! There are other causes, but the Dr would have ruled them out. <br/>
<br/>
Let me know what the distance prescription is and I can calculate the theoretical focus distance. </t>

timothy42b · Post by **timothy42b** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 7:30 am

David Bradley invented Control-Alt-Delete when part of an IBM programming team in the 80s. It was never intended to be released to computer users. Bill Gates calls it a mistake.

However, I am find that Control-+ is the most useful keystroke on the entire PC. I wish it would work on sheet music.

This lets me make the font on my monitor larger instantly. I am using it heavily as I struggle with close focus vision. It's a lifesaver. Later this week I have my second eye surgery, and it looks like I'll have some decent distance vision, but I'll need glasses for near vision like music, reading, computer work. A local hotel was going through lifecycle replacement of their room TVs, and I bought a 32 inch flat screen for $30, and use it on a computer.

Sorry about the cryptic nature of the post! I've edited to explain why I wrote.

baileyman · Post by **baileyman** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:07 am

timothy42b wrote: ↑Tue Dec 11, 2018 7:30 am ...I am find that Control-+ is the most useful keystroke on the entire PC. I wish it would work on sheet music.

This lets me make the font on my monitor larger instantly. I am using it heavily as I struggle with close focus vision. ...

You and me both. My solution is a big iMac with large fonts about four feet away. This allows the eyes to naturally focus and the font ends up being about the same size in field of view as what I used to read up close.

timothy42b · Post by **timothy42b** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:08 pm

Ah, four feet. So you've switched to alto trombone, to avoid hitting the monitor with the slide in long positions. good Idea, I may do the same.

Or.... maybe Eb trumpet????

bennieemado · Post by **bennieemado** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 5:29 pm

im looking solution for this problem too.. if anyone have something please let me know:

baileyman · Post by **baileyman** » Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:26 am

timothy42b wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:08 pm Ah, four feet. So you've switched to alto trombone, to avoid hitting the monitor with the slide in long positions. good Idea, I may do the same.

Or.... maybe Eb trumpet????

You know, five feet may be closer. I can just touch the screen in six, but I play to the left anyway for the morning workout, and 10 cup pot.

timothy42b · Post by **timothy42b** » Tue Apr 23, 2019 6:31 am

Well, I was thinking humor, but seriously it's a problem I run into trying to read music off a computer screen. I have to sit sideways. It isn't so bad with an iPad that fits on the music stand, I guess, but an actual monitor is hard to get close to, and 4-5 feet is that distance I can't see at. Too far for readers, and too close for distance vision.

heldenbone · Post by **heldenbone** » Sun Jun 09, 2019 6:58 pm

To support and amplify what "eyedoc" had to say on this subject, let me add personal experience to the thread. After dealing with something similar, which progressed as far as mild monocular diplopia (ghosting or double vision in a single eye), consultation with an eye specialist revealed cornea scarring termed OCP (ocular cicatricial pemphigoid), likely due to an autoimmune disturbance. Treatment with a low dose immunosuppressant stopped progression and after a couple years enabled my body to desensitize. I now only require frequent artificial tears eyedrops. So, do not ignore what you are experiencing.

As to coping in the aftermath, the artificial tears are frequently helpful, as they allow my corneas to reestablish a properly smooth moisture layer over the cornea, cutting down extraneous glare. The other measure that helps is to use amber "driving glasses." These are generally marketed as an aid to night vision, and many optometrists and opthalmologists recommend against them as snake oil for the eyes. They were recommended to me by the eye surgeon who treated my corneal scarring as a glare aid. They cut the specturm of light down, removing much of the "blue" end that LED electric lighting produces and that is aggressively reflected from glass surfaces. They are helpful and much less obtrusive than a visor or dark sunglasses on stage.

Good luck solving your vision difficulties. Don't hesitate to seek expert guidance.