Varifocals - will I get used to this?

[Triffictriffid]

I collected them on Wednesday and they’re not bad for distance and for driving. But for reading and anything in the middle distance I’m like a nodding bloody dog, constantly moving my eyes and head this way and that in a desperate attempt to not have a blurred mess in front of me. The supermarket shop o thurs was exhausting. Walking down the isles everything ahead was blurry, though I could see stuff on the shelves better with a bit of work.

I’ve had eye ache and headache all day and feel knackered from constantly trying to adjust things to get clear vision. Does this get easier? I’d so love to just have the one pair and not be taking glasses in and off and changing them. But this is awful.

Be patient, it will get better
I felt pissed most of the time when I got my first pair of varifocals a few months back but gradually you adapt. I don't remember I have them on now and it's so much better than having (and forgetting) to use two pairs

Thanks. Do you remember how long it took you to adapt?

You will probably adjust, most people seem to but if you can’t , an alternative is to have lens replacement surgery. I had this about 6 years ago. It’s like cataract surgery -they remove the lens of your eyes and replace them with customised multifocal contact lenses that sit inside the eye capsule. I had it done on the Wednesday, had a day of discomfort and was able to drive again by the weekend. It’s expensive but it lasts forever and I reckon I’ve made my money back with no longer having to buy glasses, contacts, reading glasses, prescription sunnies etc etc. Having been chronically shortsighted from infancy (my final prescriptions were about -11 and -13) the confidence and freedom gives me is priceless.

You want to point your nose at the thing you want to look at and yes, most people adapt to them. Having said that though, if you're still having problems after trying for a week, you should go back to the opticians and have them re-checked, they need to be sitting in exactly the right place on your face to work properly and there are also a few different types of varifocal lenses and some people prefer a different type. The practice should be able to change them if they are not working.

Thanks everyone. I’ll keep going for now and hope it gets easier. I’d not dare have laser winsinbin. I’m the sort of person that it something can go wrong medically, it probably will 🙄

Where did you buy them from? There are differing standards of Varifocals and it does make a difference. My OH bought his from Boots but did not buy a high grade and he found focusing was difficult. He had about 30 days to try and get used to them in the end they changed the lenses to a better quality.

I had an awful time with mine then I went back and got the more expensive, thinner glass and it made a huge difference.

They’re from Specsavers and were their custom made ones which is their highest grade with widest field of vision.

Endoftheline glad you got sorted. If I keep both my head and phone still I’m managing to type this with screen looking clear which is good. But if I move a tiny bit it goes all blurry. Is that normal?

I tried them once, a few years ago now, and they made me feel seasick all the time. Just as I was getting used to them after a few weeks I managed to lose them so I just went to Primark and bought some cheapo reading glasses from there. Still had an old pair for driving as well, so my adventures with varifocals came to an abrupt end.

Juniper that was bad luck just as you were starting to get used to them

I love mine but it did take a few days to adjust - particularly with the computer and looking away from it a bit quickly. I would feel quite queasy. Have patience

I have had them for years but still have a problem going down stairs as I can't see them properly. Had cataract surgery on one eye a couple of years ago so now can read without them, however I have to remove them in shops to read tiny writing on labels.

My newest prescription is a bit like yours sounds and I am wearing my old glasses, however the optician told me to wear them for a couple of hours a day until I got used to them but due to them not fitting I gave up, which is another story (being sold overpriced plastic frames that cause a rash, do not fit and none of the 5 staff I have seen since can make them fit).

I never got used to mine
so I use them for indoor conferences only
and bought a lovely pair of driving glasses from Asda (MUCH better service than Specsavers)
and reading glasses from Help the Aged

I got my 1st pair a couple of weeks ago and they've been life changing for me. It took a couple of days of feeling slightly queasy, but that was it. I agree with the pointing your nose advice!

Sparkli really glad they’re working out for you. I feel like there’s very little margin between the various prescriptions so that if I move my head or eyes just the tiniest bit, everything else goes totally blurry. So I can focus on the middle of the picture on my iPad and the picture is clear, but if I look up at the battery level or the time right at the top of the screen, they’re blurred. I can’t just look at the whole screen and have everything in focus.

Is this normal with varifocals and something I have to get used to? If I take my glasses off then at least everythIng is the same extent of blurred. With them on, parts of the screen are clear and others not which is irritating. I so want them to be ok. These are the top of Specsavers range of varifocals lenses.