Do varifocals not work with computer distance?

[Cattymonster]

I could do with urgent advice here if possible please.

TL:DR is - should I be able to use varifocals with computer work, or are they only for distance and reading a book/something on my knee? Have been offered refund.

I've just bought varifocals. So as not to drip feed, Boots tested my eyes and made me 2 pairs of specs: one for combined reading and computer (my prescription has measurements for both), the for other distance. Both are fine. These are my first distance lenses. I've worn reading glasses for years.

I soon decided I'd rather have varifocals as having to swap them over while watching TV and using iPad in evening was driving me mad.

It sounded from what Boots said as though it wasn't worth buying anything except the top end ones, which were very expensive, so I decided I couldn't afford them. Then on here I read about a place that does them online and claims to provide top-end lenses much less expensively. I decided to take a chance.

I've now had them a week and I can't use them. I can't use them with the computer - the words are fuzzy. If I use my Boots reading/computer specs the words are clear. Even extending my neck right back to use the bottom of the varifocal lenses doesn't really find a part of the lens that works properly with computer. They also don't work well with the iPad in the evening.

The problem as far as I can tell, is that almost all,of the lens (seems to me like 80-90%) is set to distance, and only a super-narrow part for reading at the bottom. There doesn't seem to be a gradual fade from one to the other, from top to bottom of lens.

I rang this week and (very long story short) was told this is how varifocals are meant to be, and that I should not expect to be able to use them with computer. I was told a few lucky people manage to find a spot on the kens that works with PC, but that that is just good luck. To me that sounds like bifocals - surely the whole point of varifocals is a graduated lens to cover the three important part in my spectrum of vision? Apparently not, though.

Another long story short is the discussion we had about way forward. They will refund me, which is a relief. However, I would still like varifocals I can use. I've spoke to colleagues at work and they use their varifocals with the computer. I therefore suggested driving over to their base so they could look at them and me. We've agreed this, and they've suggested remaking to replace the reading part with my computer reading prescription instead of my plain reading prescription. So still not a 'graduated' lens in the sense that I understand the word, and more like a bifocal, but hopefully something that will work.

Does this sound right? I don't want to waste time, and if this isn't right I'd rather just take the refund and rethink.

Please help if you can!

I use my varifocals for computer work (and everything else too). I think you need to get them fitted properly in person, not online.

I have read every single message in this thread but not one person has said what type of varifocals they use. I have gone from a long life of 52 years of not needing glasses at all to a very short sighted right eye which on its own is illegal to drive and although I can read the computer my phone ipad and books, something I spend a lot of time doing I find it really tiring so decided I needed varifocals. Went to Specsavers last April and it took 6 visits totalling 18 hours to end up with a pair of long distance glasses and reading glasses because they got my prescription wrong, then the measurements wrong, tried the Variflux x series top of the range lenses but couldn’t read anything at all in them so they were useless and then they tried the super digital lenses and they were hopeless too, I felt so overwhelmed flustered and really stressed by the whole experience I let then talk me into the 2 types of glasses but it is just absolutely hopeless. I have to wear my glasses to drive and walk around shops and watch tv cinema or see people in meetings and presentations, without them its a blur. The variflux x we’re absolutely brilliant at long and middle distance no distortion no swaying no getting used to total clarity but couldn’t read a single thing without sticking my noise up in the air and straining my eye down, it was absolutely pointless as a varifocal, because the super digital were the same couldn’t read they just decided I wasn’t suited to varifocals. Now I am in the situation where I can’t see the dashboard or the sat nav in my long distance glasses while driving, I can’t see my watch tv remote phone or any person near me in them and I am really angry they fobbed me off with glasses that don’t work for me. I know I need varifocals for basic every day use, fed up of not being able to see anyone when they come into a room at home because I never wear the long distance, at work meetings its a nightmare I need them to see people across large tables and rooms and presentations and then I need to look down and make notes, Specsavers not staying committed to a workable solution has really screwed me over. I have tried for 8 months and it’s affecting my day to day functioning its really overwhelming me and causing me distress because I really can’t see much in any clarity beyond 3 feet. Specsavers said I had tried the best their is so nothing else would work. I have spent 5 hours googling tonight to try to find out which varifocal lenses give the most area to reading/close up visuals and not a tiny slot at the very bottom which means sticking your head in the air , I mean who can read and write notes even for couple of minutes like that? So I want to go back with some information to help me. What varifocal lenses are you people using who are very happy with them, especially if you paid for premium ones, I don’t care how much they cost I need to be able to drive work shop and see close up. They told me my variflux x range were top of range but they were under £400 where as people here have been saying they paid £600 so am interested on what those lenses were. Please share your lens make and grade if you are happy with them. Anyone tried Zeiss they are apparently the best near competitor to Variflux so I wonder if they have better reading section?

