If you’re VERY short sighted (-9 plus) is it normal to struggle to get the prescription “right”? Especially if you need varifocals too etc?

[Bagelsandbrie]

I don’t know if I’m expecting too much.

I’m -9.50 both eyes. With astigmatism and I also need +1.50 for reading. I also have sjorgens syndrome which makes my eyes super dry.

I went to the optician and I got myself some top range varifocals (super thinned, top quality lenses etc) and some multi focal contacts to try. Before this I just had normal lenses.

I feel like I can’t see. The optician tells me this is normal and it takes some time to adjust but I genuinely just feel really disoriented the distance vision particularly is awful.

I’m going to give them a try for a weeks but I’m wondering if the prescription is just wrong somehow. Being so short sighted I find it really difficult to differentiate between the “is 1 or 2 better” during the tests as often there isn’t much difference!

Does anyone else find this or is this just me?

I feel a bit disheartened with it all.
My vision is better with my glasses but I really hate myself in glasses as being so short sighted they make my eyes tiny.

Yes, I think this is common, especially with varifocals. I think you should go back. It might need a slight prescription change.

Varifocals are particularly difficult to get right for high prescriptions and astigmatism, as are contact lenses (in general, tbh, not just multi focal). There can be quite a lot of blurring, especially around the periphery. It’s to do with how the lenses are made and many lenses don’t really take astigmatism into account.
How was your vision with normal lenses before? Was there much change in your distance prescription? If there was a big jump then it can also be disorientating. Tbh, with high distance prescriptions it’s sometimes worth just taking your glasses off for close work or using a pair of cheap reading glasses if needed, rather than going down the varifocal route iyswim.
For context, I’m -10 in both eyes and have “profound” astigmatism so I know just how rubbish this can be.

which can't you see with, the contacts or the glasses?

From other threads on here I don't think it's unusual. I'm in my 50s and can't remember what my glasses prescription is (about -12 and -11, mild astigmatism in one eye, also a little longsightedness). I manage with single vision glasses which I can take off to read things that are very small or close. But mostly I wear contact lenses both at -10, which is an under-correction for one eye and full correction for the other. So one does the far distance sight and one does the closer work. I also use the magnifying app on my phone occasionally. I get by ok like this and don't want to go the vari-focal / multi-focal route if I can avoid it.

The prescription can be wrong. Another thing to consider is also if the lens type might not work for you.

I am (-7) and can't cope with a list of common lens options, including if the edges are ground, if the pupil measurement is off, and aspheric lenses.

Thank you all.

My vision before was okay, I was just struggling to read things. So to be honest I just thought they’d give me some reading glasses - as it’s worst with my contacts, I could just about manage with my old specs.

I ended up getting the whole varifocals/ multi focal thing. I thought I’d give them a try and liked the idea of not needing to switch between glasses etc.

I now find I can see okay with my new varifocals glasses - although they’re still not 100% - but the contacts are particularly awful. I feel I need to squint and stare at something to focus, either close up or distance. It’s really annoying. Scanning the room everything is just fuzzy.

I think I’ll give it another day or so and then may ring and see what they say. Maybe it is just very difficult to get it “right”. I also have a lot of floaters (harmless, long term ones) that are very irritating and also make my vision worse.

I loathe varifocals but need them. Current prescription on glasses I collected last sat means I cant see the screen on my computer, everything else is fine. Back to the opticians I go...

Take them back; they may have fitted the lenses at the wrong angle. I had that once, and I'm very short-sighted.

I have -7 and -8 in glasses. I struggle to adjust to a new prescription but I am always adjusted within 48 hours. Any longer suggests the prescription and/or glasses are made wrong. Both have happened to me. Put the new glasses on first thing when you wake up rather than during the day. It’s easier to adjust that way.

Give your opticians a ring, arrange to go back and see the Dispensing Optician about your specs as with any high prescription fitting is crucial-especially with a varifocal. It may be a small adjustment to the frame will make all the difference! They will be able to assess whether the issue is the fit and positioning of the frame or whether the prescription needs adjusting.
With the varifocal contacts it is often the case that the prescription needs to be tweaked and in some cases just doesn’t work for a patient and it may be easier to stick with single vision contact lenses and wear a pair of +1.50’s over the top. Best to have a good chat with the optom as there may be other lens options you can try. I’m a Dispensing Optician myself so see these situations a lot in practice-it’s not uncommon. Had my first pair of varifocals last year and love them! My relationship with contact lenses is not as good due to the joys of astigmatism! 😂
Good luck!

Do go back to your optician. There could be any number of reasons why your glasses aren't working for you, especially if you are severely myopic. Incorrect prescription is just one reason. Try to be as specific as you can about the difficulties you are experiencing right now.

Sorry, I did try and post earlier.
Varifocal contacts almost always need a bit of tweaking, they work completely differently to varifocal glasses.
Different brands sometimes work better, or your could have a regular lens in one eye and a varifocal in the other, or you may just need a different prescription.

Just book an aftercare with your optician.

Oh and make sure you've had the lenses in for a bit before you see the optician (1 hour + is ideal), at one point today I had 3 patients sitting outside my room waiting for lenses to settle. It's often not possible to ascertain what the issue is if they haven't been in for long enough.

Thank you for your replies. I am going to ring the opticians tomorrow and say things don’t feel quite right and go from there.

@Bagelsandbrie

I went to opticians today, they tried adjusting the frames instore to see if it made the difference needed but it didnt so I am now booked in for another test with the dispensing optician next weekend to change the prescription and they will redo my glasses. This is Specsavers.

[quote mogtheexcellent]@Bagelsandbrie

I went to opticians today, they tried adjusting the frames instore to see if it made the difference needed but it didnt so I am now booked in for another test with the dispensing optician next weekend to change the prescription and they will redo my glasses. This is Specsavers.[/quote]
Thank you. I’m also with Specsavers too. That’s encouraging.

I'm not quite as short sighted as you but I have a lot of astigmatism (enough for new opticians to comment on it!). I tried toric contacts years ago and couldn't get on with them at all - like you, I had to squint to see anything. Went back to the optician for the standard check two weeks later and he watched the stronger lens rotating every time I blinked. Because it wasn't staying in the right orientation, it was actually making my vision worse rather than better most of the time. He told me to bin them and stick with glasses!