Quilting and eye strain
05-24-2011, 04:38 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,761
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 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.
05-24-2011, 05:45 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Posts: 645
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.
Try some drug store cheaters, or borrow a pair from a neighbor and try them out. Start with the weakest.
05-24-2011, 05:56 AM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 5,337
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
05-24-2011, 06:08 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: South Alabama
Posts: 711
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.
05-24-2011, 07:39 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Campton,Kentucky
Posts: 1,397
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 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.
05-24-2011, 07:40 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Mount Pleasant, TX
Posts: 457
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 !
05-24-2011, 07:42 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Allen Park, MI
Posts: 408
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.
05-24-2011, 07:52 AM
#40
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,215
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.
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