Vari-bloody-focals?

When people say it can take a couple of weeks to adjust they really do meant it.

I wore mine for everything except driving for two weeks. Went to bed vowing I'd go back to the Optometrist the next morning and say that it wasn't working out. Woke up the next morning, put them in a it worked. I don't know what had happened in my sleep but my little old Brian had finally adjusted and now I love them.

I have worn varifocals for years. Usually takes a couple of weeks to acclimatise until I splashed out on the stretched lenses I think they are called. Oh my goodness, game changer, put them on and were perfect straight away

Having said this you do need to take care coming down stairs

I don't wear them for reading, I can see well enough on my tablet

I was prescribed varifocals but given them on trial (this was about 10 years ago). They didn't suit me at all. I suffer from a type of vertigo and the constant head adjustment made me feel queasy nearly all the time. I took them back and they gave me bifocals, which took some getting used to but didn't make me feel sick. I'm absolutely used to them now but I do have to use some old reading glasses (a weaker prescription than the ones I have now) for working comfortably on the computer.

I couldn't get used to mine from a well known high street store, so went back and they adjusted the angle they sat at in my face. This made a huge difference to me but I still used my dedicated reading glasses if reading a book.

Yes - the middle part of mine are set for "occupational" which is computer distance.

I'm not an optician but work in the industry. Any varifocal will have a narrower intermediate zone (the area around arm's length up to about 1m - so where your computer screen sits) due to the way the power transitions from distance at the top of the lens to near (reading distance) at the bottom of the lens. The higher your prescription, the more you'll notice this. Look for lenses that are personalized for your frame and prescription - they cost more but will minimise the issue.

You can also get office or computer lenses which are designed to give you a much wider intermediate zone at the expense of far distance (so you can see round the room but not to drive for example). I have these and absolutely love them because there's no need to move your head or lower your gaze to 'find' the right focus - you just look straight ahead and it's very natural.

To be fair, this is exactly why verifocals exist.

Your computer vision should be the centre. Top for distance, middle for intermediate (like computer) and bottom for closer work (like reading a book).

It really annoys me that the solution for a problem that affects basically everyone over a certain age is so impractical and shit. I need two different prescriptions for reading and using a PC, and none at all for distance. Don’t like the idea of varifocals so I’m currently using one pair for work and another for reading. The constant switching is infuriating, and now having to carry a bag around just moving from one room to another at home.

I think varifocals are great for general wearing. I can go shopping, see the shelves, and read the ingredients on packs (I"m coeliac so that's important). Also good for driving as I can see both the road and the dashboard.

With the varifocals, I don't feel that close or distance vision is as sharp as it could be. If I'm working on my laptop or reading documents I have my close vision glasses. If I'm hill walking then my distance glasses are way better.

Varifocal contact lenses are better for vision than the varifocal glasses, but I do find them uncomfortable after a time.

I now find when I go anywhere I carry my prescription sunglasses, varifocals, contact lenses and case, and my close reading glasses. I had perfect vision at 25 - I should have appreciated that more!

I had terrible trouble with my 2nd set of varifocals. After 2 months I went back to the opticians thinking i might need new glasses. They adjusted them and have had no problems since.
When I purchased my first pair I was advised to buy the top level lenses. Speaking to others, this makes a big difference.

For me it was instantly brilliant. Following pairs have never been as quick.

Take them back and get them checked.

I got some a few months ago. I went for the top of the range (mucho £££££££). They have very little peripheral ‘out of focus’ and a smooth transition between the distance and close-up. I really didn’t like them when I first got them and kept taking them off, but with forcing myself to wear them a bit more (due to the high cost). After a few weeks I got used to them and I now find them completely comfortable. Like regular distance lenses, I don’t think about them at all when wearing them. My advice would be, if you’re going to get some more, spend the money for the top of the range.

Had varifocal glasses for a year and I can't stand them. Been altered and adjusted twice and I can only just about tolerate mooching around in the kitchen in them. Stairs are too dangerous.

Trying some varifocal contacts now and they seem a lot better.

Optician told me they would take a few days to get used to. It actually took a few minutes. They've been great for me.

I went to Specsavers and bought their tailored lenses. I was really worried because the optician gave me a big lecture about wearing them right from the beginning, that I'd feel a bit 'sea sick' but that I had to stick with it because if I swapped back and forth I'd never get used to it. I also have a prism.

The glasses arrived, I put them on, and they were absolutely 'normal'. A few days later, I found that they were slipping down my nose and making my ear sore. I took them to a different branch and they adjusted them. Then my nose was sore. So I went back to the original branch and the manager said they were the wrong frame for my nose and ordered a better shaped frame. Absolutely great ever since.

They’ve been tightened up unfortunately. The guy actually said he couldn’t tighten them any more. Really infuriating!

It took me 5 weeks, and 3 different adjustments to get used to my 1st pair. I took to my 2nd pair straight away, but my 3rd pair are proving impossible, and again I've had them adjusted twice. I buy the best lenses, but my optician thinks that the difference now between my long sight and short sight is such that she can't get the middle section to suit me. I can see distance perfectly, and read very well, but I can't use my laptop and given I work on it for about 9 hours a day it's not going to work.

I've gone back to my 2nd pair which are OK, not perfect, and in time I might revert to 2 pairs of glasses. Or just buy a pair of cheap readers and see how I get on.

I tried varifocals (years ago) and couldn't get on with them and I can't wear contacts - so I have tri-focals. Top is long distance, then the bifocal section has the top third of it as middle distance (computer screens/painting at an easel/car dials etc) and the bottom 2 thirds for reading.
It works well for me as all the area around the trifocal area gives me plenty of extra distance. Cheaper than varifocals which is another plus 🙂

You should have gone back to th optician to get them adjusted @ForGreyKoala. The fit is crucial.

I got them earlier in the year, my first pair of prescrption glasses. I struggled with them for weeks, and even now I really don't like them. I'm actually mad I got them as I only really need glasses for reading, and as I type this I am wearing my old hobby glasses, which are far easier to use for computer work. I don't wear my prescription glasses most of the time when I'm at home so it was a waste of money getting them. The sunglasses are okay though.

Had them for decades. No problems. They suit me. New ones take a few days to adjust to. We're all different.

Go back and get your glasses tightened. It makes a huge difference.

@glasslightly I agree with PP that it is worth going back to the optician. If the fit is slightly out they won't work for you. DH had to go back to specsavers three times before they got it right.

This is why I don't recommend ordering varifocals online.

I hated them, now have two glasses one pair for distance one pair for reading and computer work. So much easier.