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by Steve44 644 days ago
I started wearing a monocle about 5 years ago and it's and absolutely fantastic addition to my glasses.

For about 20 years I've needed glasses for reading and close work, anything more that about five ft. away is clear and in focus.

At my desk or reading I've no problems with glasses, but when I go out to museums or restaurants for example I like to travel light and glasses are a faff having to carry them and continually taking them on and off. I've tried bifocals and didn't like them.

I now take my prescription monocle with me every time I go out. It's so easy, pop it in, read the menu, drop it out.

What I hadn't appreciated was how clever the brain was at processing the images. With it in place my left eye sees distance clearly and my right eye can read close up, my brain merges the two images so I still get depth but also everything is in focus. It's strange, but works.

I've had a few comments about it, generally surprised to see one in use or curiosity, and they have always been positive.

I got mine from https://www.monoclemadness.co.uk/ where they start from £35. If they'd work for you I really suggest giving it a go.

2 comments

Sadly, our most famous monocle wearer in modern times died 12 years ago.

A gentleman very much missed by techies and non-techies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore

A friend and I wrote to him with a question when we were about 10 and got a lovely personal letter back explaining why stars flicker & pulse.

Lovely man.

I had to look him up on DDG Images, and it's disconcerting having a guy in a top hat and monocle juxtaposed with someone else with that name who looks like a live-action He-Man action figure. Pretty much aesthetic and cultural opposites...

I've got to figure out how to pull off wearing a top hat!

It is a very sort of portable optimum. Why carry two lenses when one will do?
>my brain merges the two images so I still get depth but also everything is in focus.

This might beat bifocals.

This is exactly how they do some bifocals, particularly contact lenses. It's also very relevant to surgical procedures like Lasik.

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/what-is-monovision...

That looks exactly like what's happening, even down to "In fact, with both eyes open, they may not be able to tell which eye is set for distance and which is set for near."

Quick edit to add I didn't expect that to happen as was pleasantly surprised when I noticed it. For me it happens immediately and automatically, it just works.

Suppose that's excellent news if you're ever interested in surgical correction!