Varifocals - struggling and considering returning for 'normal' specs - anyone else?

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

Caveat: optician said if I didn't get on with them it's ok to return them for regular lenses. But just want to know how other people got on with their varifocals.

Got them a week ago and well, they're just not working (for me). Having been used to just looking anything any old how, I now have to move my head all over the place to get a proper view of whatever I'm looking at, and it feels quite exaggerated. There seems such a narrow margin at the top for me to look at distant things, and if I don't hold my head in exactly the right place, it slips out of focus! Am also struggling to read properly with them as again, unless I'm looking through the exact allocated reading window, it's out of focus.

I was told there are three bits of the lens, so I've no idea what the middle bit is for.

When I first tried them, I could see that, if I could just get the angle right, I could read with more clarity when the print was closer to my face, so I was quite excited. The reality is that I either have to keep moving my head, or the reading material, until it's in focus so reading is even less relxing that it was previously!

Any one else struggled to cope with varifocals or do I need to persist?

I’ve tried them twice now, and just can’t get on with them at all. I keep them in the car for driving, and the rest of the time I just use reading glasses. My distance vision isn’t too bad, it’s the close vision I increasingly struggle with.

From conversations with others about this, it seems that you either adjust to varifocals quickly, or not at all!

I tried them twice too, for a month each time. The second time I got the most expensive pair, had them adjusted after a fortnight.

It was no good, I really hated them - the constant moving of the head, having to tip my head to read, feeling like I was in a fishbowl. I went back to normal glasses - I don't have a huge gap between my distance and reading prescription, so got a pair that is in the 'middle'. So not great for tiny print, and a bit fuzzy for distance, but generally ok. I have a kindle for reading so I can just put the print size up, and they are fine for computer work.

I adjusted to them immediately - put them on and found them marvellous,. My husband, on the other hand, couldn't adjust at all and returned his after a couple of weeks.

If you went for a basic option you could try upgrading as the more you pay, the less obvious the different fields of vision are. I went for Specsavers 'Elite' which was their third one up in the range.

I've tried them before but found I got headaches with all the 'trying to position my eyes/head correctly'. I gave up and went back to two separate pairs instead.
I think opticians know it can be difficult and do offer to replace them if you struggle

It took me ages, they made me feel ill and nauseous for a few weeks, and they were particularly hard outdoors and on escalators but I persevered as I need to be able to see at different distances for my work/hobbies. I'm 2 years on from then and so glad I stuck with them.

Love mine but it took a few days to get used to them, particularly go down steps.

Mine are distance (top) screen (middle) reading ((bottom). Alternative would be 3 pairs of specs 🤓

i put off getting them for a couple of years after I should have got them as I was concerned I would find them hard to adjust to as I have complex eye issues. When I tried them it took about a month for me to get fully used to them, I am glad I persisted now.

I think I'm at the point where I might need them. I wear distance glasses, but they spend a lot of time on top of my head while I'm using my phone or sewing. (And to be honest, threading a needle is getting tricky)

But that gets frustrating because I can't switch between tasks easily. I need subtitles to watch TV, so if I try to see at the same time I just constantly flick my specs on and off.

I picked up my first pair of varifocals three weeks ago. On Monday, I picked up my single vision specs after returning the varifocals in disgust.

I absolutely could not get on with them at all. They were awful imo. I kept tripping up and even fell down the stairs. I had terrible neck pain from trying to watch the TV.

If they're not working for you, definitely take them back. I'm glad I did!

I am getting used to mine a couple of weeks in.

The first week I looked like I was drunk all the time, struggling to step off pavements, rolling my head around a lot and feeling like I was looking in a fairground mirror that squashed me down.

Took me weeks to get used to mine, but now I’m really happy with them. They may have got your measurements wrong was a suggestion I got when I moaned on social media but I just think it took me far longer than others.

I use my varifocals for work only and use my normal distance glasses other times (driving, watching TV) or go without (reading). Have really tried to embrace the varifocals but feel sick if I have to wear them when I’m moving around.

I made the switch when the prescription variation was smaller to hopefully make it easier for me to adjust. I've not had problems with them - but I do still just tend to bung them on my head when looking at my phone or doing anything close up.

They're less irritating than my other solution of distance vision contacts and reading glasses which I only use where face masks are a thing really and the constant glasses on and off dance really fucking annoys me.

I love mine. First pair I ever got, it was like I had perfect vision again instantly (or, given I've worn glasses since I was in single age figures, contacts in my teens).

Last year I needed new specs but couldn't afford varifocals, so I went for bifocals. Big mistake. Hated them, and have just got varis back again after some serious saving up.

Several friends of mine have tried but can't adapt, dizzy, double focus. I think everyone's different.

Not quite the same but I have varifocal contact lenses. I'd say it took a good month to get used to them.(after normal contact lenses) but I always hoped that it was going to be worth the effort. Now, 5 years later I wouldn't give them up for anything. I suppose it depends how impacted your life is while you do get used to them.

I had a different specification from a different supplier. Worth the phaff.

Former dispensing optician here !

There are big differences in quality of varis- I wear seiko synergy lenses and I honestly can't tell that they are varis .

They are costly though . Get the best ones you can afford . They vary so much in quality of vision .

Have you asked optician to check fit? If they have slightly mismeasured where your pupil falls when glasses on correctly it totally mucks your vision up. I had to have 2 sets redone and was then fine. Also if you let your glasses slip down your nose then the vision will blur.

I couldn't get on with mine. I did have them re-measured and re-built a couple of times, and even upgraded to the better model, but I still couldn't read with them without moving the glasses around.

I wear varifocal contact lenses most of the time and find them fine. (The glasses are just for the beginning of the day). I now have 2 pairs of specs instead. My optician said there are a few people who will never get used to varifocal glasses. You should give them a few days though as ime the sea sickness feeling does go.

I picked up my first pair at lunchtime today. Loving being able to read clearly again, but oh my things are dizzying when I move my head at all! Hopefully I'll adjust soon, my husband took about a week to get used to his first pair.

I absolutely love mine BUT I paid ££££ for the best ones I could so the range of vision is excellent. I am very short sighted -9.50 both eyes with astigmatism and need a +1.50 reading add. Complex prescription. My lenses alone were £500. I have tried cheaper ones from Asda but the quality of the lenses were awful. It was like looking through mucky soup and I returned them
for a refund. Better lenses definitely make a difference. I wear mine all the time and love them. I actually gave up my contact lenses which I never thought I would ever do because I feel I can see so much better with my glasses!

When I tried them I lasted 3 days. They made me motion sick and everything was blurry. It was horrible.

I’m another one who took to them straight away - felt like i was suddenly 20 years younger and saw all sorts of things in the street that were a blur before! But I couldn’t get on at all with multifocal contacts (the equivalent): just felt exhausted and sick. So I can imagine what it’s like for people who don’t get on with varifocal glasses. I suppose we’re all different.

I also took to mine immediately. My only problem was one time within the first week when I had to descend fire escape type steps and forgot to put my head down.

A PP (apologies I'm on the app so can't scroll up) said about tri -varifocals. Is that a real thing? I've just started a new office job and I'm in front of screens all day.

Have you tried mono vision contact lenses?
I have one lens for distance and one for reading/close up. Sounds weird, but it works !

I mostly wear my mono vision lenses (it took me a couple of weeks to fully adapt) with variofocal specs for the evening/first thing in the morning. I love both.