Varifocals

[Pegs11]

Hi, I’ve just been prescribed varifocals for the first time, I ordered the most expensive lenses thinking they would be the best quality. I picked them up yesterday and this is my second day wearing them. I’m finding them VERY difficult for reading... I can no longer scan a page of text just by moving my eyes, I now have to move my whole head and point my nose directly at the word I’m reading. Is this normal? It feels very unnatural and uncomfortable. It is also impractical, if I read too quickly things seem to move on the page and go blurry, and this is slowing down my reading speed massively. My job involves reading large swathes of text and I need to be able to speed-read.

I don’t know if this is something I just have to get used to now, or if it will get easier with time, but changing the whole mechanic of how I read just seems mad. I’m spending the whole day feeling very irritated by these glasses and like I want to yank them off and hurl them at the wall!

It is probably not what you want to hear, but it took me quite a while to get used to varifocals. It was worth it though!
Please, be very careful on the stairs and while driving.

Yes, what you're experiencing is entirely normal (and you did the right thing in buying the most expensive lenses - it would be even worse otherwise!).

The advice that I was given (and which worked) was to resist the temptation to take them off and just persevere.... persevere.... persevere.

I had this when I had specsavers most expensive lenses. I am very short sighted -9.50 both eyes and astigmatism so any change is really difficult for me. I found the field of vision in them just awful. Went to an independent optician and got even more expensive lenses (£600) and they’re so much better. I can see everywhere clearly, no need to move my head at all. I got a refund from specsavers.

I got varifocals about a year ago.

I am just about used to them now!

I have varifocals that I love. However, I also have a pair of occupational lenses which are set up for working on a screen and they're a bit of a game changer for me.

Remember to point your nose at the thing you're looking at and you need to learn to move your head more rather than your eyes.

But, yes, they take a lot of people a while to get used to - personally a month for me (and I'm an optometrist)

If it takes longer than a few days I don’t think I’ll be able to stick it out that long. I had to take them off this afternoon as they were making me feel really dizzy and nauseous and were interfering with my ability to do my work. And this put me in a bad mood. I don’t want to put them back on!

I think I might end up getting different glasses - a pair for reading/screenwork and a pair for driving that I’ll keep in the car. These are the areas I’ve been struggling with so maybe I don’t need glasses that I have to wear all the time.

I think.a separate reading pair sounds like a good idea. Maybe check with opticians they are the right prescription

WLLHYF 10 Pairs Eyeglasses Adhesive Nose Pads Soft Increased Height Anti-Pressure Silicone Sunglass Anti Slip Cushion for Stick on Plastic Frames Reading Glasses(White) : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

I got these when I thought my new varifocals were making me not be able to see. They elevated the lenses fractionally, but it was the fraction I needed. Might be worth a go, if you don't fancy the hassle of going back to the optician.

I have multifocal contact lenses. Gamechanger!!!

Same. Took me a couple of months, and a year on there are times when I don't like wearing them still. Particularly for looking at the ground, so difficult steps, hoovering etc.
on the whole there are more pros than cons though. It's nice to be able to knit AND look at the TV with the same pair of glasses.

I have specsavers ones and they took a couple of days to get used to, you do need to move your head sometimes. I personally choose to have glasses for work which aren't varifocals too

I got the hang of varifocals once an independent optician suggested having prism in it. No idea why. She said it helps some people. I only needed it for one pair of glasses, so two years.

I still have separate distance-only driving glasses.

Good luck, OP. Hang in there!

Yes completely normal. They take a lot of getting used to. Took me months but I wouldn't be without them now.

Could you give them a go when you're not working so you feel less stressed? Maybe a weekend? I love mine now and I forget how it took me a while to get used to reading. I deliberately tried out all the different types of ways I look to get used to them.

Stick with them. I was like a nodding dog at first trying to get to grips with them and had mild headaches and vertigo but am now fine. If you stop wearing them you'll have to start again with trying to get used to them. I really like mine now.

Do not do this - varifocals need to sit in the right point for you to be able to see - you move your chair/pc up or down.

@Watchkeys take them back to be adjusted.

@station11

Well, it's working for me and has been for months, so I'm not sure what you're doing with the imperative. If the glasses are fractionally wrong, they can be fractionally adjusted, and it's worth a try if you don't fancy the rigmarole of getting them corrected. You sound like you think you're in charge :) Altering the chair/PC doesn't work for walking around town, or driving, does it.

My first very expensive pair were like that, never got on them for reading books. So I tried specsavers next. One pair for general use and one with the largest area for screen work.

Why? They're great now I've got the little doodahs on, and I'm happy and comfortable with them. Cost me a couple of quid and a couple of minutes.

I have worn Varifocals for quite a long time now. Every time my prescription changes it takes
me a week or so to stop getting a headache and then another couple of weeks to get to the point of not having to consciously adjust where I am looking.

Once used to them, they are brilliant. One pair of glasses lets me see for reading, computer, tv and for driving. I can't do any of things without them.

My first pair of varifocals were the only glasses I ever struggled to get used to. Don't hesitate to go back to the opticians to get the dispenser to tweak the fitting.

I always have the nose pads swapped for softer, thicker silicone pads. It makes a huge difference to my comfort, and does not affect the fit.

Without varifocalsI would not be able to have a conversation with someone standing near me, or glance at the speedometer while driving, or even do what I'm doing now - Mumsnetting on my phone. But, even though they enable me to do close-up things, I have never really got the hang of my varifocals for extensive close-up stuff. They do not enable me to read small print, or use a laptop, or do a crossword, or do any long sessions of reading or writing. Occupational lenses have been amazing. I could not function without them. So, effectively, I have two pairs of varifocals.

And, yes to the pointing your nose thing!

Also nodding your head until you find the right zone when starting to read something, especially if someone else is holding it.

I hate my hugely expensive varifocals for exactly the same reason. Have just bought a separate pair of readers and it is so much better. Wish I had done this in the first place.