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IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

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Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#61

Post by DoctorOetker »

onemoresoop wrote: post #46
snackbroken wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is potential danger with a lens that can suddenly change to a second prescription. For example: imagine you're driving and your whole field of vision suddenly starts flickering in and out of focus. That would be incredibly distracting and pretty dangerous. Even if they just started focusing on 1 foot away it'd be quite bad.

Add warning not to drive with them. Problem solved.

If it worked 99% of the time, compliance would be nil, but you don't want these drivers to be affected 1% of their commute

Even if a person would be compliant, if they wore this most of the time, they wouldn't be accustomed to the varifocal lenses while driving, guaranteeing that whatever other solution than these autofocusing lenses they select for driving, they won't be adapted to them whenever they drive.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#62

Post by FatalLogic »

pmontra wrote: post #38

It's only me or it does not explain how it works? > the technology [...] can be separated into two parts. First [...] is the part that tracks eye movements and what they are focusing on. The second part is never written. There is a hint later on: > [the] prototype lenses, made up of layers of liquid crystal and a transparent ITO (indium tin oxide) conductive layer. This combination is still incredibly thin, and it wa…

>It's only me or it does not explain how it works?

I'll try my best to explain, according to what I understand:

An electric field can re-orientate the liquid crystal molecules, which changes the speed of light within the liquid crystal, and thereby changes the liquid crystal's refractive index.

This changes the angle of light as it passes from other material (such as air or plastic or glass) into the liquid crystal, and that change of angle changes the focal point of the light ray.

That effect provides the ability to focus incoming light, controlled by electricity.

That's probably not exactly right, but it's better than the explanation in the original story, which is non-existent and also has a very confused reference to ITO (indium tin oxide), like you've noticed.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#63

Post by Mezzie »

devilbunny wrote: post #55
Mezzie wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to choose each year between paying for (main) glasses or contacts, so I usually opt for contacts and that means my glasses are a few years old. When I wear them at night, I definitely see double. Hate it. I'm a -20, so small differences really magnify.

Holy fucking shit. I am -11 contacts, -13 glasses, and you are the first person I have ever heard of that is more than one diopter stronger than me. Ophthalmologists will bring their newer assistants in to look at my eyes to see what a severe myope looks like. I got contacts at age eight, so they also use me to show off what a scrupulous contact user’s eyes look like after >40 years. I’m a physician myself, so I’m ha…

Yeah, the only people I've heard of with worse vision than me are those with some sort of associated eye condition (e.g. kerataconus).

For the most part, it's...fine. Insurance has no idea what to do with me and that's frustrating, though. Somehow, I have eyes this bad without any associated pathology, and companies don't understand that the needs that such severe myopia presents on its own. I wear custom made RGPs; they can custom make softs but they're horrific (or at least they were 13 years ago when I gave up on them).

Isn't it hilarious every time you go to a new eye doctor? It's actually really cute: I like watching them get all giddy. They get so excited when they can't use the machines (a lot of them will only go up to a -15) and have to measure my RX manually. You can just see how they're like 'oh my God, I learned about this in school!'

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#64

Post by Mezzie »

jaggederest wrote: post #53
Mezzie wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to choose each year between paying for (main) glasses or contacts, so I usually opt for contacts and that means my glasses are a few years old. When I wear them at night, I definitely see double. Hate it. I'm a -20, so small differences really magnify.

Wow, that's a wild prescription, presumably ICL would be a huge quality of life difference for you! You could get within a diopter or two. I've been contemplating it at only -6, my commiseration on the multiple focal lengths.

Yeah, I've wanted ICL for years, but I could never afford it out of pocket, and all insurance considers vision correction aesthetic. Which is freaking stupid: There's a huge difference between me and someone who's a -2.

I might be able to stretch it now, but I'm coming up on my presbyopia years, so I'm not sure it's worth the money if I'm only going to get a few years of stability.

At this point, I'm hoping I take after my mother and get some really early cataracts because then I can just pay for the lens and the insertion/replacement will be covered.

