Ideas For Aging Eyes When Stick Welding ?

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Hi Everyone,I just turned 66 and use 2.75x cheapo reading glasses under my AD hood and added two bright halogens on either side of my welding table. I would like to see a bit clearer, but adding a cheater lens inside my hood just makes it blurry , unless I am really close, which I do not want to do. Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jon
Reply:I do not think you can be successful using both reading glasses, and a cheater,,One,, or the other, otherwise, you will get "blur",,You could use both,, but, you will be restricted to one EXACT distance from the helmet to the weld bead,, PERIOD!No variation would be possible.AND adding a cheater to a 2.75 magnification will be a HIGH magnification, requiring the helmet to be VERY close to the work.I use progressive prescription glasses, and an AD helmet,I simply tilt my head to get at the "sweet spot" of my progressive lens, that matches the distance.I think I could use a cheater with the progressive lens, but, that is because I can "cheat" and tilt my head to vary the magnification.
Reply:My advise would be to ditch the cheaters, get a eye doctor to give you and exam and get the right prescription glasses. It's possible to have one eye different from the other, cheaters don't account for that. I actually got use to using progressive bifocals while welding. My eye doctor said she could even prescribe dedicated glasses for a particular distance but I didn't do that.Ernie F.
Reply:You've tried all the easy fixes. Unless you need cataract surgery, Metalman's last line of advice is where you need to go. Determine the distance from your eyes to where you're comfortable welding and get a set of prescription glasses for that distance. Cheap readers don't allow for other problems (like astigmatism) that can affect your vision. If you really need cataract surgery, nothing else is going to help.Last edited by whtbaron; 1 Day Ago at 07:02 PM.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Do you where readers when you do other stuff?  Perhaps a passive gold lense, if not already using passive lens.I agree with doctors visit.
Reply:These two things were a game changer for me. I'm also in my sixty's and do not need glasses. But I need readers. I no longer use cheaters and when I'm outside or under bright lights I either use my welding goggles or I put on the shroud for my helmet to block out back ground light.Old eye game changers.https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/P...NG-3350-Serieshttps://www.northernsafety.com/Searc...safety+glassesLincoln 330 MPXModified TombstoneLincoln LN-25X-TVTMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool Gun¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A / OFG-ASMAW FCAW GMAW Air Carbon Arc Gouging#Freebird Welds
Reply:

Originally Posted by tapwelder

Do you where readers when you do other stuff?  Perhaps a passive gold lense, if not already using passive lens.I agree with doctors visit.
Reply:Thank you all for your advice.  Jon
Reply:Jon, have you been checked for cataracts? Mine came on slow and the Eye doc kept saying they were not a problem, but every time I lit up it was blurry. Finally when I was legally blind in my left eye they decided I needed to fix them.
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Originally Posted by 12V71

Jon, have you been checked for cataracts? Mine came on slow and the Eye doc kept saying they were not a problem, but every time I lit up it was blurry. Finally when I was legally blind in my left eye they decided I needed to fix them.
Reply:I weld outside there a bright light up in sky.I use a auto hood which works great. A gold type welding lens work great too.I just turn 67 in November. My doctor gave me great news too.In September my doctor told me I had 6 to 9 months even with chemotherapy. After the last PET Scan my doctor upgraded to a 5 year or longer.I am still welding Dave

Originally Posted by Jonath108

Hi Everyone,I just turned 66 and use 2.75x cheapo reading glasses under my AD hood and added two bright halogens on either side of my welding table. I would like to see a bit clearer, but adding a cheater lens inside my hood just makes it blurry , unless I am really close, which I do not want to do. Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jon
Reply:I’m in my 60’s and had similar problems with seeing the weld puddle. Based on feedback here, I did the following.1. Put a bright light on my work.2. Put a cloth shroud on the back of my hood to prevent light from getting inside.3. Get a better hood. I’ve tried several, ended up with the Lincoln 3350 which helped somewhat, but when I moved to an Optrel Crystal 2.0 the world changed. Now I can clearly see the puddle and the area around my welds too. I’m told that the latest ESAB Sentinal hood is in the same league as he Optrel. BTW the Crystal 2.0 is much better than the e684 (which is about the same as the Lincoln 3350)Miller Trailblazer Pro 350DMiller Suitcase MIGMiller Spectrum 2050Miller Syncrowave 250DXLincoln 210MP
Reply:Being 55 and wearing glasses my .02 is try a passive helmet. I believe that will make a huge difference, it did for me.Be aware that gold lenses today are green lenses with a gold film.....they are NOT gold lenses of days past(gray filter with gold film). I found that a "new" gold lens was only slightly better than a simple green passive lens.
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Originally Posted by scsmith42

I’m in my 60’s and had similar problems with seeing the weld puddle. Based on feedback here, I did the following.1. Put a bright light on my work.2. Put a cloth shroud on the back of my hood to prevent light from getting inside.3. Get a better hood. I’ve tried several, ended up with the Lincoln 3350 which helped somewhat, but when I moved to an Optrel Crystal 2.0 the world changed. Now I can clearly see the puddle and the area around my welds too. I’m told that the latest ESAB Sentinal hood is in the same league as he Optrel. BTW the Crystal 2.0 is much better than the e684 (which is about the same as the Lincoln 3350)
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Originally Posted by smithdoor

I weld outside there a bright light up in sky.I use a auto hood which works great. A gold type welding lens work great too. byI just turn 67 in November. My doctor gave me great news too.In September my doctor told me I had 6 to 9 months even with chemotherapy. After the last PET Scan my doctor upgraded to a 5 year or longer.I am still welding Dave
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Originally Posted by Welder Dave

If you plan to do any amount of welding, look into a new helmet or lens. The optics have improved drastically over the last few years. Another thing is to make sure the cover plates are clear. Polycarbonate lenses can get a haze that really distorts your vision. I need to look into a new helmet and/or lens too as I can't see nearly as well as I used to. It can be very frustrating getting the weld where you want it without messing up a flat surface or area you need clean.
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Originally Posted by Jonath108

Thank you,I do change the polycarbonate lens cover often,  they do not last that long when stick welding.  I can't justify spending $300-$430. for an Optrel hood, I am just a hobbyist.   I learned to get by with my non AD hood(pipeliner), and a new HF AD hood for under $50. , with a 10-15 extra poly lens covers. I also wear goggles with uv protection over my reading glasses and under my hood.  This protects me from an accidental flash and when grinding slag off each weld. Jon
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Originally Posted by 12V71

Too many layers of plastic can be a problem trying to see the arc. The UV goggles are probably contributing to this. Cut back to the bare minimum and try that. In my passive hoods I don't even use an inner cover plate for this reason. And I try to find glass filter plates. But I use a 2.25 cheater now so I have another layer of plastic.