I’ve hit that age and need my first varifocals

[EatenTooMuchChocolateAgain]

Just got back from Boots opticians and I’m feeling rather old as they’ve said I need varifocals! The salesman bamboozled me with all the different types of lenses and was heavily pushing me to go for the most expensive Varilux Physio lenses that have the widest range of vision at £299 😳!! There were others that were cheaper that seemed to have more blur at the sides and he kept telling me they weren’t very good.

I didn’t have time to look at frames today so I need to go back another day to order them.

Id be interested to hear others experiences with these lenses? Is the expensive one really worth the money? Are the cheaper ones ok?

I could afford the expensive ones, but begrudge paying for them if the cheaper ones will do the job.

Another thing I was contemplating was taking my prescription elsewhere, maybe an online company?

I'd be interested in people's comments also. Particularly as I was told by Specsavers that I couldn't have varifocals yet as my general vision only needs a slight adjustment - have some general ones for driving with night vision lenses, and my main glasses are reading and screen.

But I wear them so much and feel like I'm constantly swapping. The general glasses make me feel like I'm seeing in HD which I prefer, even if it isn't a legal requirement, and I need the reading/screen ones most of the time for anything from reading labels in the supermarket to work to using my phone, which is really blurry without now. I would love one type of glasses I could just wear all the time instead of swapping around.

I’m on my second pair and still can’t say I really like them but on the balance of annoyance they are less annoying than constantly swapping glasses. The issues I have with varifocals are:
-They are expensive. I’ve gone with Asda this time as much cheaper than other opticians and got to try on loads of frames which I couldn’t do with the online ones.

• even if you pay the extra for the super duper extra good lenses it’s still weird that you have to look through specific parts of the lens for different reasons so you look down for reading and up/straight for distance
• i just don’t ever feel like the vision is quite as crisp as with single vision lenses, even though I’ve had it triple checked.

I'm not sure how much help I can be because, although I've worn varifocals for years, I've only ever had the expensive lenses and am not able to give a direct comparison.
That said, I get on great with the lenses and the one pair of glasses meets all my needs. By comparison, two family members who have gone for cheaper lenses, both need separate reading glasses for prolonged reading sessions.
Not sure how much help that is since it's not an extensive test sample and might just be personal preference.

I had an eye specialist for a recent cons who told me vario are a waste of money and can result in more deterioration. I have a pair for pc/computer and a pair in car for driving. Other than that my sight is gradually improving, oddly!

I've always had a good experience with Specsavers. They are a franchise so service may differ from branch to branch but they're not at all pushy.

What's your prescription?

Presumably you are currently a full time glasses wearer?

I wear contact lenses full time (about -4 with astigmatism). I'm on the cusp of needing reading glasses at 48 but wasn't pressured into anything and was given various options including wearing a different contact lens in each eye. I know glasses can be really expensive for complicated prescriptions (is yours complicated) so worth shopping around.

For those of you who wear contact lenses, before you go down the expensive varifocals route, have you tried monovision ? My optician recommended I try wearing just one contact lens (they would need to tell you which one). If successful, one eye will deal with near sight and the other is 'tricked' into dealing with longer sight and for me it works a treat. Just a thought.

I'm on my second lot

what I've learned first time round is that you need to consider what you do most.
for me it's working on the computer and reading mn on the phone

so now I have one 3 split (distance, computer, reading) that I use most. and one computer/reading.

I get my varifocals from Asda opticians - they’re the same price as single vision lenses and I’ve had no problems with them. I had the second most expensive lens option (I think) from Specsavers previously and I’ve found the Asda ones just as good for well under half the price.

I've a complex prescription so I always go for the best lenses I can afford. I finally accepted I needed varifocals, but I need two different pairs. One are for distance and close up, the other are for my computer screen and close up. It's a pain having to swap, but it's really only for work. I didn't have any problems getting used to them. They really are bloody expensive, though.

I wouldn't go anywhere near on online supplier for varifocals. They often need more adjusting than single vision specs and I know several people who have ended up needing them to be remade. This is a lot easier to deal with in person.

I got my first pair earlier in the year or end of last year, I can't remember exactly! I all set to just buy a cheaper pair of reading glasses as I'd had my frames and lenses about a year and begrudged paying a small fortune for new ones! My OH convinced me that varifocals were the way forward and I'd get pissed off keep having to change glasses. I bought the second most expensive lenses option from Specsavers and got used to them pretty quickly. I still keep my distance only glasses for long distance driving as I find them better and I have a cheap pair of reading glasses that live by my bed.

I was recommended varifocals by Specsavers, but I didn't want them. I actually have 4 different pairs of glasses, reading, intermediary (for the computer which stay at work) and distance. I then have a separate pair of sunglasses.

