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.