How much for varifocals??

[Spaghettio]

Just been to the optician and been told I need varifocals.

Picked out the frames £270! Bloody hell.

Then the varifocals. The guy went through the different options and I went for Varilux Physio varifocals - which are on the higher end of the prices, but not the most expensive.

Total cost £500!!!

That seems insanely expensive, but I know varifocals can be much more expensive than normal lenses.

This was a Boots Optician, so will get quotes from Specsavers and other high street opticians, but is that the sort of price I should be looking at?

(On the upside, that's a lot of Boots points..... )

@CMOTDibbler

Go to Asda - two pairs of varifocals for £150 :-)

Another vote for Asda - husband and I have been going there for a few years, good eye tests and a decent range of frames. I have one varifocal pair and one sunglasses pair, with polarised varifocal lenses for driving.

@Spaghettio If you're working on screens/reading a lot (like 8 hours a day) then I'd go with a mid range because the field of view is wider and it'd be worth the extra cost. It's also worth considering an anti reflective coating if your reading is mainly done on screens. I'd wear them as much as possible when you first get them because it'll make the adaption bit quicker. You should know after about 2 weeks if they're going to work for you but some people take longer to fully adapt. If you're struggling to adjust but you still want them it's worth returning to the opticians to discuss. Sometimes minor adjustments to the frame fit can work wonders. No one minds if you come back. Sometimes varifocal wearers will have single vision sets aswell for specific tasks mainly because the field of view is wider.

£570 were mine this time

Main pair, best varifocal option, thinnest lense.

Sunglasses, best varifocal option, tint and a glare thingy, thinner lenses but not the very thinnest.

Eye test and optional OC test.

I’ve bought online - way cheaper than spec savers and ime much much better. (Ex optical assistant long long long ago).
Dh refuses to even contemplate buying on the high street.

Shop around.

[quote BlueCarPinkShoes]@Spaghettio If you're working on screens/reading a lot (like 8 hours a day) then I'd go with a mid range because the field of view is wider and it'd be worth the extra cost. It's also worth considering an anti reflective coating if your reading is mainly done on screens. I'd wear them as much as possible when you first get them because it'll make the adaption bit quicker. You should know after about 2 weeks if they're going to work for you but some people take longer to fully adapt. If you're struggling to adjust but you still want them it's worth returning to the opticians to discuss. Sometimes minor adjustments to the frame fit can work wonders. No one minds if you come back. Sometimes varifocal wearers will have single vision sets aswell for specific tasks mainly because the field of view is wider.[/quote]
Thank you! I'm not on a screen all day thankfully, but do spend (too much) time on my phone during the day. I'm a SAHM so do it all - laptop,phone, tv, driving, gardening, cooking, cleaning. Now that I think about it I don't think an expensive lense is the way to go for my first varifocals.

I'll definitely shop around now that I've had all this advice. Although I like the service at Boots I do feel that they upsell most options for glasses so will heck out the other retailers in our high street.

This is all very interesting - I have an appointment tomorrow with an independent optician, and I have a feeling they are going to tell me that I should get varifocals. I'm not that keen, as I think I will have trouble getting used to them - even with my normal glasses, the fit has to be exactly right or I really notice it, and my previous pair had to be remade a couple of times (I am moderately short sighted, like -7.5 or -8, and astigmatism of about -1.75 or -2, but it's enough that it does actually matter exactly how they sit on my face!). So I'm sure varifocals will be worse. I'd really rather not have them, to be honest, so I might just tell them that - right now, I just take my glasses off if I have to read very small print! I'd rather get the glasses to suit computer screens and distance/signs etc when driving. I'm sure the time will come when I can't read close things like books, but right now it's OK, so hopefully I can just say I'll make do with taking them off!
I'll be interested to know how you get on with the Asda ones etc, as I might spend the money on the high-index normal lenses for my current frames, and then if I really need to, get varifocals somewhere else cheaply to see if I can get used to them (although it sounds like that might be harder if they are cheaper ones!?)

Cheaper lenses haves tendency to have higher degrees of distortion at the edges. This can present as curving of the viewpoint.
For me (I have the highest speck I can buy) this is reduced to more like looking through a slightly mucky window at the very edge of my glasses.
I’ve had varifocals for around 6 years. But I still revert to plain vision lenses (reading or distance) if I’m doing something for a substantial period of time. For me varifocals mean I don’t have to keep switching glasses for that moment I need to read a label etc.

My px isn’t that strong

The trick to varifocals is to turn your head to look to the side not just glance if you see what I mean. This is why acutely shortsighted people adjust faster. If correctly measured and fitted there should be no difference from normal glasses once you're through the adjustment periods. My most recent pair are from specsavers and I wouldn't recommend them. Took months to get them adjusted properly and they're still not the best. Not surprised that @Gerwurtztraminer has had issues.

