New varifocals

[pinksunsets]

I've finally bitten the bullet and got myself some varifocals. Never worn them before. The adjustment period has been surprisingly OK. A mild headache on the first day and that's it! But I don't really notice that much difference in the different parts of the lenses. If I angle my head over something then I can read slightly clearer at the bottom part but the middle and the top part are pretty much the same - are they not supposed to be divided into intermediate and distance visions? I almost feel like I'm just wearing normal single vision lenses. Is this normal not to notice much difference between the different parts of the lens?

I think you are supposed to just feel like you are wearing normal plain lenses, it shouldnt be obvious that you are changing strengths as you move your eyes around

Ah, thanks. I was expecting the difference to feel more pronounced!

I was the same when I got mine - very pleasantly surprised.

I had the same until I worked a full day at work and read for a lengthly amount of time. I couldn't manage looking at my laptop/PC screen unless I raised my head the whole time to look through the bottom part.

I also couldn't read, kindle or paperback.

I went back and forth to my optician, spoke to DH who has verifocals for years and it became clear that the issue is the size of my frame. They are not big enough to have a larger "reading" part. According to the very experience optician, he has several customers who use multiple screens for work and have issues with verifocals. Also my prescription is fairly bad, that adds to the whole issue.

So now I have reading glasses for working and reading/general laptop or ipad useage and my verifocals for everything else. So much more comfortable but expensive.

@reluctantbrit I'm surprised your optician didn't recommend occupational lenses, which cover reading and screen-distance, ideal for working at a desk, you can even have a slither of distant vision at the top if you want.

@pinksunsets I found the same, the transition between the lens 'zones' is remarkably unobtrusive and feels quite natural almost all the time.

Hi OP I could have written your exact post!

same subject as above except I’m having a terrible time with my new varifocals!

eye test showed that my near add had deteriorated and recommended occupational lenses. Couldn’t find a frame I want so went to a different optician where I found one I liked and they recommended varifocals instead.

nb I have a very small distance prescription where I barely need glasses but need them for driving at night, a mid distance prescription for work as I am at a laptop & monitor all day and now the stronger reading prescription.

I got them on Monday and absolutely hate them. I feel like my overall vision is much worse. My eyes are slowly getting used to how to transition on the screen but I now can’t see across a room, can’t see who has walked past and I feel like I’ve lost all my peripheral vision.

is it too soon to go back and tell them I hate the varifocals? I feel like even if my eyes get used to the lenses for screen and reading, I can’t imagine getting used to walking around half blind and blurry. I’m just not seeing any benefit just now.

incidentally they recommended varifocals as being better and said that they hardly do any occupational lenses. Another optician said the same - that very few people choose them.

I can definitely do without the distance prescription so would occupational be better for me?

@PeriwinkleForever i realise that this post is from last year but I was wondering how you got on with your varifocals? I’ve just got my first pair this week and your post sounds exactly as I am feeling. Feel like I’m in a goldfish bowl kind of thing and can definitely tell the change when I’m looking in the distance. Did you manage to get used to yours?

You may be thinking of the old bifocals, which had a horizontal line across each lens for the different sight requirements.

After many years of wearing varifocals I've now gone for two different lenses for general anything goes but second "business lenses" for extensive reading and working at my computer/smartphone, which are more comfortable for small print or other tasks which need more focus. The only pain is swapping them, but I guess one can't have everything. 🌹

It means they've measured your pupil distance correctly and they're fitted correctly.

I ended up returning them as I just couldn’t cope. The second optician agreed I shouldn’t have been recommended them.

instead I got occupational lenses from Iolla which are fab and while they’re still a bit of an adjustment, I understand how to use them and feel the benefit.

hope you manage to make yours work for you!

Thanks for the reply. Im
glad you found some that work better, I think I’ll persevere for the next few days and take them bag if nothing changes.