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Quote:

Originally Posted by Wholeheart Mom

Now mind you...

I am 47 years old and have always had 20/20 vision. I have never needed glasses and have never had difficulties with anything - even cutting and piecing quilts for extensive periods of time caused no problems.

However, since I started machine applique, I am having troublesome issues. I get headaches and for some strange reason, my eyes have difficulty accommodating from near to far vision, and I have blurriness for quite a while after I am done on the machine. It seems as if my eyes are too tired and too strained to adjust and focus, so my far vision is compromised for about an hour - then everything clears up and my vision is normal again.

This is all new to me, and I don't want to give up machine applique! Would glasses help? Would one of those magnifying lenses in front of the needle help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would probably agree with others that a trip to the Opthomologist may be in order and the magnifiers are fine as well but one of the greatest gifts I've ever received is a floor standing Ott light. JoAnn's has them on sale all the time or you could use one of their 40-50% off coupons. The light is intense and really lights up what you are working on. I move it into the living room when I'm doing hand work or pull it over to my sewing machine when piecing. LOVE IT and it has cut down on the blurred vision/eye strain immensely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltsRfun

It might not be quilting related. It might be age related. Just saying.

This one gets my vote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogHouseMom

My old eye doctor used to call that "40/40" vision. After you hit 40 your arms need to be 40" long to read.

Try some drug store cheaters, or borrow a pair from a neighbor and try them out. Start with the weakest.

40/40 - love that! That's happening to me as well, at 45. I have cheaters all over the house and in all my bags at different magnifications, depending on what I'm doing. I have also found that taking more frequent breaks helps tremendously, even if it's just to sit with my head back and eyes closed for a few minutes, but it's better for the bod to get up and walk around a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd

Try a pair of those reading glasses from the drug store or WM. I have them all over the house. One in each tote bag for projects, one on the end table where I sit, one on the sewing machine, they are always handy but I only need them for certain things. You know seeing.lol

This is to funny, I have a pair in everyroom. I use them as well and they work great, I'm 56 and still great eyesite.

My eye doctor says he can't do anything better for my vision than my contacts combined with readers when needed. He says the drug store ones work just as good as what he sells. So I've got "cheaters" scattered all through my house, a pair in my purse, even one in the bathroom. I started out needing them for hand quilting in my mid-forties and progressed to needing them for almost everything! Sorry, but those eye muscles just get stiff with age and don't adjust as quickly as they did when we were younger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wholeheart Mom

MY EYE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT GOES WHEN TURNING AROUND 40 OR SO MOST PEOPLE GET FAR SIGHTED AS WE GROW OLDER.I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FAR SIGHTED AND SO IS MY DAUGHTER SHE IS ONLY 25 AND I WILL BE 48 NEXT MONTH.

your eyes continue to changes until you are past 60 most of the time - get used to it !!! increasingly decreasing eye sight comes with the grey hair and wisdom ! Glasses are a fashion statement anyway !

this happens to me too, even when I wear the reading glasses. I have found that, for me, it comes more from looking more "down" at the project - if I can remember to tuck my head more (chin closer to chest) and make sure I'm using my middle visual fields, it's a lot better.

By the way, have fun buying your cheaters. Get fun ones in different styles and colors. There are some really cool ones out there.

Just had eye exam, so know that's right, and he confirms I don't blink enough when I am sewing, mainly hand quilting, so my eyes dry out. compounded with the slow focus, age related issues, etc. leads to tired eyes and slight blur for a while. I try to remember to blink and do use plain tears, but, alas, I think it's just the age thing.