Is this a varifocals/lens problem or a frames problem?

[trainedopossum]

I got my first pair of varifocals (with the lightest, thinnest lenses offered) about two months ago. My distance vision is fine but I was struggling to see my GPS while driving and they've solved that problem.

Initially the frames weren't fitted closely enough and seemed to be wobbling but they've been readjusted three times now. The angle of the arms seems wrong so I'm always propping them up an inch above my ears to read properly, otherwise the reading field is very narrow and feels like a slightly wrong prescription. Worst of all I can't keep them in the right place on my nose and am constantly, constantly pushing them up. They only slip about 2-3mm but it's enough to slightly change the position and magnification of the lenses and it's very frustrating. I end up looking over the top of the frames. Unless I'm sitting still I feel like I'm always searching for the correct zones, which makes me feel a bit ill. The slipping has also created a sore spot on the side of my nose.

The optician has suggested if I can't get on with these frames I can try some which don't have sprung arms? He said they're committed to getting it right, but I'm not sure where to go from here. They seem great for driving but it feels crap having paid so much for them and they're not quite right for everything. What should I be asking for?

I have had the cheapest varifocals Specsavers do for years, probably eight pairs in total, I've never had any of those experiences!

I also went with the cheapest frames as it was suggested by friends I might not get on with them. I loved them immediately. This time I have gone for slightly more expensive frames and they were still great on the off (although i had to get the arm adjusted once as they rubbed my ear). I know that plastic frames with no nose pieces suit me comfort wise and stuck with those.

If the glasses keep slipping down your nose, that's a frame problem.

This.

You need to make sure the bridge of the glasses is the right width for your nose too as this will help keep them in place.

Don’t give up. The optician can give you nose pad adjustments or if pushed can change the size of the varifocal area by talking to the lens manufacturer. you need to persevere for about a month before they take action. I have had both issues before

They seem to fit firmly on my nose, they don't move sideways iyswim, they just slide down, but they are smooth plastic with no pads or whatever.
Everyone who has adjusted them has said the fit seems good.
I'll ask if there are frames that might be more suitable.

Thanks, good to know. I'll persevere.

I had the same problem with plastic frames slipping down my nose. When I went into a different branch of Specsavers, the very helpful fitter explained how to read the code on the arm of the glasses, and the bridge width was too big for me. I used the 100 day guarantee and swapped to a different pair. It still took a couple of fittings, but they fit beautifully now.

Unfortunately, the lenses aren't really working for me. I have to move my head too much when I want to look down, and it seems the slightly deeper frame is the issue (my last varicocals were fine). Mine are OK for general use, but no good for running off road (which I do a lot) as the definition in the group isn't good enough, and I don't like driving long distances in them as the field of vision doesn't feel that good. I'm going to get a pair of single vision glasses for those things.

Ooh good news that you got there in the end, I'll ask about the bridge.

They all seemed more concerned about avoiding a tight fit so I had to talk them into tightening them up. But they still slip down!

Just go back,glasses often need adjusting especially varifocals. Are you moving your head to read? It takes a while to get used to moving your head to the correct position.

You can buy glasses grips on Amazon to go in the arms of the glasses to stop them falling,they work a treat.

I've had them almost three months and they've been adjusted three times in addition to the appointment when I collected them. I'm definitely used to using the lenses.
The different zones work well when I push them up but when they slip down everything is in slightly the wrong place.

Do you mean the donut shaped ones that slide over the arm? I've used those with ready readers but for brand new prescription glasses it seems like the fit should be right.

It can also be a matter of how high/low the bridge of your nose is and how high the bridge of the glasses is. I have a low bridge to my nose and have to hunt out narrow bridge glasses. I've never had any useful advice from an optician about this either.

Thanks, that's interesting, I did wonder about that. The bridge of my nose isn't very prominent. And my ears are low. They said that shouldn't make any difference but the angle of the arms is a part of the problem. It's like the frames just sit too low on my face, all the weight is on my nose and I'm looking through the wrong part of the lenses.
I have an appointment to discuss it, fingers crossed.
Thanks again.

Great news, I hope they get to the bottom of it quickly.
Bring your prescription and old glasses with you. At your appointment explain how many hours a day you have persevered, how much you can read with these new glasses compared to your previous ones. Detail any headaches, how tired your eyes are and how you find driving etc. I was given an appointment with an optician . She just asked me how I was getting on and I told her I had to switch back to my old glasses after about an hour as my eyes were strained and felt pulled. . She gave me a very quick eye test with new glasses on versus previous ones and said she would absolutely do all in her power to improve things. Mine was with a high end chain with outlets across the UK, and in fairness I had purchased their two year accidental scratches insurance policy.

How high is your prescription?

They should take measurements of your pupils whilst you're wearing the glasses (before they fit the lenses), so that the lens is built (if that's the right word) taking into account where your eye looks through it once it's sitting in place on your face. So the relative position of your nose/ears etc shouldn't be an issue if they've done all their measurements correctly.

Thanks. These are my first varifocals so nothing to compare.

I don't have the details of my prescription but it's not strong. I've never needed distance glasses before and my distance vision is fine, just wanted a tweak. At the theatre or a gig the people's faces onstage aren't clear but driving was fine, can read signs and bus numbers etc.

I was buying 1.5 ready readers so reading prescription also not strong.

I solved the slipping down my nose problem by inserting something into the hinge, so that the arms didn’t open quite so wide. I experimented with tiny bits of paper as proof of concept, and then upgraded to a tiny piece of plastic glued into place. It’s been a game changer. The optician kept adjusting the frames but they never stayed in the new position. My DIY hinge adjustment has been working for months.