Should I ditch the varifocals?

[stbrandonsboat]

I'm on my second pair of varifocals. Can't say I'm impressed with them, but never used to do much reading or close work, so kind of got away with them.

I'm -7 and have astigmatism. The trouble is, I'm now doing some studying, cross stitch and music and I can't see 😭 I hate these lenses. I can only see distance. Should I just get distance glasses and a pair for reading and close work?

Anybody have a similar experience? I have an eye test booked for this Wednesday.

I think it depends what quality varifocal you have, especially with a prescription like yours. I have more expensive ones and the vision was perfect from the moment I put them on, I never had to get used to them. My husband ordered cheaper ones and is struggling with them...

Is a cheap reading pair for craft/study, but varifocals for main pair an option? I’m just thinking how would you find shopping in the supermarket in your distance but then having to swap glasses to be able to read a package/ check cooking instructions.

Cheaper varifocal lenses have the smallest reading area, as pp says, that can cause people to struggle.

I got tamed into 'baby varifocals' by the optician last time I went. They have 2 focus points Instead of three, I believe. Complete waste of money. Distance vision is slightly better but really not worth it for the price difference. I won't get them again.

I had varifocals 8 or 10 years ago and couldn't get on with them at all.

I've been struggling recently with continually swapping from reading to distance glasses so was persuaded to give varifocals another go, and the pair I've just picked up are a different level altogether, so it sounds as if other pps might be right in that it is about making sure you get the right pair ?

I'm not an optician, just a wearer, but honestly, these are SOOOOOOO much better than having different pairs for different things.

@Grimbelina , we had the same situation. I loved my varifocals from day one ( apart from descending slightly treacherous terrazzo steps at the supermarket). DH has complained about struggling with all
Aspects of everyday life; computer, tv, reading etc. He has changed opticians and is now delighted with better and more expensive lenses.

I have a remarkably similar level of prescription to you complete with astigmatism.I've worn varifocals for over a decade with no problems at all. I always go for the ultrathin lenses.

How long have you had this pair? Could you need new ones? Perhaps you need a strong lens in the reading section.

You can also get a varifocal which is designed more towards reading and close work etc. e.g. Hoya Lifestyle 3 Indoor. They also do Urban (which I have and are great) a bit of an allrounder and Outdoor which is for lots of outdoor distance work and less reading.

Anyone tried distance in one lens and close in the other?

When I had some I had no perephial vision . I was told to point my nose at what I wanted to look at . £300 down the drain. I felt I was conned .

I think its time for me to get varifocals, any advice/recommendations for the best ones you’re all talking about, what would I be looking at cost wise, would Specsavers do a decent varifocal?

This is where I went and would highly recommend (second post in a week!)

https://www.reglaze4u.com/product-category/varifocal/hoya-id-lifestyle3/

Two things - when you hold books down and look down does that improve your reading ? If you lift them up a bit is it clearer ?
it may be your reading add has gone up the more expensive lenses have a wider reading area.

some people have a seperate pair of reading glasses as a varifocal doesn’t give the whole lense reading just a section at the bottom .

MynameMyname I think that is the difference between cheap and expensive ones. I don't have any peripheral blurring at all, no issues with stairs etc. even on first wearing. The only difference to my single vision lenses that I experience is that I have to look very slightly down for very close work, but the blending between distance, intermediate and close is seamless.

My varifocals are from Specsavers- I get on great with them and did from day 1. They are not for everyone- my mum and sister just could not get used to theirs and spend their time swapping pairs of glasses from readers to distance. DH has done the same and it's a nuisance for him.
I paid a bit more for the best version they did - I've got 2 pairs of excellent glasses for £300 in total which I think is good value for money. Took me about a day to 'get used' to them and now I wear them constantly- I work on a laptop all day and I don't have to pick it up and peer at the screen. My migraines have more or less stopped as well.

Can you read without glasses?

Ditch, hated them. Get two pairs

I know you can in contact lenses. I'm short sighted in one eye & long sighted in the other, when I'm at home I don't wear my glasses, just use one eye for distance & the other for reading. Since I stopped wearing my glasses as much, my eyesight has actually improved, my worst eye was -7.5 & is now -5.0

I'm a similar prescription and have just got some. They're great for distance and reading, although I struggle a bit more with mid-distance sometimes. They were, however, exorbitantly expensive.

I also wear contacts and have reading glasses which works well for me - is that an option?

I can't read the labels as it is. I have to peer over the tops of my glasses and hold the item really close.

I think the prescription in the reading part of your varifocal must be too weak given what you have to do to read labels.

Try and stick with them. It took me months and months to get used to them properly but now I don't think I could do without them.

I love mine and had them for about 10 years.+ The first week I had them I had problems going upstairs and moving eye sight to level out but now could not go back to anything else. I am having a cataract op in the next few weeks so having problems with my sight now but can't wait to get back to some great eyesight.
I don't drive now so never had probs with that but was told not to use them when driving.

I can't afford an expensive pair. I paid enough for these as it was. I've had them for 18 months. It doesn't feel as though there's even a reading section in these lenses tbh. They're absolutely lousy.

Get yourself a good magnifying glass on a stick. 😋 I have to have one to read the instructions on anything like pasta packets as these days they put the instructions on things in the smallest print ever no matter what.