Eyesight: distance lenses plus reading glasses

[Tableclothshelp]

Arrgh I really need a solution for this! And I'm not sure if this is the right section for this.

I’m very short-sighted and have worn contact lenses for distance for many years, and now that my prescription is a little stronger, I also use reading glasses for close up when I have my lenses in. However, now when I use my laptop with my contacts the screen is quite hard to read. And yet if I pop my reading glasses on, my face needs to be really close to the screen to be focussed – it would NOT be good for my back and neck to do this for any length of time! I’m planning to try varifocal contacts and varifocal glasses, but would the problem be the same? Does that just replicate the 2 prescriptions that I have in my contacts and reading glasses and leave me with the same problem.

By the way, it’s fine when I’m on a bigger screen at work – not a problem seeing with my contacts at all. And I’ve experimented with zooming into the screen, which is sort of alright-ish when I using word docs, but it messes up the format with other stuff so a point that it’s frustrating.

Any advice from anyone?

I'm not short sighted. But the optician told me to use a lower prescription for screen work than for reading. So try that maybe? So if your reading glasses are 2+ get some 1.5+ cheap off Amazon and see if it helps? That's what I do and it works.

Essentially your lenses normalise your sight and you're now going a bit long sighted, hence the reading glasses, so I reckon it's the same solution as for me ultimately

I bet you are a similar age to me!

I have resolved by not wearing contacts any more, it is easier to get it right with normal specs / no specs / reading specs.

Definitely see your optician though, they can help!

My optician made computer glasses for me. Quite a wide horizontal field corrected for computer distance, with narrower fields of distance/reading at top/bottom

I have Asda Varifocal lenses, that cover all three lenses, top for distance middle for computer and bottom for reading. They are the same lenses that I was quoted over £350 for as they cover the full lens in the frames rather than having blind spots at the edges. They also thin the lenses down if you need it, add an anti scratch coating and a tint should you want, and don't charge anything extra for this.

I have a strong prescription and my lenses are the thinnest I have ever had, and no I don't work for Asda Opticians, just really grateful to have nice frames, good lenses for a tiny portion of what I used to pay at other opticians.

You cannot see the lines and your eyes manage to find the right place if you know what I mean.

Varifocals are very easy to adapt to - it takes a couple of days to get used to them but after that it's fine. You feel a bit like Robocop for a bit as you have to turn your head to look at something to the side of you rather than just look out of your eyes sideways (I'm sure there's a better way of explaining it).

You do have to be looking through the right bit of them which is fine 90% of the time but if you are trying to look at something with tiny writing high up on a wall, say, it can be difficult because you're looking out of the distance part of the lenses rather than reading. However, that's really only a big deal for people dealing with things like electronics in those situations.

I've tried the multifocal contacts but by the time my reading difference got to above +2 they didn't really work. They have one prescription in the centre and one around the edge,allegedly, but I don't see how you can adjust where you look through something stuck to your eye! I now have one near and one distant single vision contact lens which is OK for going about, sports etc, but not great for reading.

Varifocal glasses have a close, mid and distant zone, blended so there is no "line" and most people get used to them quickly. I'm not at all conscious of turning my head to see things now. I do have my computer monitors lower so they line up with the right zone without tipping my head back. They are x100 better than the multifocal contact lenses.

Not all brands are the same so if you feel you have too much blurriness round the edges it may be worth upgrading, but try basic ones first.

Wow thanks all! Very helpful indeed. Blimey, it's a complicated business having 50-something eyesight isn't it.
I had NO idea you could have lenses that worked for 3 different distances. Thanks for that @needapokerface
I think I need a trip to the optician to discuss options. One of my difficulties is that I don't like wearing glasses all the time. After a few hours all I want to do is take them off. I just hate the feeling of something on my face for too long. I might have to adapt to it though.

@Chewbecca so do you just alternate with different types of glasses?

@StuffedDriver did it take you long to get used to three 'zones' of vision, as it were?

Yes, well only 2 because right now, my eyes with no glasses at all are perfect for some distances, hence dumping the contacts. I am sure it will change again in the next year or so!

I have varifocal glasses, love them but also wear my contacts, they reduce the level in one eye so I can see short and long. E.g. I am -4.75 in both eyes but I wear one -4.75 in my dominant eye and one -2.00 in the other. It’s trial and error but works really well.

@MuchasSmoochas I've heard of this but thought it sounded uncomfortable. When I've been in a situation where I've only had one lens in, I have felt really disorientated. And so I thought this arrangement might feel the same. Did it at first? And did you get used to it? Or was it not a problem at all?

I wear contacts, am on about -8 as I am very short sighted. I have varifocal readers with zones for close work and screen work, and I look over the top if I need to see the other side of the room. So far it is working well.

I got used to them after a couple of hours, honestly think they are amazing. Perfect for work. Was sick and tired of readers on/off. The only time I don’t wear them is at things like concerts where you want good long vision. You could get a free trial?

@Yddraigoldragon I feel very under-informed - I don't know you could get varifocal reading glasses! Thanks

@MuchasSmoochas thanks I might investigate that, thank you!

I have occupational glasses - for screen work.

But I also have reading glasses and glasses for driving !

i tried verifocals hated them - so for now one pair for work. One pair for reading (just kept by my bed for phone /book to be honest) and a pair for driving! My short sighted is only slight so only really needed for driving.

In the same situation. In my phone now with my contacts in and reading glasses. I can see my phone perfectly without the lenses but I need the lenses to function in normal life. I hate wearing glasses all the time.

I've got an appointment tomorrow to try varifocal lenses, I've a friend who raves about them and I didnt know they existed.

@boulevardofbrokendreamss I feel we have the exact same issues!
Is it varifocal contact lenses that your friend raves about?