A bit of advice for fuzzy eyesight, please - Sam here

B

bcblbrbm

Registered
When younger, I had something like 20/12 vision. That was one of the main reasons I enjoyed pool – I could see the thinnest cuts, even at the length of the table. Now, at 66, I wear reading glasses for up close work. I can see the cue tip and cue ball fine with those readers (larger than life, actually) but the further away the object ball is positioned, the fuzzier it is.

Can you have your prescription “nailed” for work between say 2 feet and 12 feet, or do you just let the eye doc give you the standard correction?
Should I have them made purposefully large-lensed so I would naturally be looking through them, and not over them, when I’m down over the cue?

Getting back into the game at this age is quite frustrating. Besides the vision challenges, the stroke that took me through the tough games has long since deserted me. I am now chopping away and wiggling back and forth with the creaking elbow, shoulder and wrist joints that were a gift on my 60th birthday.

As an old dude, I’ve seen WIllie and Wimpy and Cicero in their prime. I’ve seen Irving Crane and Soldier Ingersoll play 3 cushion billiards up in “the mines” in Boston’s old Combat Zone, years ago. Great memories that are bringing me back to the table, now that my lifestyle is slowing down a bit.

If you have a moment, I would appreciate your view on what to do with the eye doc. sam
 
Hi Sam...Many players are finding relief with the specialized pool glasses, that are available. You just get your eye doctor to write your prescription down, and you send it to someone like Decot, and they'll make you a pair. They're only for when you're playing pool. Decotte Hywides (sp) is the most well known brand, but several companies make 'sport glasses' that can be made to your prescription. Randyg, who posts here, as an instructor, is a Decotte rep. You can order the glasses through him. PM him, and tell him I sent you!:D

As far as your stroke goes, I'd suggest you get a lesson from a qualified instructor (if they don't use video analysis, they aren't qualified). If you tell me where you're located, I might be able to recommend someone, or even visit you myself. It is not too late, to "remember" the stroke you used to have...and even improve upon it!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I wear glasses for long distance but I don't use them for pool and snooker. I find that it is something you get used to. The only thing that bothers me is thin cuts on the six ball particularily if it is against the rail (assuming green cloth). In snooker it doesn't bother me much.
 
Cameron Smith said:
I wear glasses for long distance but I don't use them for pool and snooker. I find that it is something you get used to. The only thing that bothers me is thin cuts on the six ball particularily if it is against the rail (assuming green cloth). In snooker it doesn't bother me much.
Click to expand...
For what it's worth. I've been using special prescription glasses for about 8 years now. Whenever I need to change my everyday lenses I have a new set made for billiards. My instruction to the doctor is, I want to be focused in between 3 and 12 feet. If the kids that rewrite the order, write it properly they'll work great. I tell you this because I had that happen 2 weeks before tournament. Turns out the prescription was distorting the edge. I had to laugh or I would have cried. Couldn't figure out what was causing such horrible hits. The remake is excellent.
 
I asked my eye doctor to make me a second pair of glasses with the best vision between 3 and 10 feet. They calibrated it to 6.5 feet, and they work great. I absolutely can't keep score on league night with them, but my vision on the pool table is great. So they stay in my cue case, and when the cue comes out, the pool glasses go on.
Steve
 
I'm nearsighted and last year I had an extra prescription made for pool glasses as I called them. The choices I was given was 6', 12', 18', ..., etc. max. focal length. I chose 12'. Work great.

However, it's hard to see what's going on when I'm not playing and away from the table. Next time I think I'll opt for the 18' prescription. Don't t think it will hamper the shooting yet will allow me to see the table better when seated.
 
I heard something about contact lenses. Think ewa mataya has an article about them for pool in one of the recent magazines. Anyone using them?
 
I am far sighted. I use contact lenses. I couldn't shoot with glasses. The contacts only get fuzzy when they have been in too long. They are normally crystal clear. I use the disposables.
 
qghunter said:
I am far sighted. I use contact lenses. I couldn't shoot with glasses. The contacts only get fuzzy when they have been in too long. They are normally crystal clear. I use the disposables.
Click to expand...

I concur. I am so sick of being blind though without the contact in...just wanna wake up and start the day. Going to be looking into contact lens implants!!
 
I use to play years ago with nothing. I couldn't play with glasses and couldn't put contacts in. I finally forced myself to put them in. I am assuming that the folks who complain about vision either need bifocals or haven't tried contacts. Maybe it's my eye condition or the fact that I use to shoot without anything, but the contacts seem perfect. I never notice them when playing.
 
cookie man said:
I heard something about contact lenses. Think ewa mataya has an article about them for pool in one of the recent magazines. Anyone using them?
Click to expand...

Sept 2009 Pool and Billiard magazine page 18
Ewa talks about contacts made for playing pool.
Magnifies your vision slightly.
She further says some people use 2 diff prescriptions 1eye for close and 1 eye for distant shots
Mark
 
Last edited:
Assuming that you still have 20:20 vision other than for reading you might want to try the advice I received from my eye doctor.

I have 20:20 in my left eye and slightly better (20:18 I think?) in my right but use 1.75 readers for up close.

A set of 1.25 readers with big lenses nailed it for me. Not enough magnification to screw up vision and just enough to nail it at that gray area between reading length and the far end of the table.

I'm not doubting these billiards glasses will work, and for some they may be perfect ... but I'd try a $9 fix before a $169 fix.

LWW
 
I had specialty glasses made and they did help BUT---with slight cataracts I decided to go with a lens implant. The best decision I ever made re my pool game.

Have an eye exam at a first class laser/implant clinic. Medicare will pay for standard cataract lens implant surgery but if you go with the adjustable vision version, you may have additional costs.

Get a second opinion---laser surgery may not be the answer for you. Lens implant may be better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top