I've worn varifocals for about 20 years and never had a problem. I wear them all the time and don't need to swap glasses for computer work. Mine are okay for everything, reading, computer, driving, distance. Mine are also from Boots.

I would go back and ask them adjust yours as it sounds as though they have the prescription wrong.

@msdiscerning That sounds like a nightmare. I hope you can get it fixed.

Up the thread a bit @Radyward explained that she's an optician and she recommended Hoya lenses. Have a look for her posts from 19th Jan (more than one post).

FWIW I decided to order bifocals in the end. I went back to Boots. I asked for the type where the lens is divided 50/50 into distance and intermediate, because with the intermediate lenses they've already made me I can read both computer and books. I'm hoping this will work for me!

I no longer doubt (thanks to great info above) that it's possible to get varifocals that work, but for me it's not worth the cost. Perhaps in a few years as my eyes get even older it will be.

I've worn varifocals for at least 10 years, my prescription is about -5.5/+2.0. Specsavers were disappointing even the "Tailor made". Asda were really disappointing. I got on better with Essilor Varilux Comfort and now wear Zeiss Precision Plus (I think), they scanned my face to fit them anyway. The last are basically like bionic eyes. I use them for everything except very close needlework where I don't need glasses at all. The intermediate part is fine for PC screen all day as long as the screen isn't too high. No head tilting or peering. You get what you pay for and with a good independent optician you are paying for their advice and expertise as well as the lenses.

I can't make all 3 types of vision work with varifocal glasses. But it does work with multifocal contact lenses bizarrely enough, although I had to play around with different strengths for distance and nearsight prescriptions. It took about 4 different goes to find the multifocal lenses that worked (thanks to Specsavers!).

For glasses, I just have distance ones and have to take them off to read my phone. I cannot use them for computer work at all. Without lenses I cannot work on my computer at all.

I have varifocals that work for computer but I paid an absolute fortune for them, and because there's a significant area for each focus I move my neck a lot which gets tiring if I'm constantly moving from one to another. And absolutely useless at the cinema: I just don't go any more.

I'm fine with mine, but I don't use a computer often.

I also have a cataract which means I have difficulty seeing anything in the distance clearly.

Just got Asda varifocals and they really aren't great. Walked out of the shop with them on and looking at lettering in front of me (street signs etc) were quite blurred unless I drop my head a bit and look through the top part of the lens but that's not how I walk. They're OK going from laptop to my other computer screen at work but not for out and about. I wonder if I'll get used to this or if the centre of the lens is in the wrong place or something?

I just want to be able to see properly 😥

I've tried and failed to get usable varifocals for many years now. I work as a software developer, and it's been really problematic. I've been working from home the last 3 years as I help out with my father's health issues. A few things that work for me:

• While working at a laptop, or reading papers, or using a phone I don't have to use glasses
• I typically work with two large displays and for that I have a pair of middle distance ... see here: https://www.zeiss.co.uk/vision-care/eye-health-and-care/work-life/computer-glasses--just-the-thing-for-the-workplace.html
• I have another set of glasses always in the car for driving, or doing some outdoors work on the farm

I had this exact problem. They've gone back yo be redone by the manufacturer but I don't have high hopes. I'll be going back to single vision if this doesn't resolve it and just have to take my specs off to see close up

