Anyone use varifocals out there?

[caramia64]

Hi I've just been advised to get varifocal specs. My distance vision is good but need +1.75 each eye for reading. Optician felt it would be better as when working I can't see my diary times for making appointments, I often need to take minutes at meetings and write up notes etc whilst often on computer at same time. There are different varifocal lens available at specsavers and not sure which to go for and if they will cause problems getting accustomed to them? Any advice welcomed!!

[crafters_corner_2]

Hi Caramia,

I have had varifocals for as long as they were available. They are brilliant.
Don't go for the cheapest ones as your field of vision won't be as good - in other words, the outer edge will be blurred.
This is always slightly the case with varifocals, but a good, intermediate lens will be much better.
I have only known one person who couldn't get on with them, and she felt dizzy looking from side to side and up and down. I think this is rare - if they are measured correctly.
The optician will probably tell you to wear them a little at a time and not to drive home in them. As I never do as I am told.....I wore them immediately. I figure that if you keep putting on your old single vision frames you will never get used to anything else.
So.....go for it. Most opticians - I went to Specsavers - will give you a month's trial.

[TonyBridger]

I have worn varifocals for some years and they are certainly better than keeping changing your glasses when you want to read something. I would not change back to having two pairs. Not sure what you mean by different varifocal lens, I wasn't given a choice just normal or lightweight and tinted or not

Although I never had any problems getting accustomed to them I was told some people feel sick if they changed looking from the long distance part to reading part too quickly. I was advised that if this happened I should blink whilst changing between the focal lengths until I got use to them.

[Spyder1942]

Dont get Very small ones as you then tend to see both bits at once.

[crafters_corner_2]

I was given the choice of three grades - the best being far too expensive.
The difference was in the amount of blurring to the edges.
Not sure if all opticians are the same - I presume it is the make of lenses which could vary.

[crafters_corner_2]

Good point, Spyder. I had forgotten that.
I went for the very narrow ones a couple of years ago. There just wasn't enough dept to accommodate near and distance vision.
Again, that was Specsavers, and they changed them without a quibble.

[caramia64]

Thank you for replies, I believe specsavers have 4 different lens , the most expensive being custom made. I think it makes a difference to amount of blurring at edges of vision

[crafters_corner_2]

I certainly wouldn't pay for custom made
As I said, there is some blurring at the edges whatever grade you have. But you get used to turning your head to see things to the side.

[TonyBridger]

I was given the choice of three grades - the best being far too expensive.
The difference was in the amount of blurring to the edges.
Not sure if all opticians are the same - I presume it is the make of lenses which could vary.

Just had a look at Specsavers website I was surprised to see they have different grades. As I said I wasn't offered a choice, or cannot remember being given one, when I first started using varifocals. I have the standard lower priced lens.

[cornishmaid1961]

I had a pair for about two weeks and took them back pronto. I went for the medium price range but couldn't get on with them at all !

Vision Express changed them back to my ordinary long distance ones that I need for driving with no hassle. My eyesight for reading is fairly O.K. so I question why I was advised to get them in the first place ? Think the optician must have been working on commission !