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.

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

That's right about the time I started needing reading glasses! Never wore them my whole life until then. I wear contacts though, the bifocal ones. I hate glasses! Maybe b/c I never had to wear them.
I'd get those eyes checked.

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

My eye doctor told me I would probably need readers soon..and I am 44. :(

the glasses may help. with machine applique, your eyes stay very focused on the sewing point for a very long time. i've noticed that, myself. try taking more vision breaks... look up/away often.

Hate to say it, but it's probably an age-related thing. Worth getting checked out of course.

I've worn glasses forever and everytime I start to feel eye strain and get headaches I know I should go in and get new glasses. If you haven't had an eye exam in a while, I'd say it is worth the money.

Try the drugstore reading glasses, but also be aware of time. Set a timer and every half hr or so look up and into the distance and around for a little bit. It maybe that you are just concentrating too hard and your eye muscles are tired from all the close work.

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.

My daughter once worked part time in a bar and they even had a pair of "bar glasses" that people would ask for when they had trouble reading a menu, etc. : )

Is it worse in the evening when the light isn't as good? In addition to the eye check (which would be good to make sure your eye is healthy or that you are not getting cataracts), trying the readers, and taking "look at a distance" breaks; get a really good lamp that you can direct to shine right on your work. That makes a difference for me.

yup that is about the age it happened to me as well. Started out I only needed them for fine work or really small font types. Now I can not read or sew or work on puter without glasses. Distance I am fine but anything close up forget it.

I had my eyes checked last year - ophthalmologist said they're fine, and encouraged me to keep doing things like hand stitching while I watch tv. He said having my eyes focus on something at a distance (such as the tv), then focus on something close-up (such as my handwork) keeps the "lens" and eye muscles flexible, and is good for keeping my healthy vision. Maybe you could set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes, and when it goes off, stop looking at your applique and focus on something across the room for a few minutes. If your headaches and blurred vision continue, I would recommend seeing an ophthalmologist.

Ditto! Pick up some 1.25 cheaters and see if it helps. With anything, you should give your eyes a rest every so often by looking out in the distance....

My opthamalogist told me that by age 45 almost every single person needs some sort of eyeglasses. For years I used drugstore glasses. Suspect that is all you need. However if your head aches continue please see an opthamalogist for a thorough exam. And make sure you have very good lighting in your sewing area, not just the lighting on your machine. Another tip is to take breaks while you are sewing.
Kat

Ditto to much of what has been said.
Though I highly recommend that you go to your optometrist of opthamologist for a proper review of your eyes. Self diagnosis is all too risky when it comes to your eye, IMHO.

You're doing a lot of intense work there, and if you're like me, will be watching really close at what's happening. Too, your focal point on the applique is probably a different distance than when you read or do computer work. Also, you may be adding strain due to the lighting (too little and/or too much and/or too bright).

I have different eyeglasses for when I am working at the computer, than when at the machine.

Cheaters/Readers are not always as simple as buying them OTC. Sometimes you need prisms or other prescription work, which would be beyond the OTC ones. The only ones I will use are the ones from the optometrist. They are of a better quality than those from the drug store, etc. and for extended use, you want quality!

Please make yourself an appointment and ensure you are doing the right thing for your eyes .... after all, you want to continue to quilt for many many years!

It's probably age related - I would try a magnifier on the machine. One of the few advantages of having worn glasses all my life is that my close-up vision is usually clear and sharp if I take my glasses off. So now if I want to hand sew and watch tv I use a lighted magnifier lamp...if I don't care what's on I just take my glasses off. :)

Janet

My daughters are all at this stage now. One works for an eye doctor and says it is definitely age related - 40 is the magic line with most patients. You've done well to get to 47 without some help.
Cheaters may work, but an eye exam is always recommended if it's been a while. My doctor will tell people to go to the drugstore if cheaters are all that's needed.

Hate to tell you sweetie, but you're developing a "slow focus". It happens to all of us once we stop growin and start wearin out so to speak... Best thing to do is see an eye doctor. You will probably also find it much more difficult than in prior tests, as he's changing the lenses during the test. Which one is better A or B? Oooh I don't know - do that again... Until then, take more breaks, but I think you'll find that it's just gonna happen anyway. If you're reading a book and someone comes into the room and you look up (after quite a few minutes of reading) doesn't the same thing happen? I was a bookkeeper and I noticed it at first when an employee would come into my office and I had to look up from my little numbers. It took a while to adjust. Glasses help some, but the focus is still slow. And not to be contradictory, but my eye doctor says cheaters can hurt in the long run more than help because if you have astigmatism or something like that it can exacerbate the problem. So, please if you haven't been in a while - it's time to go see the eye doc.
Hugs to you,
Gayle

To be on the safe side I would go get these symptoms checked out. I just had an eye exam on last Friday. There are things happening to my eyes that I would have never guessed. Rather safe than sorry. None of us want to loose our site. It is far too precious.

