Those with terrible eyesight - varifocal sunglasses question

[EightToSixer]

Hello. I’m mid 40s now so am in to varifocal lenses. I have terrible vision anyway and astigmatism.
i used to wear contact lenses so I could use a regular sunglasses in summer but these are now no good as my sight is so bad.
does anyone have varifocal sunglasses? Would you recommend them? How near to your prescription do they need to be?
I’m off on a hiking holiday next month and really need to be able to see but it’ll be very hot and sunny. My prescription normal glasses are £350 and I really can’t afford to spend that again on sunglasses version.

what do my fellow varifocal wearing people do in the summer sun?

[Frenchyq25]

I have transitions on my varifocals. Quite expensive but probably cheaper than buying a whole new sunglasses.

[amouj]

I bought clip on sunglasses from Amazon. They worked brilliantly on my recent holiday. I don't care how they look when flipped up. They are much more convenient than having to switch to sunglasses and back

[Daisy62]

Try Asda for varifocal sunglasses, they're usually cheapest for varifocals.

[mudgetastic]

Yes varifocal and adapt to light


So I can go walking , read the map and see the scenary without squinting the whole time

[Antarcticant]

Same as above. I got a two for one on my varifocals and had transitions on one pair. I can wear the transitions pair indoors as usual, then they will react to the light as appropriate when outdoors.

Only real downside is that they react to any bright light, so you become that odd person wearing sunglasses in Tesco carpark at 11:30 on a freezing but sunny December morning

[RandomMess]

Asda varifocals are so cheap!!!

New lenses by glasses direct £230, complete pair of glasses Asda £80

I've had vari sunglasses for about 5 years, absolutely love them.

[WarmSausageTea]

I couldn’t get on with transitions; I have medium sized frames and found there was too much bright light in my peripheral vision, if that makes sense.

Now I have prescription sunglasses, but not varifocal. They were much cheaper (and I’ll have them reglazed in future if needs be), they’re great for out and about, and for driving, but not so good for reading.

[etulosba]

I’m another that uses transitions with varifocals.

The only downside I find is that they can be a bit slow to clear when going indoors.

[Nitgel]

I just got some with my new prescription varifocals at specsavers buy one get one free qas still 230

[supperlover]

I wear varifocals and have had varifocal sunglasses but now have a second pair which are reactions. They are good but don't darken quite as much as sunglasses. I really recommend the sunglasses you can buy in Boots for £25 which fit over your normal glasses. They're excellent. I use them for driving as reactions don't darken behind windscreen-
www.boots.com/boots-optical-cover-sunglasses-shiny-black-frame-10205669?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare--Summer-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Summer&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLfNyYDl9wIVE7LVCh2QaQRKEAQYASABEgIr2_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[HalfShrunkMoreToGo]

Not varifocals but do have stupidly thick lenses and astigmatism and a load of other crap wrong with my eyes.

I go with transitions, I get the drive wear ones that change even if sunlight is through a car window screen.

Asda do great prices on complete glasses and don't change extra for varifocals.

I can't do separate sunglasses as get fed up of taking my glasses on and off to switch.

[Threetulips]

It depends doesn’t it? The varifocals are for distance and reading.

would you really need the reading part whilst walking?

Some glasses have a magnetic sunglass part that simple click into place unlike the clip over glasses.

[Blueuggboots]

I have varifocal sunglasses. They're great! I use them for driving or reading while I'm sat in the garden.

[Forestdweller11]

Varifocals for glasses (which to be honest I can't actually get to work ) and just normal prescription for sunglasses. I find they work fine for normal stuff that you need to wear sunglasses for -5.5 and severe astigmatism.

[DingDongBellPussysInTheWell]

I have a varifocal prescription from an independent optician but I went to specsavers for sunglasses. 2-4-1 deal on designer frames and you can get 2 x sunnies or 1 x glasses & 1 x sunnies, depending on what you need.
I have no issues with my prescription sunglasses, they function just the same as my glasses, except with tint. I can't manage without in bright light now.

[Pericombobulations]

I have a seperate sunglasses in varifocal as reactors I found dont darken much when driving a car. I go to a small independent opticians and they have a deal for prescription sunglasses so didnt cost me as much. I even forked out for the thin lenses so I can wear them longer like my glasses. I dont get them as frequently as I upgrade my normal prescription so works out cost effective but can still drive with them on.

[Flavabobble]

I have a pair of varifocal sunglasses from the £45 Asda range. Very shortsighted & stigmatism.

[Lacdepassy]

I have verifocal sunglasses from specs avers, I chose them as my second pair from the 2 for 1 deal.

They are quite old now - at least 7 years and they are excellent. I wear them all the time.

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

I wear varifocals, but single-vision prescription sunglasses, as considerably cheaper! If I need to read a map whilst I am out walking/cycling etc, I just take them off!

[bumblingbovine49]

I had transition ones for ages but got fed up of the comments when they got dark on a winter day inside which they did quite often . Nowadays I always have a cheaper spare spare anyway which I try to get online after I broke a pair and was without them for nearly three weeks awhile I ordered another pair. The spare pair has a transition coating on it so I can use them in holiday or when it is a very sunny day and also as a spare pair of needed

[bumblingbovine49]

Was going to say also use clip ons sometimes but if I was going to be doing something like hiking I'd prefer the transition set, they seem easier to see out of when reading etc. I can't read without glasses on so so wearing a cheaper distance prescription wouldn't work for me as I'd have to keep switching to reading glasses to read the map but they might work for some people

[RandomMess]

I think some of it depends on how light sensitive you are.

I have always worn sunglasses on sunny days even in winter!

[SweatyChamoisPad]

I have varifocals with photochromatic lenses - it’s much easier to read an OS map. Like a previous poster said though, they sometimes darken with light, so if it’s a bright but cloudy day they’ll go off, so I keep my other specs in my bag too.

[TeenPlusCat]

I have transitions on my varifocals. It is fabulous no messing about at all.

[Bonbon21]

I have varifocal prescription sunglasses but have been told by 3 different opticians not to get transitions, so have to swop specs over from outside to inside... which is a complete pain in the a..e!!
Dont know if it is my prescription/eye condition or if they just make more money out of me....
You can reuse old frames to keep down the price and just get new lens if that helps.
The sunglasses themselves are great!