Varifocals
Author
Discussion

Big_M

Original Poster:

5,602 posts

286 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
Well it is confirmed - I have entered the middle aged zone. A trip to the opticians yesterday and I am now getting my first pair of varifocals.

Now I have heard that not everyone can get on with them. Any suggestions/experiences from the mature PH massive out there?

Is it true that once I start wearing glasses for reading as well as distance that my eyes will get lazy and require a higher prescription?

I also have an appointment for the trial of disposable contact lenses - but since I have worn glasses for 42 of my 43 years I am not sure how I will get on.

Lois

14,706 posts

275 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
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Yes your eyes do tend to worsen with glasses! Kind of a catch 22 really!

My mum wears vari's. She's fine with them now but think it took a while to get used to them. Have to look through the right section when reading/looking ahead!

pug406

3,636 posts

276 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
if your getting Verifocals, you need to make sure your optician measures the height of your eyes manually. I had my last vari's supplied by Sight Train and they got it wrong. They really are crap in my opinion. I had wondered why I had not been happy with this pair. Went to Boots today to get another pair today and the girls there measured my eyes and checked the pair I had on and told me what was wrong. I really am gonna have a go at Sight Train when I get my replacement pair from Boots.

HTH

Dave

Big_M

Original Poster:

5,602 posts

286 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
Cheers Dave & Lois

I go to an old fashioned optometerist and we were there for over 2 hours. They measured the middle of my eyes and took loads of other measurements as well, so I am confidient that they will be ok. Thanks for the warning tho'

>> Edited by Big_M on Sunday 6th February 19:17

voyds9

8,490 posts

306 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
Rejection rate of varifocals lower than rejection rate for bifocals.
Go into to it expecting to get on with them, look for the good points rather than this is worse than.......
Generally point your nose in the direction you want to look.
Don't buy budget varifocals as the distortion is usually far more noticeable than on a slightly more expensive ones.
As for contact lenses if you don't want them don't have them. The better wearers are the patients who want them, rather than those who MIGHT want them.

Flat in Fifth

47,967 posts

274 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
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With your first pair of varifocals expect to be nicknamed Noddy as you get into the habit of errr nodding to find the correct focal length bit.

After a while you get used to it, though be careful walking down stairs at first.

The advice already given about finding a good supplier is the main issue. That is one who really does measure your eyes properly, and orders the correct sized frames, and marks up the measurements properly on the lenses to ensure a good fit.

In my opinion I wouldn't even go through the door of places like Specsavers. I know some customers have been very satisfied but personally from experience of two different branches I really find their method of measurement for the fitting to be less than adequate. Less than adequate is the understatement of the century btw.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

278 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
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pug406 said:
if your getting Verifocals, you need to make sure your optician measures the height of your eyes manually. I had my last vari's supplied by Sight Train and they got it wrong. They really are crap in my opinion. I had wondered why I had not been happy with this pair. Went to Boots today to get another pair today and the girls there measured my eyes and checked the pair I had on and told me what was wrong. I really am gonna have a go at Sight Train when I get my replacement pair from Boots.


No 1 Boots girl .......the bloody machine's bust.....

No 2 Boots girl ........never mind, I've got a ruler in me bag.......

pug406

3,636 posts

276 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:

No 1 Boots girl .......the bloody machine's bust.....

No 2 Boots girl ........never mind, I've got a ruler in me bag.......



Actually, the Girl that looked after me was a certified Optician, not an ordinary sales girl or a YTS yoof like the other place.

Lois

14,706 posts

275 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
quotequote all
last time I went they changed me from being short sighted to long sighted...very odd but I can read now!

v8thunder

27,647 posts

281 months

Sunday 6th February 2005
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Well, don't hold back on any kind of eyewear if you need it. My Mum really does need a pair of glasses of some kind but she refuses to look into it properly...



...and then she needs me to go on car journies with her to help her read the roadsigns