OK guys...I'm rapidly approaching 50 and the ol' eyes are starting to go. Need bright light and reading glasses. How have you other pros adapted to close-up situations with dimmer lights? When I'm doing a faro or some of my other sleights...it's nice to look at the hands, but I don't want to put on my glasses as then I can't see my audience clearly. What have you guys done?

Steven

Try contacts?

Steven: I struggled with exactly the same issue. I ended up opting for lineless bifocals which didn't require correction for distant vision. After a few months of indecision, I finally started wearing them fulltime. In a few weeks they became comfortable and the problem was solved. With corrected near vision, most lighting conditions have proven to be sufficient.
Good luck.

Steven- I also need reading glasses and there are some routines that I must have them on. I don't think there are contacts for only reading needs (or are there?) so what I have done is look for more unusual glasses that fit my performing character. I have found non traditional colors and designs and when I need to use them I state that this next trick requires " a special touch" and I need to see this to be very clear (or something like that) and I put on the glasses. (or something like that)

I'm in the same boat, always had great vision until I hit the early 50's. My solution is the same as al-fannin's post above. Even though I only need them for reading, I now wear my glasses all the time.
That way you have them in place when you need them.

As a side note, they have become useful as part of an IT hook-up in performing my floating Lifesaver routine as outlined in Michael Ammar's Easy to Master Thread Miricles.

Bill Beach

I believe it was Red Skelton who said,

There comes a point in ones life where curiosity is greater than vanity.

I own a pair of contacts that work like bifocals, but I use my glasses when I work because they have become props in my closeup show. It's amazing what you can do with the misdirection of just pushing them back on your nose with your right or left hand.
You can also use them as a display/discovery area for a large number of items.(coins, cards, sponge balls, etc...)

and you can see.

MagicRMA

I have looked at bifocal contacts, but I've heard nothing good about them. Even my optomotrist who has been a personal friend says for what I do they just won't do the job. I should have told you that I am EXTREMELY near-sighted having worn glasses since I was 8. They are very thick and so I wear contacts every day. I do use my reading glasses when practicing...I'm just wondering about the "signal" I'm telegraphing them that I need my glasses for my next move. In any event...like everything else...I'll adapt.

Steven

I think eye glasses are a part of your costume. Let's face it, we are all actors playing the part of a Magician. Find some that fit you character and wear them every time you perform.

If you make your glasses part of your act I don't see why they cannot be a good thing!

Good for misdirection, etc.

You can take them off, hold them up and look thru them like they're dirty while you do the REAL dirty work with your other hand.

Instead of worrying about the 'card-to-forehead' falling off, you can slip the card behind your glasses.

I was forced to use the lineless bi-focals a few years back, but sometimes they just seem uncomfortable.

Rather than resorting to a white cane or Seeing Eye dog, I found the slim line reading glasses that fit into a case a bit bigger around than a pen.

These work very well, you can wear them on the end of your nose and look distinguished.

Ain’t costumes deceiving.

I have the opposite problem. I am "far-sighted" (I guess) and have problems seeing at a distance. My EyeDoc had a reverse perscription made up with the corrective lens positioned in my normal field of view and the uncorrected portion of my lens where a normal bi-focal would be. Worked very well for me but I've recently started wearing small frame glasses. This way when I have to look down (at my hands) it is easy to look under my lenses.

I know this doesn't help with your question - just thought I'd throw in a different perspective!

Cheers!