bifocals cheaters magnifiers?

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I use progressive bifocals some times, around the house driving at night.I am spending several hours under the hood with 2.75 power cheaters, bifocals are maybe 1-1.25 with some kind of an add 1.75 to the reader bottoms. I've only had these about a year and this increase in welding has got me frustrated.I also use the 2.75 cheaters on the computer, reading etc.Eyes are tired and I have trouble with focus after welding all day.Should I use my glasses with a lens 1.75x? or a 2.75 power lens in the hood?Looking for advise on what works for you, maybe some options to try.Thanks Andy
Reply:I would use a 1.5, the one's you are using would give me a problems at the end of the day to.  Unless your age and vission is at the point that you need that high of magnification
Reply:i'm 47 and my eye lenses are getting hard, Dr said I should have always needed glasses, but my lenses were correcting for it. My prescription is for +1.0 and +1.25 for distance and add 1.75 for reading. I guess this is how you read the Rx card2.75 cheaters work for reading and computer and welding to an extent. 12"-30" Just uncomfortable after a long day.
Reply:as another thought is to use a cheater lens that is less powerfull while using your glasses that might not seem as much of a strain on your eyes, that is what I have done, I found an old pair of glasses and use them with a 1.5 mag lens in the hood and works well.
Reply:Both my eyes are the same.... their both bad.  Seriously, I started using a 1.25 cheater in 1999 and probably needed it long before then.  Now I'm up to a 3.00x and its right for my eyes, according to my latest eye glass prescription, and doesn't bother me welding all day long.  I can see like I should. If your eyes are "not the same" then you probably need to get a prescription cheater and not use these off the shelf kind.  It needs to be the same as your eye glasses.I know guys have gotten them elsewhere but I think your normal eye doctor is the first place I'd try.  Mine offered to order me one if I wanted. Good luck man
Reply:Ron that's what I was thinking, but wanted to see what you guys think.Slowhand That was my last step, wanted to try a lens first just and didn't know weather to use 3.0, or 1.25-1.5 (with regular glasses) on the lensI guess gettin old beats the alternative
Reply:My experience is to buy throw away 3.00 plus from the locial hardware store for $2,99. When you lift the hood I can't see so I use the glasses. 69 years old now was told eyes will not get any worse after 70.
Reply:I had problems finding the right cheater lens until I realized that I'm closer to the work when I weld than I am when I'm reading. I was trying to use the same magnification for both my reading glasses and my cheater lenses and this wasn't working at all. Once I realized this I went to the drug store and tried on different glasses until I could see clearly at the distance that I weld at. Then I bought a cheater for that magnification level. CharleyMiller MM252Miller Bobcat 225NTMiller DialArc HF / DIY Cooler2 Victor O/A TorchsetsMilwaukee 8" Metal SawMilwaukee Dry Cut "Chop" Saw 5 Ton Wallace Gantry Various Grinders, Benders, etc.
Reply:Hi Andy...Same problem. I'm a dentist and found that with my progressive lenses had the transition zone too low. Great for reading, but my neck was always sore at the end of the day because I was always having to tilt my head back to see something really close up (95 % of my day in that position!). What I did then is had a pair of work glasses made that raised the transition zone up about 3/8" so I could see things close up without having to look down my nose! Same thing with welding. I'm a hobby welder so I don't do it all day, but I can see having the same problem. Progressives work great for me when welding.   Good luckDon
Reply:i bought the kit of magnifier / reading glasses pretty cheap , i think multiple sets of glasses from 1.25 to 3.00........there's one that i use when doing  fine detail bench work. But as SlowHand said if ' your eyes are not the same '  better to get a prescription rather than straining your brain.        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:I have pretty good eyesight, but use 1.5 magnification for reading.  I tried using the magnifiers you stick to you glasses for welding.  I found that the 1.5 wasn't enough for welding.  I went out and bought some 1 dollar 3.0 magnifier glasses and wear them under my hood or under my glasses.  I am able to see the weld pool much better.  If I try the 3.0 for anything else, it is way too much magnification and all i get is a blurr.
Reply:What I did then is had a pair of work glasses made that raised the transition zone up about 3/8" so I could see things close up without having to look down my nose!
Reply:In a world where welders have hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of dollars worth of welding helmets, why would you use $15 drug store/hardware store glasses? Do your eyes a favour and use proper Rx glasses. And if you don't wear glasses, but use those $15 readers, then get your eyes examined, because you DO need them.
Reply:Have a set of prescription safety glasses made for general shop work, then add a 1.50/1.75 cheater in your hood to compensate for the closer working distance while welding.  That way you can see properly to adjust your machine, sharpen tungsten, etc. without having to change glasses.Dynasty 300DXSmith He/Ar gas mixerMM350PHobart Handler 120Smith LW7, MW5, AW1A
Reply:hey fellas , we all kinda came close to the same conclusion.  When i first got them , then spent alot of time going through all of them i came to the conclusion to one pair as the best . I mean , i get down to some fine art work , then i take them off and wow on the million dollar work done....i looked on my bench , they say optx 20/20 AlphaReader + 1.75        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3