For the first time, I've been sewing with my glasses. My problem is that I'm extremely nearsighted. Since I can see my absolute best with my "natural" eyes up close, it was amazing how much easier it was to match seams, etc just by taking off the glasses. Then the glasses went back on for everything else, sewing included. The result is a nasty headache! Ugh!

I had been sewing with my contacts in and reading glasses. The power of the reading glasses is perfect for me to read, but I think I could probably use more power for sewing(?) So, I'm wondering if any of you are nearsighted contact wearers and have suggestions to improve sewing vision.

Thanks!

When I wear my contacts, I have several pairs of reading glasses of different strengths handy. I pick them up at the drug store :wink: and they work just fine according to my eye doc :D:D:D
My vision changes slightly when I get more tired towards evening, and the pair I use for reading doesn't seem to work as well as my main pair for sewing.
I too have noticed the need for brighter light with my contacts/reading glasses vs wearing my bifocals.

I too am nearsighted. I wear contacts but also need reading glasses for up-close reading or viewing. I keep a stronger strength pr of reading glasses by my sewing machine at all times. I just think of them as a necessary "sewing notion".
I can't be without them or my bendable bright light.

I sew without my glasses.My eyes adjust and I do fine.If I need I do keep a pair of reading glasses at hand but I find I do better with nothing when sewing.

I have done mono vision for over thirty yrs. it works so well. You have to check with your Doc to see if you are able to do this. I am just now having to wear reading glasses to help me with close up hand sewing. I can sew at machine without the glasses, drive read etc. Just need to thread needle close work.
DONNA,The Rustic Quilter

I use this when I'm machine quilting. I wear bifocals and was having a horrible time because I am nearsighted. This works for me. I can see each stitch close enough to sew right over the top of it in a straight line. I won't machine quilt without it. http://www.simplicity.com/p-5219-cc-...magnifier.aspx My only complaint is the light on it is pretty much useless.

I bought it at Walmart for $19.

Donna, how long did it take you to adjust to the monovision? I have them and i don't know if i can get use to them. I still have trouble up close.

I'm nearsighted AND farsighted. FUN! I do take off my glasses sometimes or worse, look over the tops. Looking over the tops is a guaranteed headache but sometimes I have no hands handy or am just too lazy to take them off and find a place to put them (and I'm not quite ready for the string look). I am hoping to get new glasses very soon but I think I'll still have to take them off for the really close up stuff.

I also wear the monovision contacts. I put them in and had no trouble at all. Sometimes I wear cheap little reading glasses from the drugstore. Increasing the amount of light also really helps.

I'm in the same boat. I constantly wear contacts for severe near-sightedness, and recently started to wear reading glasses. I even got checked by my eye doctor because I was only 30 years old when this happened. He wasn't alarmed and just said my eyes turned "old" about ten years earlier than most people.

I don't know about you, nance-ell, Sometimes I leave my contacts out and just wear my near-sighted glasses when sewing. For me that takes away some of the strain. For distance sight like driving it's always contacts, or I have trouble reading street signs. But for close up things it's contacts + reading glasses or super-thick glasses by themselves.

You can experiment with different powers of reading glasses, but I strongly recommend going to an eye doctor and explaining all your activities. We only have one set of eyes...

p.s. I thought I was the only one who wore reading glasses over contacts. I don't feel alone anymore :shock: