Vari focal advice

[Eyesightadvice]

My mental health is not great right now -posting here for traffic.

Wore glasses since 10 -hated them and moved to contact lenses at 16.

Been on a monthly scheme £25 a month so £300 a year which offers me normal glasses for free (cheap) ones every 2 years.

Vision has changed radically and caused major issues. I haven't been able to see properly for a year or longer.Contact lenses are wrong, need glasses to read. When I'm driving can't see the dashboard etc.

Have had sight test. No wonder they don't work -now -3.5 in both eyes and +1.75 change in a year. It's changed.

He said I could try varifocals contact lenses -no appointments on a Saturday until at least September -all on a tuesday I'm at work -so not going to happen. So glasses is the only way forward. Right now.

Pair of varifocals glasses is £150 (with 50% discount already applied to this) -these I need and have paid for. £200 for a second pair (have to pay slightly more for thinner lens and this isn't 50% off so slightly more to pay).

I can have odd contact lenses -ie one -3.5 and the other different and that might help focusing on dash board -but I worry about this.

I can get a second pair of glasses for £200.

If I cancel the contact lens scheme I save £300 a year but if the prescription changes I will have to pay full price eg £300 for one pair of glasses £600 for two.

I've worn glasses for a year now and it doesn't bother me -but how do you cope when driving in sunny weather? I have nice sun glasses but how the F**K do you do it in glasses. If I have another pair tinted -that is 3 pairs or £900.

Money is tight. Argh help...............

I need to make a decision quickly - as they only accept 50% of the total amount and will give me a few days to change this. Or is one pair enough?

Help!

If your tinted pair is only for driving, you can just have your Single Vision lenses made in your distance prescription. Won't be suitable for reading & you may struggle to see your dashboard clearly but fine for the road ahead. For driving, also worth considering polarized instead of tinted. Polarised are much better at preventing glare.

No, one is not enough. Certainly not with that prescription, and being a driver. Did they say if you meet driving standards in your current glasses? They'd do as a backup for emergencies if so.

Varifocals are like marmite, some people love them, some people hate them. Lenses work very differently and compromise more on the vision but usually well within an acceptable range.

Ultimately, glasses are more important. You'd need them should you get an eye infection (I hear 'well I've never had one yet' FAR TOO MUCH).

The different lenses in each eye works really well for a LOT of people, if they've offered it to you, try it! It sounds MENTAL but your brain just adjusts. And it's cheaper than multifocal lenses.

Also what PP says about polarised lenses is absolutely true- they are 👌👌👌

Do I understand the scheme that you pay 25 a month in and get free glasses every 2 years?
Because that's expensive.
I get cheaper frames from specsavers for under 70 including lenses with the anti glare (instead of 3 for 1). They have similar offer for varifocal lenses.

My dad used to have tinted clip on "flaps" for his glasses. I am not sure it's cool but it's a good budget solution

I just want to make sure it's obvious I don't know that glasses scheme so I am probably misunderstanding

That seems expensive. I have paid just over £300 for 2 pairs of vari focals and one pair goes darker when in the sun.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Do I understand the scheme that you pay 25 a month in and get free glasses every 2 years? Because that's expensive. I get cheaper frames from specsavers for under 70 including lenses with the anti glare (instead of 3 for 1). They have similar offer for varifocal lenses.

My dad used to have tinted clip on "flaps" for his glasses. I am not sure it's cool but it's a good budget solution

It is with specsavers £25 a month is for my contact lenses not glasses- just get a cheap pair not varifocals with the scheme though get 50% varifocal which is £155

Name change fail -sorry!

@ginoclocksomewhere

No, one is not enough. Certainly not with that prescription, and being a driver. Did they say if you meet driving standards in your current glasses? They'd do as a backup for emergencies if so.

Varifocals are like marmite, some people love them, some people hate them. Lenses work very differently and compromise more on the vision but usually well within an acceptable range.

Ultimately, glasses are more important. You'd need them should you get an eye infection (I hear 'well I've never had one yet' FAR TOO MUCH).

The different lenses in each eye works really well for a LOT of people, if they've offered it to you, try it! It sounds MENTAL but your brain just adjusts. And it's cheaper than multifocal lenses.

Yes they do for long distance but I can't see the dash clearly and I hate it!

It is with specsavers £25 a month is for my contact lenses not glasses- just get a cheap pair not varifocals with the scheme though get 50% varifocal which is £155

Ah! I missed the contact lenses! thanks!

DH has the polarized lenses in his vari focals and he buys cheap readers.

I can't use polarized lenses when I work so I have, wait for it, vari focal sunglasses for driving mainly, vari focals, a bendy pair of readers, I read in bed, and an intermediate pair for working on the PC.

Costs a bloody fortune. But the alternative is being blind as a bat! Sodding annoying.

I have varifocals which darken in bright light. Had this type for years. Not cheap, certainly, but worth it.
I'm waiting for a cataract op and then won't need glasses except for close work. Will seem very odd having worn glasses for some 65 years.

Hope you get sorted.

I have reaction varifocals and they are ace.
I used to have glasses for read / computer, and then sunglasses, so on holiday I had to keep switching the two when reading menus etc.

Now I have my reaction varifocals on all the time it is so easy.

I've been to spec savers recently
£350
One pair varifocal normal
One pair varifocal sunglasses
Tests fees

With my new prescription, I believe that I could buy more & cheaper glasses online if I wished

Not sure if this is helpful but I had an opticians appointment last week at Specsavers. I always say no Thank you to glasses, take my prescription and buy online. I have distance and near glasses which at Specsavers due to needing v thin lenses would've cost close to £600 for glasses I liked. At Glasses Direct it has cost me £165 for both (could have been cheaper with other frames). You can send for free of charge for boxes of frames to try on as well.

You can change your opt if you can’t get appts when you need them.
You can pay for a glasses prescription at opt and then buy glasses online using that prescription. You can order a few pairs to try and return them but read the small print as some opt charge a restocking fee

How do you order vari focals online? The fitting is essential and I doubt the optician would do all of that and hand it over for you to order online.

Just don't expect them to help you if you buy them online and can't see. Online suppliers are responsible for any issues, NOT the opticians.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

How do you order vari focals online? The fitting is essential and I doubt the optician would do all of that and hand it over for you to order online.

Exactly. I've looked to see how much they would cost me on line at specsavers and you can't it says lenses from £39 .......but she said mine would be £155 -it is not clear pricing at all -I just felt like a rabbit in the headlights- she said £90 for frames £155 for lenses and £50 for thinner lenses -ie £300 -50% off = £150 -which I've paid. For a second pair -she said I wouldn't get the £55 lenses for 50% off -I would have to pay that on top. So frames £90 and lenses £155 -50% off but not the £55. So exactly the same glasses £200 -so £350 in total.

Jesus OP. I have bad eyesight and would need a second mortgage if I paid as much in glasses and lenses as you.

I buy my frames online or get my old frame reglazed. You can send off your old frames to this company lensology.co.uk/ and they will reglaze them for you. They send a box so postage is free.

I am currently wearing bifocals and HATE them with a passion. When I next get an eye test, I'm changing back to wearing two pairs.