If you can afford it, I would go for it, though. Personally, even for people who are candidates for PRK, LASIK, etc. I think ICL is still worth considering because it has some benefits. Less risk of dry eye and the ability to change the lens if your prescription changes. Longer recovery period, though.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#65

Post by jaggederest »

Mezzie wrote: post #64
jaggederest wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, that's a wild prescription, presumably ICL would be a huge quality of life difference for you! You could get within a diopter or two. I've been contemplating it at only -6, my commiseration on the multiple focal lengths.

Yeah, I've wanted ICL for years, but I could never afford it out of pocket, and all insurance considers vision correction aesthetic. Which is freaking stupid: There's a huge difference between me and someone who's a -2. I might be able to stretch it now, but I'm coming up on my presbyopia years, so I'm not sure it's worth the money if I'm only going to get a few years of stability. At this point, I'm hoping I take af…

I know I'm not a candidate for PRK/LASIK/LASEK due to dry eye (curse you programming!), so ICL was always my fallback, but like you I'm approaching the point where presbyopia is going to be a concern.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#66

Post by t-3 »

WalterBright wrote: post #54
cperciva wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plenty of us are simultaneously far and near sighted. I can't drive without glasses, but until I got progressive lenses I couldn't use my phone with my glasses on.

If you cannot drive without glasses, the sensible thing is to keep a backup pair in the car. After all, glasses can fall off and get lost under the seat, get stepped on, etc.

This is why I keep a pair of prescription sunglasses in my car. Added bonus is cutting the astigmatism glare while driving at night.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#67

Post by t-3 »

jaggederest wrote: post #35
isityettime wrote: post #9

I'm under 40, recently had cataract surgery to address mild cararacts, and deeply regret that choice. I strongly feel I lost more than I gained, and now need to carry multiple pairs of glasses every time I go out to engage many common activities. Unfortunately I don't have presbyopia at all (my surgery still left me myopic) and my inability to change focus distance is drastically more severe than what happens natural…

Have you tried using contact lenses to make one eye long focus and one eye short focus ("monovision" in intraopticlens terms)? Then you'd only need at most one middle-distance pair of glasses on hand.

Wouldn't you get a headache or have depth perception issues? Whenever I lose a contact in the middle of the day and don't have a spare it's very uncomfortable to keep the other in.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#68

Post by devilbunny »

Mezzie wrote: post #63
devilbunny wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holy fucking shit. I am -11 contacts, -13 glasses, and you are the first person I have ever heard of that is more than one diopter stronger than me. Ophthalmologists will bring their newer assistants in to look at my eyes to see what a severe myope looks like. I got contacts at age eight, so they also use me to show off what a scrupulous contact user’s eyes look like after >40 years. I’m a physician myself, so I’m ha…

Yeah, the only people I've heard of with worse vision than me are those with some sort of associated eye condition (e.g. kerataconus). For the most part, it's...fine. Insurance has no idea what to do with me and that's frustrating, though. Somehow, I have eyes this bad without any associated pathology, and companies don't understand that the needs that such severe myopia presents on its own. I wear custom made RGPs;…

They learn about me. You are a class on your own.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#69

Post by cout »

1123581321 wrote: post #40
Nifty3929 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These glasses address farsightedness, which doesn't apply while driving. Worst case you just take them off.

If they are replacing bifocals, the wearer needs both a near- and far-sighted prescription. Far-sighted only would never need these. Either failure mode would be dangerous while driving because you need to be able to read your dash.

I don't need to be able to read my dash. I only need to see where the needle is pointing.

Re: IXI's autofocusing lenses are almost ready to replace multifocal glasses

#70

Post by bluGill »

WalterBright wrote: post #56
1123581321 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they are replacing bifocals, the wearer needs both a near- and far-sighted prescription. Far-sighted only would never need these. Either failure mode would be dangerous while driving because you need to be able to read your dash.

It's not a crisis if you cannot read your dash. How often do you look at the oil pressure gauge, for example? As for speed, just move with the traffic.

I had a car with a broken dash. The only thing I missed for the month until I fixed it was the fuel gauge. I probably didn't estimate my speed very accurately but I was close enough to not get a ticket.
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