Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Struggling with Varifocals - is it worth persevering?

32 replies

Automagical · 15/01/2026 13:54

I've been short sighted since childhood and after struggling to read whilst wearing my glasses I visited the opticians. I now have very minor long sight (age related:+0.25) and I got a pair of varifocals just before Christmas.

I'm still finding I'm taking off my glasses if i want to read anything. Whilst I can see that reading is easier than if i had my old glasses on, it still seems harder than no glasses at all which doesn't seem quite right.

I'm revisiting the opticians on Sunday but just wondered if anyone else has struggled at first but got over it.

OP posts:
Tintackedsea · 15/01/2026 13:56

I’m a bit like that in low light. My varifocals are great through the day but in the evening I find I take my glasses off to read.

DinoLil · 15/01/2026 14:03

I tried varifocals and gave up after a week and took them back. I'm short sighted and, like you, was taking them off to read. I felt like a nodding dog when I wore them!

I'm back to normal glasses now and am much happier, even if I still have to take them off to read!

AgentPidge · 15/01/2026 14:08

I couldn't get on with varifocals, and neither could DH. We both tried them for a few days and then took them back.

If I wear glasses, I just shove them up and down my nose for reading. If I put my contact lenses in I have to carry reading glasses around so that I can read my phone, or look at stuff in Sainsburys. But I prefer that to the varifocals.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
MousePolice · 15/01/2026 14:11

I absolutely love my varifocals but I can no longer read without glasses so it was either varifocals or two pairs of glasses!

7238SM · 15/01/2026 14:15

I'm very similar OP. Short sighted since my 20's (late 40's now) and for the past year have taken my glasses off to read packets etc.

Got my first varifocals before Christmas. At first, I was still taking them off to read. I found that the clear spot was a bit farther away than if I had no glasses on. This is what took me the most time to get used to- holding packets further away than before. I've had them about 1mth now and find it much better. I drove the day I got them and have had no other issues. MIL on the other hand never got on and reverted to getting 2 different glasses. I'd try to persevere to prevent having to the do that personally.

Netcurtainnelly · 15/01/2026 14:16

Automagical · 15/01/2026 13:54

I've been short sighted since childhood and after struggling to read whilst wearing my glasses I visited the opticians. I now have very minor long sight (age related:+0.25) and I got a pair of varifocals just before Christmas.

I'm still finding I'm taking off my glasses if i want to read anything. Whilst I can see that reading is easier than if i had my old glasses on, it still seems harder than no glasses at all which doesn't seem quite right.

I'm revisiting the opticians on Sunday but just wondered if anyone else has struggled at first but got over it.

I have separate glasses for reading and distance.
I find it better. Downside I am always losing them etc. Lol.

Agoddessonamountaintop · 15/01/2026 14:16

I’ve been using them for a few years because I got sick of the ‘on and off’ thing. Also I’m an artist so if working from life I either couldn’t see the subject (at a distance) or the work (close up). I’d tried them in the past but didn’t get on with them but it reached the stage where I felt I couldn’t carry on without them.
I now just keep going back if something isn’t right; the last pair I had they re-tested me three times and re-glazed several times as well. Actually they never did get it quite right, I now realise. I’m currently undergoing the same process with another optician (re-testing about to happen), but I won’t settle if it’s not perfect; these things cost a lot of money. I also now won’t be fobbed off with ‘trying them out’ for a couple of weeks - I know straight away if I can’t see properly, thanks.

orangelion66 · 15/01/2026 14:39

I tried them twice, for about a month each time. Hated them, never got them to work properly, hated moving my head and having issues with stairs. Had the most expensive option, had them adjusted etc. My reading distance and distance vision were about 2 points apart, maybe it was too far, plus some astigmatism.

I had lens implants in the end to do away with glasses altogether.

Original poster
Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:41

I actually have no problem reading when wearing my contacts but I think I don't think the correction is exactly the same as my glasses.

The optician suggested trying varifocals as apparently the adjustment is easier when you don't need so much magnification.

Although I'm starting to doubt whether mine are set up quite correctly. If i look through the bottom of the glasses i can read slightly better but i think it's actually because they're less powerful not actually enhancing. If i look through the bottom of my glasses at my computer screen I can still see it, when surely if i was looking through a + prescription i wouldn't be able to (I can't see my computer screen clearly without normal glasses)

OP posts:
boulevardofbrokendreamss · 15/01/2026 14:44

no I hate them. I now wear one contact -3.5 and my actual close sight is fine. The right vision takes over when relevant. Apparently the red arrows do it if they need to 😄

Original poster
Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:47

I found that the clear spot was a bit farther away than if I had no glasses on. This is what took me the most time to get used to- holding packets further away than before.

I do wonder if this might be the issue. The whole holding things away from you to read has always been a complete mystery to me, as arms length is into my "can't see as too far away" distance for me normally!

OP posts:
jetlag92 · 15/01/2026 14:51

Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:41

I actually have no problem reading when wearing my contacts but I think I don't think the correction is exactly the same as my glasses.

The optician suggested trying varifocals as apparently the adjustment is easier when you don't need so much magnification.

Although I'm starting to doubt whether mine are set up quite correctly. If i look through the bottom of the glasses i can read slightly better but i think it's actually because they're less powerful not actually enhancing. If i look through the bottom of my glasses at my computer screen I can still see it, when surely if i was looking through a + prescription i wouldn't be able to (I can't see my computer screen clearly without normal glasses)

So yes, that's how they work. If you're short-sighted, you'll always be able to take your glasses off to read and all a varifocal does if have a less myopic prescription at the lower end of the lens.

