When did you switch to varifocals?

[TooDamnSarky]

I've only had reading glasses for a couple of years but at my recent eye test it was clear that my long distance vision has also deteriorated a bit. I'm still fine to see everything I need but the distant world is a bit clearer when I wear my old reading specs. I'm wondering what level of prescription (near and far) did people decide to switch to varifocals?
Or is the choice to switch more about convenience?
It's all new to me and the people at the optician were spectacularly unhelpful.

When I couldn't watch the TV and crochet at the same time.

Mine came last week and I bloody love them.

Two pairs, one as sunglasses for driving.

I've very recently got varifocals.

I've been short-sighted since I was 14, so only decided I needed to do something when I started getting long-sighted and couldn't comfortably read books without getting headaches.

It wasn't a smooth transition, that's for sure. They made things look, well, odd and I had tremendous headaches for a couple of days.

However, now I'm used to them, they're ok.

I don't crochet but if I did then I'd watch telly by peering over my specs in a schoolmarmish manner. Is that bad?

I'm 47 and changed my daily contact lenses to varifocal earlier this year, they are amazing! And no one knows

When I went shoe shopping and could read neither the size nor the price tag and had to keep putting my reading glasses on to see the shoes, then take them off again to be able to see in the mirror.

I love mine, but I’ve paid a small fortune for some with really good peripheral clarity.

When the optician from the trade association came round to our office 15 years ago and instead of adjusting my monitor and lights sent me straight of to the ophthalmologist. I love them - I need two different pairs - one for short (desk to PC) and one for middle distances (google maps to street signs) , can't cope with trifocals.

This all sounds very complicated. I'm a bit scared.

I don't crochet but if I did then I'd watch telly by peering over my specs in a schoolmarmish manner. Is that bad?

Well, no - if you can see the telly over your specs. I couldn't, hence the varifocals. Which are fantastic.

Aah. So I only need to think about varifocals when the telly becomes annoyingly blurry?

This is very helpful. And I'm aware that I'm sounding a bit dim.

You probably need to switch to varifocals when it is necessary to use two different types of glasses in quick succession.

Next question...
What is the main difference between expensive reading glasses from the opticians and the cheap ones that cost a few pounds. Obviously the frames are very different but is there much difference in lens quality? If I have a straightforward prescription is it bad to buy cheapo glasses?

I have a complex prescription with high mypoia and of course now need varifocals for the old age reading bit. I wear varifocal glasses most of the time, but also have contacts and then reading glasses perched on my head for weekends and going out. I buy cheapo ones as I leave them everywhere! I did have prescription ones but lost them and cheap ones do the job! The lenses are plastic but work just the same.

Thanks Medusa. Have to say I'm impressed with the very cheap ones that I bought as spares.