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Original poster

New glasses help

22 replies

IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 20:53

I've just got new glasses for the first time in 4 years and was warned by the optician as my prescription had got worse by 3 stages it would take a while to get used to them.

But I can see really well after an arms length but very blurry within an arm's length

I can't see how I can get used to this as I just can't see!

Is it worth persevering? Do I need to go back? That's another issue as I had them tested at a high street one but bought the glasses online. If the prescription is wrong god knows what will happen.

It's been miserable all weekend not being able to see properly.

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 20:55

I'm shortsighted by the way. Went from -4.75 to -5.5

OP posts:
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 21/11/2021 20:56

are you short sighted and approaching 40?

Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 20:56

I'm 44

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CaptainMyCaptain · 21/11/2021 20:58

I had similar trouble with my latest varificaks. Specsavers arranged for me to have my eyes tested again to check the prescription was right but in the end offered to remake them as they might be 1mm out or refund me. The other option was to remake them without the extra light lenses I had requested (and refund that part of them) and that worked.

Keep going back and trying because the wrong glasses can make you really miserable.

Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 20:59

Thank you. It's awkward as they tested my eyes but I didn't get my glasses there

OP posts:
Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 21:01

If I had them perched on the very tip of my nose they work perfectly!

OP posts:
Wildflowers2020 · 21/11/2021 21:01

Was there a reading addition on your prescription?

CaptainMyCaptain · 21/11/2021 21:01

I suppose you need to go back to where you got the glasses from to start with. They might have made the wrong prescription.

Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 21:01

The reading one says +1.25

OP posts:
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 21/11/2021 21:02

did the optician say anything about reading specs??

For close work your eyes have to work harder to focus, as you age they don't like to do that so much!

Updating your distance prescription will be making your eyes work even harder to focus on the close stuff so this is why you are struggling.

It may resolve but you are rapidly approaching (if not already there) the time where you maybe should consider a reading pair, or varifocals.

OR ...keep the old specs to use for anything within arms length, pottering at home/computers, and use the new ones for driving/distance/cinema.

Rodders92 · 21/11/2021 21:03

If these are single vision lenses it is likely that you are becoming presbyopic , your ability to accommodate (focus) for near vision gets worse with age and you will start to need a different prescription for near vision.

Wildflowers2020 · 21/11/2021 21:05

As PP said sounds like presbyopia. It’s a tricky situation as you have brought online so no dispensing advice will have been provided to you. It’s likely you need varifocals or separate pairs now.

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 21/11/2021 21:05

ahhhh, there you go then....your old distance specs are basically an intermediate prescription now.

with a +1.25 add you need readers or varis. Or whip off your distance specs and peer really closely at anything you want to see close up !

Comedycook · 21/11/2021 21:06

I'd go back. One optician made a typo on my prescription and so my glasses were totally wrong for me

Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 21:16

Thank you all. I don't mind roughing it out if they'll adjust.

Otherwise I'll go back in the morning and get the prescription checked.

OP posts:
Headunderthecovers · 21/11/2021 21:21

You have to go to the optician who you bought the glasses from, as they are now responsible for the rechecks.
The rules on retesting by opticians changed several years ago, so if you go elsewhere then they 'choose' to accept the dispense (and the money!) and therefore are responsible for rechecking and remaking.
It is because you're over 40 though, so to get you to see better in the distance than your old glasses, the original prescriber had to increase the distance prescription which means you're now blurred at near!

presbyopia

Your old weaker prescription was less minus and as we all need plus added to our prescription over 40 for near focus (or develop longer arms) it's now your close work -near- prescription.
If you want clear distance and near in the one pair of glasses you'll probably need varifocals.

Headunderthecovers · 21/11/2021 21:32

As you bought them online that really is the issue.
Any dispensing optician would have warned you before dispensing the prescription that you wouldn't see at near with the stronger new prescription- as there is an 'add' for near.
There is no onus in the prescribing optician to remake for you (you didn't purchase from them and the prescription is clearly different distance and near),
so I'd look at the refund policy from the online opticians and go to a dispenser optician who can talk it all through with you.

somethinghere · 21/11/2021 21:36

I agree with @Headunderthecovers, a dispensing optician will have talked you through your options and how it would differ from what you currently wear.
It might be worth going to an optician of your choice and having a chat, ideally the one where you had your eyes tested.

Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 22:07

@Headunderthecovers

As you bought them online that really is the issue. Any dispensing optician would have warned you before dispensing the prescription that you wouldn't see at near with the stronger new prescription- as there is an 'add' for near. There is no onus in the prescribing optician to remake for you (you didn't purchase from them and the prescription is clearly different distance and near), so I'd look at the refund policy from the online opticians and go to a dispenser optician who can talk it all through with you.
Thank you. The online place have a 120 day no quibble refund but I actually like these glasses. First pair I've actually liked in 30 years!
OP posts:
Original poster
IslaInthesun · 21/11/2021 22:09

The main thing I wanted to know is if it's worth persevering. Sound like it's not though.

OP posts:
Headunderthecovers · 21/11/2021 22:20

Yes, I doubt it's worth persevering.

It's not the prescription is wrong- as you have different prescriptions at distance and near with the 'add of +1.25D' this is normal after 40- it's that you need dispensing advice that online can't give you.

That's one of the reasons online glasses can be made cheaper as there's no advice. But you need proper in person advice on your options so you aren't really suitable for purchasing online.
I certainly wouldn't buy varifocals online if you go that route, as there is too many measurements to go wrong.
It's frustrating if you like the frame you could always buy just the frame and dispense as a reglaze but it will prove much more costly. I'm sure there's a high street or independent optician who can get you one very similar though.

Yeko · 21/11/2021 22:31

I'd go back, I had this with a huge jump and they had to bring my prescription down as I just couldn't cope with the blurriness.

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