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Original poster

I hate my varifocals

79 replies

SeasonsBleatings · 17/07/2023 11:50

Got them a week ago after wearing glasses for computer work/reading for the last few years. My optician said one eye is struggling slightly with distances and varifocals will help when I'm out and about or watching TV etc. I hate them. I can't really see a difference in my distance vision when I'm out and about and they are an utter pain to read in as even though I paid for a decent size 'reading' window in them it's hard to position my reading in that window and they are useless for computer work.

Should I persevere? I am so tempted to just take them back and get a refund under the Specsaver guarantee.

OP posts:
oi0Y0io · 17/07/2023 11:54

Watching with interest as I probably need them too but I have a terrible time adjusting to any new glasses, I end up feeling sick and dizzy 🥴

QuestionableMouse · 17/07/2023 11:57

I tried them and absolutely couldn't get on with them.

Sugarflowers · 17/07/2023 11:58

I ditched mine and have gone back to two pair - a distance pair for driving and an occupational pair for my computer that live on my desk.

Would that work for you? Just use the distance pair when you are doing distance stuff. It is a pain having 2 lots of glasses though.

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General health
stbrandonsboat · 17/07/2023 12:06

Take them back and tell them they need adjusting. Also, are the frames large enough? My previous varis had medium sized frames, but I got some last week with large frames and I'm managing a lot better. I also paid extra for custom varifocal lenses. I can definitely read now, whereas the previous lenses were terrible.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 17/07/2023 12:08

Never liked mine. Horrible for driving as I need to move my whole head to read the dials rather than just my eyes. Considering contact lenses and reading glasses instead

FrivolousTreeDuck · 17/07/2023 12:09

Which option did you go for - they have 5 options in Specsavers.

AnIntrovert · 17/07/2023 12:11

I am yet to meet anyone who is happy with them. Go back to two pairs.

RuthW · 17/07/2023 12:13

It's early days yet. Took me about six months.

Canthave2manycats · 17/07/2023 12:14

I've finally got to grips with mine. Only took the 10 years... 🙄

Autumnsoon · 17/07/2023 12:14

I couldn’t get on with them either .it effected me walking ,I couldn’t see where the ground was to put my foot down .I got my money back to

SauvignonGrower · 17/07/2023 12:15

I absolutely love my varifocals! But I do have large frames so there is plenty of area where the reading part is. Maybe it just depends how extreme the difference in your prescription between the two parts is? I'm sorry you haven't had a good experience - I'd go back if you've given them a decent try.

TeenDivided · 17/07/2023 12:15

I struggled with mine initially, went back to specsavers and they adjusted the angle or something and then they were fine.

Autumnsoon · 17/07/2023 12:16

VoluptuaGoodshag · 17/07/2023 12:08

Never liked mine. Horrible for driving as I need to move my whole head to read the dials rather than just my eyes. Considering contact lenses and reading glasses instead

I am thinking this as well ..the difficulty is I swim every day ,so that makes it difficult

Badbadbunny · 17/07/2023 12:17

I tried for a couple of weeks, but they were hopeless. I took them back to Specsavers for a refund, no problems at all, just refunded my credit card - I'd expected the "hard sell" to upgrade, but they were fine with refunding. I can only think it's very common for people to take them back!

Mine were also because of reading/computing. I thought they were OK out and about, for driving, shopping, etc., but trying to read a book or computer was a nightmare - constantly having to move my head from side to side to read a line instead of keeping my head fixed and letting the eyes move, due to the restricted vision field, and also having to hold my head higher to read through the bottom of the lenses gave me neck ache.

Every eye test since, they've tried to persuade me to have varifocals, but as soon as I mention computer screens, they just smile and nod, and change the subject, so it must be a very common problem.

daverday · 17/07/2023 12:37

AnIntrovert · 17/07/2023 12:11

I am yet to meet anyone who is happy with them. Go back to two pairs.

I would respectfully disagree.
I am short-sighted and have been wearing glasses for about 35 years. Recently changed to varifocals as needed glasses for reading too. It took me about two - three weeks to get used to the varifocals.
Numerous friends have them too.
The replies here do seem a little bit one sided.
My advice would be give it another few weeks & return to the optician as them may need adjusted.
Good luck

EmpressSoleil · 17/07/2023 12:43

I had varifocals for a year and didn't like them. I do a lot of crafts so the reading part was kind of in the wrong place for lots of things. I've switched back to 2 pairs now and am much happier with them.

userxx · 17/07/2023 12:50

I got used to mine after a number of months, stick with them and give it more time.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 17/07/2023 12:58

I’ve had varifocals for a decade. Loved them. But for computer work/reading sheet music there is nothing like having a pair of glasses of the right prescription for reading at that distance. Varifocals are not going to cut it!
Also, as my prescription between distance and reading has become greater, they are becoming more difficult to walk around in, this is a known thing, so I may well go back to two or three different pairs next time I need new ones.

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/07/2023 13:09

I had them and hated them. They actually made me nauseous. I persisted for several weeks and it didn't improve so it's a no from me!

CaptainMyCaptain · 17/07/2023 13:12

They take time to get used to but if you go back they will check they were adjusted correctly which makes a difference. My last pair had to be remade because they were giving me vertigo- it turned out the lightweight lenses didn't work for me.

BinkoGiloba · 17/07/2023 13:17

I got the tailored varifocals from Specsavers. Took me 3 weeks to get used to them. Thought I'd made a huge mistake to start with but now wouldn't be without them.

gearboxstuck · 17/07/2023 13:18

What option lens did you opt for as Friv says there are 5 options. Dh just ordered his and chose the digital ones as that fits in with how he spends his time.

If you are having issues go back to Specsavers but I would still be interested to know which lens you chose.

Trickedbyadoughnut · 17/07/2023 13:28

DH got some two years ago from Specsavers and couldn't get on with them at all, felt sick and dizzy all the time, tried for over a month, got a refund. This time he went to an independent and admittedly had to pay a lot more, but adjusted to the new ones in two days.

MarthaJonesPhone · 17/07/2023 13:31

I've got variofocals and initially was a bit meh about them.

What I dislike about them is that my normal distance / reading glasses are far better.

What I like about them is when I'm out and about shopping / socialising they're so much better than constantly changing glasses.

Londonnight · 17/07/2023 13:32

I've worn varifocals for around 20 years and love them. Never had any issues with any that I have had.
I would go back to the optician to get yours sorted.

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