To go for varifocals or not? Have you got them? Did you love/hate them?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Close vision deteriorating due to age. Distance vision not great, but steady prescription.

Very fed up with everything being blurry! In my job I need to switch between long distance, mid distance and close distance a fair bit.

Pros
Will be able to see!
Won't have to keep removing glasses.
Can try them for 3 months and swap them back for single vision if don't get along with them.

Cons
Won't have a full field of vision in focus as there's peripheral zones that aren't, apparently
Close vision will continue to deteriorate so new lenses will be needed again (and perhaps again) until it settles.
Will have to get used to them.

Varifocals were my first glasses, at the age of around 40- to begin with I had a very mild distance prescription in the 'top' half, but my secomnd pair also corrected undiagnosed astigmatism (you know those 'Are the spots rounder here...or here..' routine? I never knew that they were really circular, like properly round.) Once I had realised that was what the optician was on about, I got a pair of glasses that removed the faint double vision I had, all unknown, always had .. miraculous.

I resent them for being glasses, and so by necessity have edges and bits of my field of vision that are not covered by lens. However, the varifocal bit - I have the largest possible area of varifocal - is MAGIC, once I'd worked out that I have to actually look at what i want to see using my head not my eyes.

I think they are the best thing since sliced bread.

I have been very shortsighted all my life, and since getting older have needed the flexibility of varifocals. They have simplified my life so much. No faffing around taking glasses on and off or swapping glasses over.

I think most people who don't get on with them haven't been properly fitted or measured or have gone for the cheapest option. I have a complicated prescription and would never buy my glasses online.

FiveGoMadInDorset if you drive you will find the reactolite glasses won't work in the car. I made an expensive mistake when I bought mine. I have metal framed glasses that have magnetic clip on sunglasses. Not very stylish, but brilliant when driving or sightseeing and walking in and out of buildings somewhere sunny.

I have varifocal contact lenses and they're brilliant. I couldn't get used to varifocal glasses at all.

Maybe I'll try again. Currently have my distance glasses at the very end of my nose. Have to sit rigid or they'll fall off..

I tried them and couldn't get on with them at all.
I suspect they weren't set up properly. I kept going back and they checked them a few times and kept saying it takes a while to get used to them but I just couldn't see through them.

OTOH, I have several friends who love theirs.
I guess if you can switch back without incurring a charge, you've got nothing to lose.

Love, love, love mine!
Went for a mid price lens from specsavers, so not cheapest and not the outrageously expensive ones.
I pretty much haven't taken them off since I got them - they have replaced my distance glasses/reading glasses/vdu glasses.
I love that I don't have to change glasses to watch tv/read a book.

Next time I'll go for the expensive ones as they've been so good.

I do admit to being a bit 'Oh god, I'm old so need varifocals', but at not-quite-50 am a total convert.

When I wore glasses I felt nauseous if new lenses they weren't perfect.
In my 40s I had to take glasses off to read or if wearing lenses put reading glasses on.
When I took DGS swimming I needed to be able to see him if he was more than 6ft away from me but also read the number on the locker.
I started to put one contact lens in so my left eye had distance and other eye could see close up.
Eventually got cataracts when I was 61 and had both lenses replaced. Left eye for distance and right eye for reading.
My life was transformed! Optegra in case you're interested but NHS paid for the ops.

It took me ages to get used to mine, about a year - before that I'd had distance glasses for driving but I got the varifocals for reading.

Things seem blurry without them now, I am due for another eye test and I'm not sure if my vision has deteriorated or I'm just really used to the glasses!

I am on my 2nd pair and love them

I need all three distances so they work for me

I went for them 6 years ago when supermarket shopping became difficult because I couldn't read the packets. Never looked back.

I do have separate reading glasses that I use for large amounts of reading, filling in forms, plucking my eyebrows and painting walls and ceilings as I can't see anything close up that's above the bottom of my field of vision in my varifocals.