My x husband had varifocals and he really struggled to get on with them, and I couldn't be bothered!!

I'm another who's had varifocals pretty much the whole time I've had glasses (about 10 years - it all started going downhill when I turned 40!). I do whatever my optician tells me TBH, as they've always provided excellent service.

I currently have 2 pairs of varifocals - 1 pair for close reading which has largely clear glass in the top half so I can see the TV - I can actually drive in these if I need to. I wear them almost constantly on the weekend, even though I only need correction for reading. I also have a pair for work which have close reading and mid-range reading (for comitor use), but I have to take them off if I want to look any further beyond a screen or my vision is too blurred.

I think they're amazing, you'd never know they're varifocals, you can't see the change in lens.

To add, I was able to use both pairs instantly without any disorientation/discomfort, but I know that's not the case with all - I don't know if I'm just lucky, or my Optometrist is very talented!

I will pass on something my independent optician told me to delay getting varifocals - try pushing your usual glasses down your nose a little bit when you need to read. That worked for me for about a year before my nose got too short and I had to bite the bullet. I get the second most expensive lenses to give me a good all round vision and transitions between zones. If you are going to be wearing them all the time, get the best you can afford.

If you don't get on with them in a week or so, or they seem "wrong", go back and get them checked and exchanged if necessary.

I just got varifocals a few months ago. Same time I reached 46. However I have an unusual prescription as I'm short-sighted in one eye, long-sighted in the other and have astigmatism in both. I was finding it much harder to read and also to judge things like the depth/edge of stairs. I've also got corneal scarring. (Optometrists love me cos I've got loads going on)
I adapted straight away. I didn't want to carry two or more pairs of specs so varifocals was my clear option.
They had been suggested a year before and I declined then but I really did need something else.

I go to Asda because I've always needed lens thinning due to my weird prescription and they don't charge extra. I paid £80 for a pair. I get yearly eye tests due to family history of glaucoma so if I'm not happy I'm back in a year if not before to have it adjusted

I switched to varifocals a few years ago after being fed up with glasses on, other glasses off etc. I had an eye test at our local independent optician and was prescribed varifocals - I decided on the mid price range lenses. Frames were extra, but I wanted metal, roundish frames that were £20 at that time. So I paid £200 pounds for lenses and £20 for the frames. I’m really, really please with the convenience of one pair of glasses now - and love the look too.

I got varifocals last year, quite shortsighted with astigmatism too. Got the best ones I could afford and can’t believe I waited so long. No dizziness, no depth of field issues going down stairs. You do need to be measured in person though, I wouldn’t get them online and from talking with others the more expensive lenses are worth every penny if you have a higher prescription.

I have worn varifocals for several years now and go to Specsavers. I go for their mid-range lenses which are fine for what I need to do. Working on a computer and reading mostly! I am long-sighted.
I suspect the Boots assistant receives commission. So I would advise trying elsewhere if you are unsure.

I tried varifocals I nearly puked specsavers do a guarantee that if they dont suit you can switch to single vision so I switched and got a refund

I got some recently and really like them. If I remember rightly there are 4 options, and I got one of the middle ones, not the cheapest nor the most expensive. The bit at the sides is no big deal. They are a great improvement on my previous reading glasses, and help with subtitles on the telly (for which I hadn't realised I could do with glasses) and signs in public places like museums, when the signs are just a bit far away for reading glasses.

I don't wear them full time as I don't need them for distance, but I find if I'm wearing them as I walk around my sight is clearer than it was with the reading glasses.

the first couple of weeks with the first pair I felt slightly sea-sick.
second time round no issues

I go to ASDA on my 3rd pair of varifocals plus 3rd pair of vari sunglasses. It’s a bit of a trek but for £80 a pair or 2 for £120 and a better selection of petite frames it’s worth it.

I would arrange your collection during their core hours though when the most experienced fitters are in as varifocals are less forgiving for minor adjustments/the lenses being in the perfect position.

I get my prescription for free via work and just take it to ASDA and rock up to choose the frames.

I tried varifocals and gave up - they are never quite right, however much I move my head. I much prefer an array of single vision driving, reading, screen glasses scattered around. I also have a fantastic pair of old-fashioned bifocal glasses for when I want to do sewing while I’m watching the telly, but I wouldn’t want to be seen in public in those!

I am very short sighted - minus 10 both eyes with severe astigmatism and I have ended up getting refunds from both Specsavers and Asda as I found their varifocals horrendous. I felt like the field of vision was awful and I just couldn’t get on with them. I ended up going to an independent opticians and paid £750 for my lenses and they are amazing. No issues with getting used to them, can see perfectly all angles etc. I think perhaps the more complex your prescription is the more it pays to spend more.