Varifocal sunglasses anyone?

[tobee]

If you wear varifocals what do you wear for sunglasses?

I got some varifocals a few months ago and found them transformative.

However, if I got a matching pair (prescription wise) of sunglasses are they inordinately expensive? Especially as I wouldn't be wearing them that much?

I can imagine 3 options. Potentially pricey varifocal sunglasses, prescription sunglasses only fitting one of my sight issues, or popping big pair of sunglasses over the top of my ordinary glasses. But does that look naff? And they would probably be a poor fit?

I don’t love my reactivities, as pp have said they don’t react well in the car.
look into Brillen. Depending on the offer they’re doing at them time you can get 2 pairs including sunglasses for around £100!
Brillen glasses

I love mine. The only problem is walking inside after being in the sun and wondering why it's so dark! They take a few minutes to adjust

They STILL take a few minutes to adjust that should say...

Mil has varifical reaction lenses. They are utterly shit. They don't react fast enough so she has had a couple of falls. They were not cheap but aren't the solution for her.

I get mine from asda but will be looking at brillen,thank you @Lamelie

I echo Asda. My last regular pair and sunglasses were from there and they’re great.

Asda varifocals here too, 2 pairs for £120 one of which were sunglasses.

Another recommendation for Asda.
I just got them to replace the varifocal lenses in my existing sunglasses for £80 - bargain!

Yes, varifocal sunnies, same prescription as my everyday specs, bought at the same time on buy one, get one cheaper type deal from my local optician.

I've had prescription sunglasses in the past but they're never dark enough, and it was always irritating having to carry both pairs everywhere and swapping over in shop doorways.

Now I buy special sunglasses that go over normal glasses and they seem great, can push them up on my head when I go into a shop, they're comfortable and do different designs. Very pleased with them. Amazon have loads.

Asda do them in their usual two for £69-£99 ranges.

I got them from Specsavers. For me it was worth paying the extra for polarised lenses as they reduce the glare-great of your driving on a sunny winter’s day. Apart from that, they were free as part of a twofer.

Reactive lenses are good, in my car they darken a bit, but nowhere near as good as sunglasses. Great for popping in and out, but I have found that after 6 months or so they acquire a permanent hint of tint. Which isn’t great in my job, so I’ve ended up with reactive varifocals, distance glasses, reading glasses and non reactive varifocals. (and doing overtime to pay for them!)

I got a pair of clip-on sunglasses that attach to my usual pair. Saw them on an ad on Facebook

I bought some online from mister spex. Got a really nice designer pair for under £150.

Looking back I should have got them as my free second pair from specsavers. Maybe next time I change prescription.

I use specscart for my varifocals - much cheaper than getting them in the optician.

You choose 4 frames to try, they send them and you take a photo of yourself in the frames that you’ve chosen so they know how to position the lenses.

You can get varifocals as reactolites, which darken in the sun and lighten indoors.

Genuinely couldn’t live without them! I think the ones I bought last year were about £200, but Inwear them loads, especially for driving.

I’m going to look on Vinted for some raybans and get the lenses replaced with my prescription

Sorry, if you have a higher prescription you may have paid to have them thinned down so they don't look like the botton of coke bottles! But the dark lenses and chunky frames hide this.

I have varifocal sunglasses but often wear contact lenses under normal sunglasses as I didn't want to chick all my non prescription ones out.

I currently have varifocal glasses as my main pair and a pair of varifocal sunglasses. I also have two pairs of fixed glasses: one for using the computer/playing the piano, and
one for distance, which I predominantly using for driving in the dark as they have an anti-glare coating and

I need new sunglasses and am planning not to get varifocals this time. I knew they were a compromise but I didn't realise until I bought the driving ones just how much clarity I was losing at long distances. I've decided to prioritise that.

I don't need glasses for reading so will just wear non-prescription sunglasses unless I need to see long distances eg when driving.

Incidentally I don't have any trouble swapping between the varifocals and the two fixed pairs.

I meant to add that I don't like reactolite glasses. As others have said they take too long to change. They also never seem to go as dark as 'real' sunglasses.

Gosh. Right. Lots of things to consider. 🤔

Same here they're a game changer - no need to carry a second pair around.

I wanted separate sunglasses as rather than reactive ones. I got them as my second pair for free at Specsavers. Not squinting and being able to see when the sun is out has been a revelation!