Varifocals - how long to get used to them?? Panicking!

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

I've been told I need varifocals. Had the option of one pair of varifocals or seperate distance/reading glasses. Was persuaded to go with varifocals as you're forever searching for your reading glasses and it's a pain. I've heard differing opinions on how long it takes to get used to them and I'm dreading the 'settling in' period! Can't bear the thought of weeks of misjudging distance or not being able to focus on reading/the computer/whatever....

Can anyone with varifocals let me know your experience with them? How long did it take to get used to them? Do you ever wish you'd gone with separate pairs? For those with two pairs, can you read at all with your distance glasses?

I have so many questions!

I'm tempted by bi focals, do you see the half moon shape on the lens still or have they improves now?

Thanks for all your replies - they're really helpful. It's interesting to read how you've all got on (or not!) with varifocals. I was told by the (lovely and very helpful woman) at the opticians that I could try them risk free for a month and if they weren't suitable I could return them and get two pairs instead, distance and reading. She spent quite a while taking measurements so hopefully all will be well on that front. Fingers crossed I don't fall over on first try.

@JudgeRindersMinder - this is the experience I want! 😋

Didn’t get on with them at all and had to give up. I do have varifocal contact lenses which are great. Otherwise I’m juggling my short and long sighted glasses.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor you can get different shapes and sizes for the reading bit. I don’t notice the reading bit while I'm driving or watching tv. They are fine for seeing the dashboard but I don't find them too comfortable for reading a book and prefer reading glasses for that.

Do they look like normal lenses when you wear them or is the reading bit noticable ? I'm very tempted!

Frame shape will have an effect as well. The shallow slitty frames that were popular until recently don’t work well with varifocals. There’s too much lens variation crammed into a small space.

Larger, deeper frames work best.

It took me a couple of months. I still prefer separate glasses, but they are so convenient for work and everyday.

Took me a couple of hours of feeling quite seasick, then it was done. I did go for very nearly top of the range ones though. I wouldn't be without them now.

Do you not have the choice of bifocals too? Surely you do. Ask about them.

I don't have varifocals. I just definitely feel that I could never get used to them and I am more than happy with bifocals. My normal choice of glasses is a pair of bifocals with transitions lenses (so they darken as sunglasses when outdoors) plus a pair of computer glasses so that I am not always tipping my neck backwards when at the computer.

Me - straightaway.
DH- whingeing for weeks. What actually cracked it for him was briefly going back to single vision lenses (couldn't find varifocals) and it was really weird and uncomfortable. Found his new glasses again and they were fine after that.

I was told by the opticians at Specsavers, for many years, that I couldn’t have varifocals because I have Ménière’s disease, so my balance is off, and I use crutches.

At Christmas I got utterly fed up of having to carry 2 pairs of glasses around so went to Asda’s opticians and bought a pair from there for £89. I thought if I didn’t get on with them it wasn’t a lot of money to lose, but they did say I could take them back and have the lenses changed. When I tried them on in the shop I thought I was going to be sick. However, the next day I put them on at home and I was fine. I’ve never had a problem. I keep kicking myself that I never took up the offer to get a tinted pair for £40.

This is all very interesting. I have another question - what's it like when you take varifocals off? At the moment, apart from not being able to see as well, I can cope. These are regular glasses that do everything, got them years ago. I'm thinking that with varifocals doing so much, will I notice the difference more when I'm not wearing them? LIke, when I go swimming, for example? Will my eyes droop?? 🤓

Err droppy eyes?! No That doesn’t happen.
taking off varifocals is no different than taking off any other single vision glasses.

are you getting confused with using varifocals for reading?? You don’t move your eye balls to read as such, it’s more a move your whole head - tilt up your head to access the reading prescription part of the lens. You can spot someone reading and using varifocals a mile off, as they tilt their head or push up (if very large lenses) their glasses when trying to do a quick read of a packet in supermarkets!!

When I first tried on my variofocals it felt terrible - the room was swimming. My optician said to wait a minute while she adjusted the fit and it was immediatley ok. The only thing I find is that when watching tv, I can't lean my head back on the sofa because I would be looking throught the reading part. Otherwise I love them.

You can't tell that mine are varifocals. No line.
I've got used to moving my head for detail vision without noticing I do it.

varifocals are graded lenses they graduate from distance through mid to near prescription strength. You don’t get a line with varifocals. Bifocals only have two prescription strengths - normally distance and near vision, hence the line as they are basically two very different prescriptions side by side in one lens.

so it’s like the difference between blending a wall paint from light at the top to dark at the bottom or having a dado rail in the middle of the wall, with wall paper on the top half and paint on the bottom half. (Best analogy I can think of!)