Vari-bloody-focals?

[glasslightly]

have been a lifelong wearer of glasses for distance, and generally like wearing glasses. Am now at that stage in life where I need them also for close work. Got a pair of varifocals and have really struggled to get on with them ?

are others the same ? Should I try again - or just go for two types of glasses ? Everyone I know seems to get on fine with them….

I suggest you get them checked. Maybe the different lenses aren’t in quite the right position? I’ve been wearing varifocals for at least 30 years and never had any problems. I really never have noticed the change from one lens to another. One piece of advice I was given was to put them on as soon as you get up in the morning.

Yes. I struggled. I’ve got separate glasses again. They don’t suit everyone. DH says it takes 3 weeks and he’s never looked back, but if you’ve given them a good trial, just swap back to two sets of glasses.

I love mine. There are different types of varifocals. I go for one of the more expensive lenses, so they blend easily.

As above, I wold suggest going back to your optician asking them to check the lenses.

I’ve been wearing varifocals for a long time. If I ever have an issue it’s because the lens isn’t centred properly - when I get them changed they are fine. You do have to learn to move your head and not just your eyes to see clearly, and I have separate reading glasses for playing in orchestra because the stand is at an awkward distance, but they are way better than changing glasses every 5 m8ns.

It took me a couple of months to get used to them. I have to take them off completely for very close work like sewing.

Long time glasses wearer, collect vari focals tomorrow! Not looking forward to them.

Worn glasses since I was 3

First pair of varifocals took a few days to get used to but I love them - think I’m on my 3rd pair

you really get what you pay for though…

You get what you pay for. I had a pair from one of the well known high st chains to start with and they were dreadful.

I went to an independent optician, paid (quite a bit) more for the lenses, and the difference was amazing. I was fine with them within hours.

I wear contact lenses when out and about but glasses round the house.
Years ago I had bi focals and hated them. When I decided to get varifocals instead I was warned they might take some getting used to. But they were actually great right from the start. Not been a problem at all.

I had a really interesting conversation with my optician about this recently! He says it depends on how you read - if you move your head when looking down at a book (tablet, phone etc) then varifocals are likely to give you headaches. I'm in this capacity. If you just move your eyes then varifocals will usually be OK. It's because the lenses are split and if you move your eyes you look through the top for distance and the bottom for close work. If you move your head you will always be trying to focus through the wrong part of the lense and hence the headaches ir discomfort. I have separate distance glasses, computer glasses and for close work I don't wear them at all!

I’ve struggled I’ll admit. They’ve slackened so don’t sit right which then affects the positioning of the lenses. Can’t get them tightened anymore. Hence I now take them off to read small print. They were the most expensive type from a well known optician. Not bargain basement.

That makes sense !

I hated them, now have two glasses one pair for distance one pair for reading and computer work. So much easier.

Go back and get your glasses tightened. It makes a huge difference.

@glasslightly I agree with PP that it is worth going back to the optician. If the fit is slightly out they won't work for you. DH had to go back to specsavers three times before they got it right.

This is why I don't recommend ordering varifocals online.

Had them for decades. No problems. They suit me. New ones take a few days to adjust to. We're all different.

I got them earlier in the year, my first pair of prescrption glasses. I struggled with them for weeks, and even now I really don't like them. I'm actually mad I got them as I only really need glasses for reading, and as I type this I am wearing my old hobby glasses, which are far easier to use for computer work. I don't wear my prescription glasses most of the time when I'm at home so it was a waste of money getting them. The sunglasses are okay though.

You should have gone back to th optician to get them adjusted @ForGreyKoala. The fit is crucial.

I tried varifocals (years ago) and couldn't get on with them and I can't wear contacts - so I have tri-focals. Top is long distance, then the bifocal section has the top third of it as middle distance (computer screens/painting at an easel/car dials etc) and the bottom 2 thirds for reading.
It works well for me as all the area around the trifocal area gives me plenty of extra distance. Cheaper than varifocals which is another plus 🙂

It took me 5 weeks, and 3 different adjustments to get used to my 1st pair. I took to my 2nd pair straight away, but my 3rd pair are proving impossible, and again I've had them adjusted twice. I buy the best lenses, but my optician thinks that the difference now between my long sight and short sight is such that she can't get the middle section to suit me. I can see distance perfectly, and read very well, but I can't use my laptop and given I work on it for about 9 hours a day it's not going to work.

I've gone back to my 2nd pair which are OK, not perfect, and in time I might revert to 2 pairs of glasses. Or just buy a pair of cheap readers and see how I get on.

They’ve been tightened up unfortunately. The guy actually said he couldn’t tighten them any more. Really infuriating!

I went to Specsavers and bought their tailored lenses. I was really worried because the optician gave me a big lecture about wearing them right from the beginning, that I'd feel a bit 'sea sick' but that I had to stick with it because if I swapped back and forth I'd never get used to it. I also have a prism.

The glasses arrived, I put them on, and they were absolutely 'normal'. A few days later, I found that they were slipping down my nose and making my ear sore. I took them to a different branch and they adjusted them. Then my nose was sore. So I went back to the original branch and the manager said they were the wrong frame for my nose and ordered a better shaped frame. Absolutely great ever since.

Optician told me they would take a few days to get used to. It actually took a few minutes. They've been great for me.

Had varifocal glasses for a year and I can't stand them. Been altered and adjusted twice and I can only just about tolerate mooching around in the kitchen in them. Stairs are too dangerous.

Trying some varifocal contacts now and they seem a lot better.

I got some a few months ago. I went for the top of the range (mucho £££££££). They have very little peripheral ‘out of focus’ and a smooth transition between the distance and close-up. I really didn’t like them when I first got them and kept taking them off, but with forcing myself to wear them a bit more (due to the high cost). After a few weeks I got used to them and I now find them completely comfortable. Like regular distance lenses, I don’t think about them at all when wearing them. My advice would be, if you’re going to get some more, spend the money for the top of the range.

For me it was instantly brilliant. Following pairs have never been as quick.

Take them back and get them checked.