New to varifocals. Glassesdirect a bad idea?

[Betty193]

Hi
At last optician appointment it was recommended that I switch to varifocals. ( I had broken my glasses taking them on and off my head so much to read stuff!)
Boots wanted nearly £500 for one pair! So I thought I would shop around. Local independents are similar price

Someone’s recommended glasses direct and I can get 2 decent pairs for under £300. But could I be throwing my money away. Do I need advice. And how to I measure my eyes width.
Thanks for any thoughts

glasses direct are amazing. never had a problem with them.
eyes width i think you get a ruler and measure the ( slightly approx) distance between your pupils.
in fact all the online opticians are great. don't waste your money on real life places

Sometimes you get what you pay for. And this is one of those times.

It's really important to get the measurements exactly right with varifocal glasses or you're just wasting money. Go to a reputable optician where an actual person sits with you and takes the measurements, and checks them all again when you get your glasses to make sure everything works for you.

don't waste your money on real life places

Worst advice ever when it comes to your eyes.

but you go to the high street optician to get your prescription. the online people just use that. The only thing is if the prescription doesn't include the pupillary distance ( which the vast majority do).

Varifocals are one of those things in life...you get exactly what you paid for !
Correct measurements are vital , these are done in the practice, it's guess work if you do them yourself. Who is responsible for putting it right if these measurements you do yourself are wrong ?
The design of the varifocal is very important, the cheaper ones have more distortion on the side and smaller reading areas.
Who adjusts the frame if it's not fitting comfortably ?
Can understand (to a certain degree ) people using online sites for cheap reading glasse ....but not varifocals.

I wouldn’t with varifocals- the precision with which mine were done was immense. I have used glasses direct before for ordinary lenses, and I remember thinking “I won’t be able to shop online anymore”

I got mine from specsavers - the most expensive type of varifocal and a typical frame was less than £300

When you pick up your varifocals do not put them on. Wait until morning whne you wake up to use them for the first time. Works so much better.

I really, really wouldn't get varifocals online. A simple prescription yes, no problem, but varifocals need such careful measuring, especially if you have a complex prescription, that I wouldn't risk it.

Thanks for all your responses. It’s the sort of thing that I had been thinking. It’s too complicated to do online for something like varifocals

My other option would be to get two pairs of glasses. One for reading and one for distance. I think I would be happier to do that online. But stupid question - what would I put in the prescription box to get the two different sorts?

Can you put a pic of prescription on and I will tell you what you need to put in for distance and reading. Cannot do your PD though, this is the distance between your pupil centres which is needed to order glasses

I got mine from specsavers i think they were 260 for two pairs and have lasted a few years. I did buy an extra pair from glasses direct but they are different and they arent good. Boots sound v expensive

what about going to a direct or wholesale=type dispensing opticians.
you take your prescription to them, choose your frame and they make them up. they are much cheaper than any chain/high street optician.
you have the benefit of their expertise in the suitability of frame and exact fitting.
my neighbour, last summer got a pair of varifocals for £120 from one of these in north-west London. they have been fine.
don't know where you are, but look online. the ones I know of are in Edgware, where she went. the shop is very basic, unmodernised, no chair, but plenty of happy customers. another firm is in Finchley.
I agree with others, and you I think, that buying online is a false economy, far too risky, re measurements, fitting etc. good luck.

Ooh im near edgware ! Whats it called?

Thank you that would be very kind
Sphere cylinder axis

• 0.25 -1 160

• 1.25 -0.5 100

Reading addition
+1.25 (r and left)

Distance accuity 6/5
Near accuity n5

I agree that buying varifocals online is a very bad idea. Getting the correct measurements is crucial, and the glasses need to be fitted by an expert.

Distance would be
+0.25 -1.00 160
-1.25 -0.50 100

Reading
+1.50 -1.00 160
0.00 -0.50 100

Double check that right sphere is a + and left sphere is a - ...it's just it's mostly + for both or - for both but not always 👍🏼
I work in an independent opticians

Thanks very much
Yes one sphere is - and the other plus! I double checked

I have had varifocals for a few years. First spent a fortune in Boots. Then next time I went to asda. They have flat prices so whether you need varifocals or ordinary glasses is the same price.
I have a complex prescription and have always been happy. I had glasses since I was a child and would not go near online places. However I also don't want to pay hundreds.
I got two pairs of glasses (ordinary and prescription sunglasses) earlier this year and am perfectly happy. Total cost was £120 plus the eye test.

My husband just got varifocals from glasses direct and was very happy with them. (He has used varifocals for a couple of years so was used to them).
In terms of getting measurements right, even though he had sent them when placing the order, they asked him to send a close up pic of his face whilst holding a bank card/store card at his eyebrows (obviously with no card number on show!) so they could ascertain the measurements more accurately.

Honestly save your sanity and don't bother. They are simply incompetent. The agro to just get a simple thing done is UNBELIEVABLE. Their phone systems don't work (constantly get cut off) so I resort to email...day after day another email saying their is a problem with your order. I have now given up with these idiots. You know what they say - 'if you pay peanuts you get monkeys'...well monkeys would be a lot better than these morons

I couldn't disagree more. for simple prescriptions buying online might be fine. For varifocals it is absolutely critical that you have a human being checking for the fit as correct measurements are vital.