Have them and love them.
I initially got Specsavers varifocals (their most expensive lenses) and adapted to them quickly. I them got sunglasses with a varifocal lens demo Costco (their basic lens) and the quality is much higher and my vision clearer.

I have had no problems whatsoever getting used to mine. Have been wearing them for about 6-7 years. They are very expensive though as I have all the extras and pay for the absolute best I can afford. One pair at the optitcians usually cost me around £300 to £350 .I then buy a cheaper pair as a backup online for about £100 -£150 using the new prescription.

I work long hours on a screen though and have found a need a second very cheap single vision pair for intense long periods of mid range vdu work which I keep in my work desk. Otherwise the one set does fine for everything else including any computer or screen stuff at home etc. I can't see how two pairs would work for me as I need one set to read and another for distance. For instance My distance glasses for driving mean I struggle to focus on the speedometer. When looking at labels ion products in, shops etc, I have to take off my distance glasses and put in my reading g ones!!!. The swap back when outside at the bus stop trying to see the bus no coming or for use in driving home. At meetings/presentation s I can choose to see the charts/screen or the notes I am making but not both with single vision glasses . Just not practical.

I hate them. Everything close is blurred and I get sick of having to have my head in the right position. Distance is okay, but reading and computer work is shite.

I wear multi focus contact lenses that are brilliant. Could you give those a try?

I would go back to the optician Septima. They might just need adjusting.

I tried them years ago and couldnt manage them then a few months ago I tried them again and after 5 minutes of them in the shop I had the lenses changed back to my normal ones and Ive never looked back.

My brain just cannot work varifocals or any lense except the traditional kind.

I wear multi focus contact lenses that are brilliant. Could you give those a try?

I fancied giving those a go but Im not suitable for them though you'd think if your were suitable for varifocals you would be.

I have had them for some years, I am not planning on getting them again if I can avoid it.

I find it difficult to look down (or remember to) when I am reading and trying to go down a flight of stairs is not easy.

I love mine.
On the advice of my optician I went for top of the range lenses and I love them. No more squinting at menus or being unable to read labels.
I held out against having them for ages as I was worried about not adapting to them but it took about two days and I was fine.
The best advice I have had when using them is point your nose at whatever you want to look at.

I use Multifocal contact lenses. They are amazing. How it is possible to pack so much into a little package astounds me.
It probably took two weeks until I totally forgot about them and my vision is perfect. It took two weeks because up until that point I was concentrating on uses them rather than relaxing and letting my mind/body adapt.
When I take my lenses out I just go back to single lens assess for distance and take them off for reading.
£30 per month Specsavers.

glasses not assess.

You need a to discuss with the optician what your work involves and how this dictates what type of varifocal you have. They are not all the same and the amount of each type of vision varies.
Initially I had regular varifocals small close up area, medium medium area and large distance area I could not get on with them.
I now have indoor varifocals for work large close up area, medium medium and small distance area and then I have separate glasses for driving. I love them.
As others have said really good Zeiss lenses.

I've had them for two years and they've transformed my life.

There were three variations to choose from and I opted for the middle range lens, never had a bother with them.

I’ve got them and love them. I needed them because, working as a paramedic, I can’t be swapping glasses all the time. I got the most expensive version( platinum I think) from boots and there’s no peripheral vision loss which is good for driving especially at speed as I do.

I've had them for 15+ years & love them.

One piece of advice I was given was not to wear them as soon as you get them but to put them on, for the first time, when you get up in the morning.

I have used Specsavers for years & have found them to be great. But I think Specsavers service varies from branch to branch.

I caved and got varifocals 6 months ago - it took me ages to get used to them but I wouldn't be without them now. I paid through the nose for the most expensive lenses so don't have a peripheral vision issue. I wear them for everything apart from the cinema when I switch back to plain distance glasses.

I'm very short sighted (-4.5 in both eyes) with only a small adjustment for close up so reading glasses were a massive pain!