To take my glasses back; any opticians about?

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

I have had varifocals for several years, bought online, never had any issues. Got my new glasses from a local shop to get the additional service and 'shop local', as I could afford it this time. I've had a few issues with them, gone back and received excellent service. The first time I went back it was because I couldn't see distance as I had done before. She adjusted them slightly, checked the prescription, and I tried them and they seemed better. I've not been able to wear them much since because they needed adjusting more, finally managed to go back today and she made some more refinements, listening to my (rather exacting) instructions and they now fit much better.

My issue is that they still don't work! I can only see distance if they are in exactly the right place, looking somewhere just above centre of the lense. If I drop my head at all, or the glasses slip at all, so that I'm looking at distance through the top half of the lenses, I can't focus properly. This is even happening at tv distance! I have to hold my head higher, even back a little.

WWYD? I'm feeling a bit embarrassed, tbh, keeping going back; but I've spent a lot of money, I live in them, and they need to be right! Anyone know what the problem might be, please?

I would take them back again - they'll want you to be happy with them. Have you seen the dispensing optician when you've had them adjusted/checked? Have you taken your old varifocals that you were happy with back with you for them to see how those fit? That would be worth doing if you haven't. Can you read in them?

I’d leave it a week and go back if you’ve not adjusted to them.

It wouldn't surprise me if they've changed supplier. That happened to me - varies were unusable. Eventually they ordered me a pair from their old supplier, which were fine.

Thanks for the input, I do appreciate it.

Previous ones were from another shop.

I can read in them, yes; the bottom half seems ok. It feels like maybe they 'stopped' the further distance section too low? There is one bit where it's good, but if I look higher up the lens the focus goes again (sorry I don't think I'm putting it very well!)

@BakingQueen14 who would the dispensing optician be? The one who gave me the glasses? Who is the one who tests your sight? The one who gave me the glasses has seen me each time, thanks x

This doesn’t sound right at all. The top most part of the varifocals should be your distance vision section. Or is it the middle distnace you have trouble with? Mine are supposed to have an middle part that’s good for arms length stuff eg computer screen and tbh that part is a tiny narrow strip that’s really only useful for occasional stuff.

It sounds as though they've been incorrectly measured - if that's the case no amount of adjusting the frames will help, they'll need to be re-made.

No experience of varifocals but I once had an issue with distance glasses where I couldn't even see the tv clearly unless I tilted my head right back. It was because they hadn't actually measured where my eye was in the lens and had just fitted them centrally.

Regardless, if they're not right, take them back and get them sorted. It's not something you can struggle along with.

The dispensing optician will be on the shop floor not the person who tests. The person who tests is an optometrist but most people say optician! Dispensing opticians have more knowledge of lenses and are usually the best person for fixing varifocal problems. If you go back ask if you can see one - you might have seen one already if you've been in twice. If the varifocals work for reading and computer then it's probably the design of the varifocal lens rather than the prescription or the way they were measured. If your previous varifocals were from somewhere else you'll be used to a different manufacturer/design. If you take your old varifocals in they should be able to tell what lens design is in those. Sometimes, it can take a little while to adapt to changes in lens design too so if you haven't worn them for long it could be worth persevering. You might find you stop noticing.

Thank you all, will try them properly this weekend and go back next week if they're still weird.

I've taken some photos of me holding my head at the angle where they work, and where the old ones work, which shows that I have to tilt my head back to get the new ones to focus, do you think that might be helpful to them/me to explain?

I have exactly the same problem with my new varifocals. Reading and computer screen are ok. Distance is awful. Objects look a bit closer but are not crisp or sharp. I can see better without the glasses.
I'm going to persevere for a few more days then go back into the shop.

It doesn't matter that the other glasses came from a different place, take them with you when you go back with the new ones. You can say that the old ones work fine, they can take measurements from them and see how they fit/work in comparison with the new ones.

They may have have made up the lenses with the ‘lines’ in the wrong place. A few months ago I got a new pair from a major high street opticians. They felt wrong as soon as I put them on, but was told to give it a fortnight. They never felt better. I went back and they did a few tests and measurements of the lenses, and made them up a second time with the ‘line’ much lower, which fixed the problem.

The lines feel like they're all over the place.

I tried putting them on from when I woke up this morning, felt sick after half an hour.

I'm going to have to put my big-girl pants on and go and be insistent, aren't I?!

Oh dear.