Thanks. I thought buying the top of the range most expensive lenses Specsavers offer in the Varifkux X serries with all the extras it would be fine. But they don’t have a machine which scans pupil placement its all measured by hand and they got that wrong twice. So I might try Boots because I hear they do have a machine. I just don’t see why Specsavers are so rubbish at this they’re trained opthalmic and dispensing opticians doing the job but to be honest I always find it very hectic in there which doesn’t help. I am not sure how to find a decent independent source one without spending hours on the phone calling to ask if they have this machine that scans eyes and I have no idea if they are a good service, need a recommendation really. Put a request on facebook for someone to recommend one hope someone replies. Am still really interested if anyone has found the reading portion of varifocals in a lens other than Essilor Varillux X series which I had a specsavers insisted were the absolute top of the range best you can buy, are actually better because the whole thing suited me fine except I couldn’t read anything at all through a tiny slit at the bottom

This has been a really useful thread and I'm going to go back to Specsavers I think. I'm on my second pair of varifocals. I'm fine for driving and TV. Ok ish reading my phone. Awful for lecturing when I'm trying to see people at the back of the room (glasses on) and computer screen mid distance (glasses off).

I've only needed my glasses for the last few months of lecturing... I just managed without for a long time and only needed them for TV and cinema.

@Londonnight can you share which brand of lens you have please? I want to ask the opticians to try something different from the EssilorVarilux X series ones I tried for 2 weeks. Also as sn experienced user how do you read? Do you have to keep your head up and look down through your glasses? I know one of my big issues was I found this weird and unnatural and kept saying to the optician this just isn’t how people read and write we naturally bend our heads down to look at what we are reading but they insisted this is just how it is you have to learn to keep your head up and look down through the bottom section of your glasses, but I felt quite a lot of uncomfortable positional eye strain doing this and the area was so small. They did adjust it to bring the reading area up a bit but it still didn’t work. Eventually I used bluetack to position my glasses higher on the bridge of my nose to show them exactly where they needed to be in order for me to he able to read and they said that isn’t possible and they won’t work for you. So now I don’t have my functional sight needs met at all. So am gathering information about the brand of lens others use who say they can read fine, and any advice you have about how to read with what you do with your head and eyes is helpful too thanks .

Thank you I missed the mention of Hoya lenses will mention this to opticians

I suspect many of us with verifocals have no idea what type of lenses we have. If they work for us, they work.

Ah interesting my dispenser made a point of discussing the difference types as part of the fact that they are vastly different costs they need to make you aware of

Do you have a good, deep frame, @msdiscerning ?@msdiscerning ? Admittedly my prescription is mostly astigmatism so I don't need to worry about weight on the lens but I have these for my varifocals for good all over vision plus a pair of just reading glasses when I need to focus on something close up above chin height. I hate wearing those, though, because I can't look up and see around me in them so feel rather caged in.

DH is very short sighted and when he moved to varifocals moved away from his favoured little round glasses to something more suitable for varifocal lenses and also bought a pair just for cpu use, as that's his job.

The Optician told me not to walk about in my occupational lenses (which I think are pretty much the same thing).

@fedupposter24 Oh sorry, my OH has just informed me that his varifocals are distance and reading whereas my occupational lenses are two strengths of reading. Shows what I know!

@Hoglet70 no worries but thank you for sharing anyway! Mine are distance and reading. Having worn them for the rest of the day I don't think they have measured them right. Not sure whether to take them back or keep them for a spare pair at work.

Mine took a few weeks to get used to and I was going to give up and go back to swapping glasses so maybe you just need more time?

@msdiscerning I’d recommend looking for reviews on independents in the area (if you’re Manchester/Cheshire I can recommend one). Ime once I switched to varifocals it’s only the independents who have given me a decent prescription

my optician spent a long time assessing what I needed to use the glasses for and when, even to the level of checking how far away from the screen I sit.

They also do an even more expensive lens where you can individually select every component of the lens/size etc.

one point I hadn’t really thought about is that my glasses are now a lot bigger than the ones I used to wear. I prefer them and picked for fashion reasons but suspect that helps to get good vision