Varifocals from Specsavers…

[Cupid-stunt]

lost in espace said:

Try Asda, if you have a heavy prescription they give you thinner lenses for free. 2 for 1 is about £120 all in or £160 for more expensive frames. The range of frames is OK.

This!!

I got my first pair from Specsavers and after the inital 'getting used ot' I wan't comfortable with them.

Next time, went to Asda, and they thinned them with no extra charge, and had an offer for 2 pairs.
I too was around £160 for 2 pairs and they have been so much better than the ones from Specsavers.

I do think that the person you see is important so it may be luck of the draw.

[glennzo]

Before taking the word of Specsavers naysayers, people should realise that they supply 6 types of lenses of different quality (and cost):

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/glasses-lense...

I suspect the posters who had issues had the entry level type.
I am going to be going for some myself, so will find out soon enough.

[thetapeworm]

I got my first pair of varifocals last year after getting sick of being unable to see my screen at work or read the small writing on packets without using the zoom on my phone camera, they've been quite the revelation and are a far-cry from the bi-focals I remember my Dad getting years ago and constantly tripping over things because of the magnification.

I managed to leverage an eye-care voucher scheme at work that gave me £90 towards glasses, I then bought designer frames at a huge discount online (£60 vs the £280 the shops wanted) and went to an independent optician and went for the 3rd most expensive lenses they offered. I'd been a "Glasses Direct" type customer for years before based on free eye test results and the difference was night and day despite my prescription not changing.

I think it was about £280 all in minus the voucher, prior to this I'd spend about £30 with discounts

Decent lenses, fitted properly after a consultation opened my eyes (sorry) to paying a little more for something as important as this. Cut costs on the frames, spend what you can on the lenses. Specsavers might be fine but I'd rather support a smaller local place and hope there's a bit more attention to detail with the outcome.

[yeager2004]

I'm due an eye test soon, and the question of varifocals will invariably come up.

I currently have a pair of glasses I use for everyday, and a second pair of reading glasses for when I’m using my laptop at work.

Swapping between glasses can be bit annoying, especially at work when in a meeting presenting where you are looking at your notes, and then needing to look up to the audience.

Also, when driving I can see the sat nav text on my phone screen but not as clearly as I might.

I’m wondering if varifocals would solve all of this, or if as someone suggested earlier in this thread, whether it would ultimately just be something of a compromise.

Specsavers do offer an exchange have several ‘grades’ of lenses; it would be interesting to understand the real work difference between the lenses, and whether it’s a bit of a diminishing return. I can well believe there’s a big improvement between the cheapest and mid-range lenses, but is thee that much difference between the mid-range and most expensive?

[egomeister]

yeager2004 said:

I'm due an eye test soon, and the question of varifocals will invariably come up.

I currently have a pair of glasses I use for everyday, and a second pair of reading glasses for when I’m using my laptop at work.

Swapping between glasses can be bit annoying, especially at work when in a meeting presenting where you are looking at your notes, and then needing to look up to the audience.

Also, when driving I can see the sat nav text on my phone screen but not as clearly as I might.

I’m wondering if varifocals would solve all of this, or if as someone suggested earlier in this thread, whether it would ultimately just be something of a compromise.

Specsavers do offer an exchange have several ‘grades’ of lenses; it would be interesting to understand the real work difference between the lenses, and whether it’s a bit of a diminishing return. I can well believe there’s a big improvement between the cheapest and mid-range lenses, but is thee that much difference between the mid-range and most expensive?

If you are on the cusp of needing varifocals there might be an alternative - I have just got a pair of glasses which are essentially single vision, but with a small reading addition on the lower central portion of the lens. Having said that if you are already on separate normal/close pairs they might not be suitable. They seem to be targeted at those who are starting to get the age related long sightedness (ie around mid 40s/early 50s)

Price wise they came in at a relatively small increase over standard unlike varifocals. Might be something to consider asking about, although I have no idea if its something specsavers offer as I didn't buy from there.

[The Gauge]

yeager2004 said:

I'm due an eye test soon, and the question of varifocals will invariably come up.

I currently have a pair of glasses I use for everyday, and a second pair of reading glasses for when I’m using my laptop at work.

Swapping between glasses can be bit annoying, especially at work when in a meeting presenting where you are looking at your notes, and then needing to look up to the audience.

Also, when driving I can see the sat nav text on my phone screen but not as clearly as I might.

I’m wondering if varifocals would solve all of this, or if as someone suggested earlier in this thread, whether it would ultimately just be something of a compromise.

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago which made me get varifocals. I has been wearing a pair of distance glasses for driving, but I couldn't see the dashboard clearly. I needed a pair of reading glasses for computer work and If sat on the sofa with my laptop my readers were fine, but I needed to change to distance glasses for looking up at the TV.

I now keep a pair of varifocls in the car for driving so I can now see both the road ahead and the dashboard perfectly, and I take them with me into the supermarket so I can read labels etc. I also keep a pair by the chair where I sit at home so I can now use my laptop and watch TV with the same pair of varifocals.

Life is much better with them, though when I sit at a PC at work all day I do revert back to my reading glasses as I don't need distance vision.

Edited by The Gauge on Wednesday 15th May 10:53

[blueg33]

glennzo said:

Before taking the word of Specsavers naysayers, people should realise that they supply 6 types of lenses of different quality (and cost):

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/glasses-lense...

I suspect the posters who had issues had the entry level type.
I am going to be going for some myself, so will find out soon enough.

Nope. I had paid for the top end lenses. They had 4 attempts and couldn’t get them right. My wife has had similar problems at another branch.

[David_M]

The Gauge said:

yeager2004 said:

...I currently have a pair of glasses I use for everyday, and a second pair of reading glasses for when I’m using my laptop at work.

Swapping between glasses can be bit annoying...I’m wondering if varifocals would solve all of this, or if as someone suggested earlier in this thread, whether it would ultimately just be something of a compromise.

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago which mad emergency get varifocals...Life is much better with them, though when I sit at a PC at work all day I do revert back to my reading glasses as I don't need distance vision.

This is an accurate summary of varifocals for me - for wandering around town, office, driving they are excellent and let you see both close and far. For sitting in front of a PC / reading / close work for any prolonged period a pair of single vision glasses (which you can get very cheap) are much better.

[The Gauge]

David_M said:

This is an accurate summary of varifocals for me - for wandering around town, office, driving they are excellent and let you see both close and far. For sitting in front of a PC / reading / close work for any prolonged period a pair of single vision glasses (which you can get very cheap) are much better.

I have come to the conclusion that all glasses are a compromise.

Varifocals suit me for everything including driving, sitting on the sofa with laptop and looking up at the TV, but not perfect for all day PC work.
Computer glasses are great for all day PC work, but not much else
Distance glasses are fine for walking about and for driving but I cant focus on the dash or radio display, and no good for reading
Reading glasses only good for reading

I guess even wearing contact lenses would still require a pair of reading glasses?
Is laser surgery the only answer? How long does that last?

Edited by The Gauge on Wednesday 15th May 11:16

[Somebody]

The Gauge said:

Is laser surgery the only answer? How long does that last?

There's also Lens replacement surgery, also known as refractive lens exchange (RLE) https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/private/eye-conditio...