Varifocals! Please advise me!

[Miljea]

I'm in my late 50s, and short-sighted (can see books, sewing, cooking clearly without glasses). Not hugely so, -2.00 and -2.75.

I've always bought single vision glasses to correct my distance sight (driving, TV), usually quite short height ones, so I can look under them!

However, I am increasingly aware of a couple of specific problems; at home if I want to glance at the TV while reading a book, I shift my specs across my face so the bottom of one lens rests on the bridge of my nose, thus props my glasses up so my TV vision is fine, but I have more 'lap' vision area, free of lenses, to look down at.

Also, at work, I have a PC at normal PC monitor range in front of me, but I also need to be able to look up through a window into the adjoining room to see 3-4m away, clearly. Then rapidly glance down, then up. etc

I look like a dill if I prop my glasses up for that!

Thus, my optometrist (at Vision Express- he seemed competent and informative, but he doesn't own the franchise) suggests varifocals, which I've steered away from to date.

Following a recent thread where a poster's DH was evidently sold a pup in terms of highly unsuitable eye-wear, I am wary of committing. I had to dash after the eye test, but saw a poster, displaying the varying 'levels' of varifocals lenses they do, £50-275, with a brief description beneath.

What do I need to know? What questions should I ask? Is £275 the way to go?

I'm confused.com!

Thanks for any input, thoughts, experiences.

Thanks, everyone, really useful information. I guess I will go to Asda and see what range of frames they can do for varifocals, then go from there.

@pointyshoes I have astigmatism in one eye so have a distance contact lens for that eye then a varifocal lens in the other eye, and then add reading glasses when doing really close work! Not sure how my brain copes with all that

I was recommended them. Paid out £350 and I hated them....awful. Kept trying but gave up in the end.

Is all individual I guess but at that price a big risk

I've worn varifocals for a long time. They are better if they are not too small and need to be well fitted. I paid about 1000euros for mine....they are expensive here but I wear them all day, everyday and its worth it.

Thanks :itt;eOverwhelmed
Not sure if knowing it is my brain rather than my eyes makes it feel any better

Thanks @TeenPlusTwenties . Fortunately I did go to Specsavers - don't think I could have gambled that sort of money otherwise. Fair play to them, they did refund, without quibble. I think I was 50 when I tried them, too.

Miljea, as MrsT1405 says, I think a larger frame - I suppose to be able to fit in everything that is going on in the glass - works better. Several people told me that after I gave up on mine.

I hope you get on with them - I wish I did, it would save me a lot of faffing.

mine are £180 from specsavers and I am one of the lucky ones - put them on and just said 'where's the problem?' Can see well both near and far. It was 'perfectly' but my prescription wanders up and down - I've gone back to a previous pair of varifocals as it wasn't quite worth getting yet another pair made.

I do prefer single-vision for driving although it isn't an essential. During the day it is contact lenses with poundland readers on top if needed. I tried the monovision or varifocal lenses but couldn't get on with either.

Wherever you go you need a money-back guarantee if you don't get on with them as not everyone does.

ps pick your frames from the bloke side unless you have a really tiny face. Better made, fewer stupid logos/cheap diamante/twiddly bits and as always, cheaper.

With varifocals the bit in the middle horizontal third is the bit most impacted by the price. The more expensive you go, the wider the middle section stays in focus for.
I'd far rather pay £££ for varifocal glasses that I wear all day every day for a year or two, than 2x£££ for a fancy phone.

@murbblurb

ps pick your frames from the bloke side unless you have a really tiny face. Better made, fewer stupid logos/cheap diamante/twiddly bits and as always, cheaper.

I have a slightly wide face so I think frames designed for men would always fit me better, so I think that's what I'll do.

I don't do fancy phones 😂 this one is an iPhone 8 I bought off my brother.

I hated them, it was like trying to see through fish eye lenses. I wish there had been a way to try them before I'd paid.

Totally agree with choosing frames from the 'Men's Glasses' side - I've done that for my last two pairs, after finding nothing in the 'Women's' side.
No idea when you can't just have 'glasses'

Had varifocals for years. Wish I'd insisted on "men's " frames before. Have them now with latest pair. Best thing I ever did.

In my late 50s, dislike varifocals after wearing them once and nearly tripping over. Decided after eye test last month & optician's advice, that I'll try them again. What a difference - I love these. I think previous eye test/optician couldn't have been any good. I bought from Womens' range but always have a rectangle frame as other styles don't suit me

I’ve tried them twice now like you sick of swapping glasses. My problem was middle distance. I had top price varifocals distance was perfect, reading took some practice but great. But I could not focus on a computer screen or something 2 feet away it was a complete blur no matter where I put my head. Still no optometrist has explained why so I just went back to 2 pairs of glasses. Still confused!!

I don't need glasses for reading but I do need them for distance. I was forever taking my glasses off and on so tried the varifocal. Great for indoors but struggled with them driving so I had a single focus lens put in my old glasses and just wear those now.

Just a word of warning though - I nearly went from top to bottom going down the stairs when I was getting used to them!