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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be pissed off I never get decent reading glasses.

32 replies

drakesqueen · 17/06/2026 17:56

I first had glasses for work in 2018 when I was 46. Got on fine with them.
Went back to Specsavers 2 years later and was retested and given a pair that made me feel so swimmy and travel sick I went back to the 2018 pair. Same again in 2023, had another pair - ok when I’m looking in one direction to read but as soon as I move my gaze everything is blurred and swims. I use two monitors in work so am constantly switching my gaze so I feel sick a few minutes after using them. The edges of the glasses feel as though they are way too strong. I’ve just picked up my latest pairs and again they are horrendous as soon as I move my head or switch gaze to something else. Lovely and clear up close to read but for computer work and moving head back and fore they are awful.
Is this to be expected? Should I persevere even though it makes me feel travel sick? I also got given a pair for distance which are better but still a bit swimmy.
I also have a convergent squint which may be making it worse as I do tend to switch from eye to eye to focus.
Also, glasses are always wonky on me as I’m sure I have one ear lower than the other. Is there anything I can put on the arm to even them up. So annoying, spent best part of £200 to find they’ll be hopeless again.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 17/06/2026 18:27

I recently got varifocals thanks to a severe astigmatism slight short sightedness and now equal near sight due to age 🙄

I took a few weeks to get use to them. I also had the swimming effect. But my brain adjusted and now I find them brilliant.

Blueplant · 17/06/2026 18:23

I used to need glasses for distance and could do close up work without anything, but as I got older the middle distance (PC) became a real problem, either with or without specs. Varifocals were life changing.

TBH I's surprised your optician isn't recommending them though?

NovemberMorn · 17/06/2026 18:18

You are not alone.
Both Boots and Specsavers have prescribed glasses, both reading and distance that have not been good.
I got a refund from Boots....after insisting and standing my ground.
Been back to SS a couple of times with my new reading glasses, still not happy.

FiveStarMadness · 17/06/2026 18:14

And I still have to take specs off to read - the reading glasses are shite!!!

FiveStarMadness · 17/06/2026 18:14

I think it’s Specsavers. About to revert to my 2018 specs despite two new sets of super duper varifocals and work glasses in 2023 and 2026 (no idea why I even went back) they tell me the astigmatism is worsening and that’s why I can see sparkles 😳 everything double and the newer pair is like you describe, swimmy. Which reminds me I must go back. My argument is 2018 specs although lower strength do not make me feel sick or show sparkles of everything especially at night! Thank you for the reminder!

drakesqueen · 17/06/2026 18:12

I have been given a pair for reading which I’m meant to use for computer work and up to about a metre away and another pair for distance. Distance I can cope with, the reading pair will be fine if I’m doing up close sewing or need to see something really close up but no good for work where I switch between two monitors that are side by side all day.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 17/06/2026 18:01

Have you specific VDU only glasses or something else?

I need varifocals for everything except VDU for which I have seperate ones.