For example if your prescription is
R -4.00 Add +1.50: At the top of the lens the power will be -4.00 and at the bottom of the lens it will be -2.50, but if you take off your glasses, you will effectively have an Add +4.00.

It is easier to get used to varifocals when you have a lower add, as they said. The main benefit of them is that you don't need to keep taking your glasses on and off.

I would absolutely keep trying, but please do go back if it doesn't improve. It took me about a month to get used to mine!

Original poster
Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:56

So yes, that's how they work. If you're short-sighted, you'll always be able to take your glasses off to read and all a varifocal does if have a less myopic prescription at the lower end of the lens.

I think this is what i've misunderstood. I thought the lower part of the lens actually had some correction in the other direction, not just less correction. I wouldn't have bothered if I'd known

OP posts:
jetlag92 · 15/01/2026 15:01

Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:56

So yes, that's how they work. If you're short-sighted, you'll always be able to take your glasses off to read and all a varifocal does if have a less myopic prescription at the lower end of the lens.

I think this is what i've misunderstood. I thought the lower part of the lens actually had some correction in the other direction, not just less correction. I wouldn't have bothered if I'd known

If it did, you'd have to hold things closer than 20cm to see them clearly!

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 15/01/2026 15:04

Definitely worth checking with your optician. I’ve had varifocals for over ten years but couldn’t get on at all with my latest pair. After a bit of too-ing and fro-ing with the optician they re-tested my eyes and discovered the prescription was wrong. Absolutely fine now.

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/01/2026 15:05

Sometimes the problem is where the line has been drawn between the different prescription strengths. I get mine from Specsavers and they always tell me to bring them back if they don't feel right. Once it took three goes but they were right in the end. If I am just reading, as opposed to looking up and down, I prefer reading glasses which I get more cheaply from Glasses Direct. I also have single vision computer glasses.

Original poster
Automagical · 15/01/2026 15:10

jetlag92 · 15/01/2026 15:01

If it did, you'd have to hold things closer than 20cm to see them clearly!

Show quote history

I'm not sure that's quite right. If I put on my husband's reading glasses which are +0.5 things are easier to read at a normal reading distance.

OP posts:
RB68 · 15/01/2026 15:16

varifocals can take a few weeks for you to adjust - am struggling through my new ones at the minute. I too am finding the reading area not the greatest, distance is OK but not good for reading letters ie number plates and signs altho still better than old ones - I wonder if they have changed the way the make them to reduce cost etc. not that we see the benefit of that. I also have a second "working pair" so still varifocals set for a big area of reading then screen distance for second screen when working on laptop - I find these fine. The others I have had a bit of an issue with peripheral stuff and feeling a bit giddy on stairs

Original poster
Automagical · 15/01/2026 15:27

I'm currently on week 3. I've not had any issues wearing them day to day, it's just I don't see any improvement over just wearing my normal glasses.

OP posts:
7238SM · 15/01/2026 18:10

Automagical · 15/01/2026 14:47

I found that the clear spot was a bit farther away than if I had no glasses on. This is what took me the most time to get used to- holding packets further away than before.

I do wonder if this might be the issue. The whole holding things away from you to read has always been a complete mystery to me, as arms length is into my "can't see as too far away" distance for me normally!

It was me that quoted that. I agree that moving things away also seemed so foreign to me. When I had my eyes checked for the varifocals, the optician asked how far my computer screen was from my head and how far books are when I read them. TBH, it wasn't a question I'd thought of before the visit so it was a complete guess.

IF they'd bothered to mention this when I made the appointment for varifocals, I would have measured it. In saying that though, I haven't had any issues reading the computer screen.

I wonder what measurements you gave them at your appointment? I wonder if that is the issue?

user1471538283 · 15/01/2026 18:16

I love mine! I was very nervous and walked very gingerly for a while. It took me two weeks to get used to them and I avoided open stairs because I just couldn't judge where the slats were. Now I don't notice them at all.

I think I was relieved because prior to having them I was misjudging doors a lot.

dcadmamagain · 15/01/2026 18:31

Sounds like they need to check your prescription.

also check what position on your nose they were set for. I wear my glasses lower down my nose and this had to be adjusted for as they assume it sits on top of your nose

SeaGlassDreamer · 15/01/2026 19:11

I can’t read with my varifocals. They said it would it take a while to get used to them but I’ve had them for over a year now. Waste of money.

BertieWoostersChaps · 15/01/2026 19:16

orangelion66 · 15/01/2026 14:39

I tried them twice, for about a month each time. Hated them, never got them to work properly, hated moving my head and having issues with stairs. Had the most expensive option, had them adjusted etc. My reading distance and distance vision were about 2 points apart, maybe it was too far, plus some astigmatism.

I had lens implants in the end to do away with glasses altogether.

What are the lens implants please?

Also, has anyone tried varifocal contact lenses?

orangelion66 · 16/01/2026 11:28

@BertieWoostersChaps I had the same op that is done for cataracts, they implant a lens in the eye. It’s expensive (about £9k) but I was at the point of 3 different pairs of glasses, none of which were really doing a great job and lots of wasted money on different prescriptions, sunglasses etc each year.