New eyeglasses allow you to adjust prescription yourself

http://phys.org ^ | 31 May 2012 | Bob Yirka

[Red Badger]

A new kind of eyeglasses is now available from a British company that allows the wearer to adjust the prescription anytime, anywhere, via small thumb-dials on the sides. Called, Eyejusters, the glasses make use of a technology called a Slidelens, which very aptly describes how these glasses do their magic. Each lens is actually two lenses that have slightly different shapes; turning the thumb-dial causes one lens to move slightly left or right and that changes the focal point for the wearer. The lenses are moved until the person doing the focusing finds the sweet spot; which is exactly how users focus a pair of binoculars.

The web site for the Eyejusters says their main market is the developing world, where a lot of people with vision problems can’t afford to see an eye doctor, much less the glasses that would be prescribed. Eyejusters solve both problems; when ordered, they come with an eye-chart that can be used to help discern if a person’s vision can be corrected with Eyejusters (the power range is from +4.5 to 0 D (positive) and 0 to -5.0 D (negative)) and to figure out which version they need (for near or far vision correction).

The glasses were developed by four guys; Dave Crosby, Owen Reading, Richard Taylor and Greg Storey, who found a common interest in self-adjustable glasses and in the process created a company to fulfill the goal of providing low cost eyeglasses to the millions of people the world over who cannot afford a traditional pair. Their secondary market is for people who could use adjustable glasses for other than general use purposes, such as reading, working on a computer, knitting, i.e. for people as they get older and find they have trouble focusing while performing different tasks.

The Eyejusters, which come with detachable thumb-dials also come with a plastic case and special cleaning cloth. The cloth can be used to clean both sides of both lenses because the outer lens can be hinged down for easy access. The Eyejusters also offer UV protection, which has been incorporated to help prevent eye damage from the sun, another common problem in underdeveloped countries.

Another interesting aspect of the adjustable glasses is that it appears with a little tweaking, they could be used to perform self exams in more developed countries. By adding a digital display, the wearer could work out their own prescription and send it to a company that sells traditional eyeglasses, sidestepping an expensive trip to an ophthalmologist.

[Red Badger]

VIDEO AT LINK............

[Red Badger]

Ping!..........

[HerrBlucher]

This is a great idea. Optometrists may not think so though, if you can do a self exam with them.

[Paladin2]

Cool, but what about cylindrical correction?

[freedomlover]

Call me when you can’t lose them, or sit on them.

Until then its $9 for three at the Dollar Store for me.

[dis.kevin]

Another Opti-Grab disaster in the making? Is the inventors name Navin Johnson?

[Red Badger]

There are other types of glasses for that..............

[BlessedBeGod]

This would be fantastic for me. I’m on medication that has a side effect of blurred vision which changes constantly in both eyes. If I could adjust the prescription in each lens as my vision changes throughout the day, I wouldn’t be so frustrated and could see more clearly.

[Red Badger]

That's what these are for.............

[DeFault User]

for people as they get older and find they have trouble focusing while performing different tasks.

My wife needs a pair of these. She now has 3 pairs: one for reading, one for computer work and one for driving. At any given time, the pair she needs can't be found. ;o)

[Jack Hydrazine]

Do they have any for dogs?

[Red Badger]

Has she tried TRI-FOCALS?............

[Red Badger]

Well, they have dentures for dogs, so why not!........

[redgolum]

I don’t know if this will be allowed in the US.

Eye doctors will say it is to dangerous to allow people to not be checked out on a regular basis. There is technology for hearing aids to be sold at kiosks, but the doctors say that would hurt people if they are not examined to test for brain damage.

[Red Badger]

Using the government to protect your monetary self interest in the name of public safety is nothing new. Ever wonder what the cost of plumbers, contractors, hairstylists and healthcare workers would be if not for the government?...........

[EyeGuy]

“Eye doctors will say it is to dangerous to allow people to not be checked out on a regular basis.”

####

I would say that. It is true.

However, I would NOT use that argument to try to prevent this device being brought to market. As for so many complex medical conditions, this gadget will function near perfectly in limited situations, will be merely variably acceptable in many others, and for some condtions, not applicable at all.

And, by the way, I often vote against my own professional, self-interest in lieu of the conservative, small-government cause.

[houeto]

Now THAT is neat!

[DeFault User]

It was a no go with the trifocals, also the necklace eyeglasses holder I got her.

[DeFault User]

I drilled down from the site and found a US supplier. They are on back order and will not ship until July 1. $40 + $10 shipping.

[caveat emptor]

She now has 3 pairs: one for reading, one for computer work and one for driving.

Just like mine, but in one pair of glasses with progressive lenses. They work well and have UV and shatter protection. They took a bit of getting used to, weren't cheap, and they aren't always perfect for everything I do. I still have one of each power of drugstore glasses which I occasionally use.

For instance, cleaning up a large fir which fell across my driveway and into a parking area required lots of head movement but not much precision. The 1.25 glasses were good for that.