Thanks for all the advice! You gals are the best!

I think I need to have a thorough eye exam and possibly see if I need a little "visual assistance". This is all so new to me because I have always had stellar vision, but I am getting older now and it makes sense that things are going to be changing.

I thought about doing cheaters, but I have heard that they will make it worse in the long run. I guess I just need to see what the doctor has to say and take it from there.

Thanks again for all the advice!

If my old memory is reliable, the morning of my 45th birthday, when I opened my 45 year old eyes, I needed bi- focals. Just that quick. Eyes go from perfect to bi- focals. Try a mild magnifier glasses but only for a trial time, Then go to the eye doctor to cofirm readers or more. Good luck!

Oh yeah! That was when I couldn't read the ATM! Freaked out! hubby pointed out I was getting old! Yuk! Get the reading glasses!

Sounds like an appointment with the eye doctor is in your future .. :D or at least that's what I would do.

It's never wise to take a chance with your eyes and the doctor can check everything so you know if there's anything serious or just 'aging vision' ~ :D Good luck ~

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are getting older :lol: :lol: :lol: I know...47 isn't old!!!

Truthfully though, as we get older the lenses in our eyes harden and are not as flexible. If you do close-up work for an extended period of time, you will have trouble focusing on distant objects. It is this diminished flexibility that causes this experience. When looking at distant objects, our lenses flatten out, and just the opposite when we look at things up close. Then, the lenses change to a shape that looks like this >

When we are young, our eyes can make these changes easily, but as the lenses harden, our recovery period lengthens.

When is the last time you visited an Opthamologist for a thorough eye exam? If you have never seen one, I am encouraging you to go. I have had lifelong vision issues (long story for another day) so I am somewhat compulsive when it comes to eye health. I also encourage you to see an Opthamologist as opposed to an optometrist or optition.

I started needing eyeglasses 2 years ago at 42 years old. Do you notice first thing in the morning that it is hard to read small print for about an hour after you get up. That is what I started to notice at first. I just need reading glasses and started out with the ones you can get at the drug store and still do use them around the house and use my perscription glasses at work.

Oops - sorry, didn't mean for my writing to end up with yours.

When you go for your eye exam, explain to the doc specifically what you are having issues with as well as just a general exam. I've worn contacts/glasses most of my life. Can't wear 'progressive' lenses - they make me dizzy. I have 'real' glasses for the computer and driving but the eye doc told me to use good ol' drug store readers for my needle work - both hand and machine. Said to get whatever strength worked. I find WM has the best deal going. You can get 3 pair (of same strength) for about $11. I get varying strengths for different purposes. They are everywhere in the house - kitchen for reading directions/labels; 2 at side chair for sewing and other tasks; sewing room; bedroom for reading at night. It's more than likely an age thing but definitely should be checked. And welcome to the club!

Reading glasses should do the trick, I too was fine up tilll my later 40's, and started noticing I didn't enjoy doing hand work or reading as much as I once had, didn't put my finger on it till I tried a pair of reading glasses. 1.0's to start. This got me back on track again! They even have them at the Dollar Store, so they are affordable enough to have them all over the house where needed, in your purse, car, locker - drawer at work... My eye doctor even said this was the way to go - admitted she could sell me glasses for a hundred+, but off the shelf would be fine.
Now at 55 years old, I'm in bifocals due to my work - just goes to show you we can't control everything! :shock: :XD: :thumbup:

I agree with dd. I use those magnifier glasses all the time. I have a pair in #2 for the computer and #3 for the fine work. You can go and try them on for the strengths for your eyes. Test them out on some reading material in the store (i.e. a package) and take some small sewing piece with you and see if you can see the stitches ok.

Also get yourself some good eye drops like Systane Ultra. If you can't find them in the store you can probably get them online. They come recommended by my eye doctor.

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.

This one gets my vote.

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.

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.

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.