That is a good tip - but doesn’t help when you have small lenses, because that’s what fits your face. Other wise you end up looking like Dennis Taylor.

Specsavers are great. I always have the cheapest varifocals and get two pairs for about £140.

Try a local optician, I've just gone to my local independent and have picked out lovely frames with the better varifocal lenses plus a second tinted set to go in my old sunglasses, total cost including eye test £290.

I'm hopefully picking them tomorrow.

The trick to varifocals is to turn your head to look to the side not just glance if you see what I mean

That's what Specsavers like to tell you as their field of vision is ridiculously narrow. Pay more if you can and the vision coloumn is much wider and easier to get used to ime.

@dazzlingdeborahrose I'm not sure how much of my experience is Specsavers or just me. I have a lazy eye so focusing is slow and my sight is quite different in each eye. Shop was very crowded and hectic but optician did take time in measuring at appointment and then adjusting the frames when I collected them. Overall felt a bit conveyor belt but I thought could have been worse. However if I ever have another try at varifocals I will go to an independent even if it costs more.

Having said that, I'm surprised so many people say they got varifocals but still use single lenses for specific tasks like screens and reading. Surely that means more cost and still carrying about multiple pairs of glasses. Defeats the purpose surely?

@Spaghettio if you really want to to try them, might as well. Lots of people seem to find them really good and have no problem. Worst case you just return them and go for separate glasses.

They are expensive - but worth every penny. I always go for the very best ones lenses-wise. Compromise with glasses is a false economy if, like me you are very short-sighted and wear them all the time.

If you are wearing them for the first time, be careful going downstairs - to start with the depth of the treads can be deceptive - please do not have a tumble!

@Spaghettio

Just been to the optician and been told I need varifocals.

Picked out the frames £270! Bloody hell.

Then the varifocals. The guy went through the different options and I went for Varilux Physio varifocals - which are on the higher end of the prices, but not the most expensive.

Total cost £500!!!

That seems insanely expensive, but I know varifocals can be much more expensive than normal lenses.

This was a Boots Optician, so will get quotes from Specsavers and other high street opticians, but is that the sort of price I should be looking at?

(On the upside, that's a lot of Boots points..... )

If you have your prescription look at the online company's. I got two pairs designer frame varifocals for £100. Town centre options wanted nearer what you was quoted

@Pinkandwrinkly

I got mine from glasses direct online for £200 which includes light reactive lenses as didn't want to keep swapping with sunglasses . I was a bit sceptical at first but you can return them if you don't like them. Not the same as trying them on in a store, to be honest, but significantly cheaper. I'd use them again.

This is where I get mine and the fit has always been spot on

@RampantIvy

Please do not buy varifocals online. Getting the fit right is crucial and, IMO, can only be done by someone who has been properly trained to do so.

I disagree. I have 3 pairs varifocals, two bought online one from boots. The online ones have been a perfect fit. The boots ones have been back in 3 times as the fit isn't right at all

I’ve had my varifocals for about 3 years, initially I wore contacts most of the time, but after a corneal ulcer 15 months ago, I can’t wear contacts full time, I chose cheap frames (£30) and the most expensive lenses, total cost would have been £500 but I got them half price due to contact lenses

[quote Gerwurtztraminer]@RampantIvy See, my sister says the same, and some other friends. Hence why I was prepared to given it another go. And I really tried as I am very sick of constantly swapping glasses (including the prescription sunglasses as I need those the moment any kind of sun or glare is out). But back to that again. They just don't work for me for some reason. Wish they did.[/quote]
This 8s exactly the problem I'm having with the verifocals I had from boots.
The ones from glasses direct I've had no vision or head ache issues, they are much better in my opinion. Maybe worth you giving them a go

@Gerwurtztraminer. Have you friend reactive lens coating? Much easier than swapping glasses for sunglasses - which if you are like me I can never find.

Do reactive glasses work when driving?

Mine have a slight tinge when driving - not as dark as being outside.
I used to have sun glasses everywhere. I don’t anymore, but I do have reactive coatings on all my glasses - varifocal and single vision. Cara are 69 and 19 plates incase that makes any difference-
I’ve no idea if it does.

I love my reactive lenses

Another Asda customer here. I ditched the usual high street opticians years ago in favour of Asda and have never looked back.
Their contact lens prices are great too.

You're not a Costco member by any chance are you? I've found their varifocals to be on a par price wise with Specsavers but much better quality lenses.
I have varifocal sunglasses from Costco (their cheapest vari lense) and varifocal specs from Specsavers (their best quality £££ lenses), exactly the same prescription and the Costco varifocal lenses is infinitely better.