Glasses, Varifocals - Issues / Cost ?

[V8RX7]

I'm getting old and looking over the top of my usual glasses isn't always working.

Optician has suggested varifocals but expressed concern that the small lenses I prefer may be an issue

The price being £385 just of the lenses seems high too (1.67 glass -7) plus £39 for re using my existing frames (as I really like them and they are no longer available) seems unreasonable considering they have frames from £18 in the store !

So are there issues with small varifocals ?
How does the price look ?

Thanks

[airsafari87]

I bought my very first pair of glasses about 2 years ago and they are varifocals.

Cost was very similar to what you mention in your post, but like you I'm not sure if that is high or low? Not that it matters to myself as I feel they were worth it.

Frame size I have is something similar to Ray Ban Wayfarer so they have a decent sized lens in and sound to be larger than the ones you are considering?

I was told that getting used to varifocals can be difficult or impossible to some people but I adapted to them instantly and haven't had any of the headaches etc ... that are sometimes associated with them.

Depending on what you are going to be using the glasses for and how long you are likely to be wearing them each day, I would suggest sacrificing some of the style you are wanting in order to end up with a lens size that will be more suited for the varifocal.

[anonymous-user]

varifocals might struggle wiith small lenses, they do need enogh space to get all the various focal elgnths in.

As for cost, my last best painr cost me £400, but a week later vision express did an offer of free varifocal lenses, so bought the cheapest frames I likes and got a pair made for £39.

Non-chain opticians will almost invariably (cue people disagreeing) cost more

[Scrump]

My last pair of varifocals were Boots own brand lenses and in a quite narrow frame.
I now have Carl Zeiss varifocal lenses which are far superior to the Boots own brand and they are in a much taller frame which also seems to give better "spacing" to the various zones in the lens. (Spacing is my way of describing it, nothing technical!).
I would say that varifocals can be fitted in narrow frames but they are better in taller frames and that the quality varies a lot more than it does with single vision lenses.

[Dogwatch]

Another Varifocal fan here. Expensive but Specsavers do me a discount for being over 60/stil breathing/whatever which brings the price down to something over £200 - still a lot I agree. I believe there are three widths of the Varifocal area and i go for the widest, hence the most expensive but worth it to me as i wear them morning, noon and night evening.

I agree that the Varifocal does need a biggish lens to function properly.

[V8RX7]

Thanks for the replies, to put it in context whilst I would pay £100k for glasses as I simply cannot cope without them, when I see prices as low as 10% as what I've been quoted, I'm wary.

I hate glasses and the smaller ones blend in better and are much thinner than the larger ones - albeit I can see the sense in keeping the distinct areas apart.

The other option is reading glasses but having tried (distance) contacts I was shocked how often I need to see / read close up.

[FiF]

Firstly a decent optometrist and optician will look at your prescriptions, what uses you wish to use the specs for, posture, how you hold your head and the distance between your pupil and the lens / frame rim to determine a suitable lens design and size.

Yes prices vary, cheaper end will be older designs, and possibly you can get greater distortion towards the edges. Remember you are effectively trying to cram three prescriptions into one lens.

More expensive lenses will come with some modifications tailored to you, by that I mean amount and some limited positioning of the distance / mid range / near scripts. These are suitable for most people.

Most expensive will be the ones that really are individually tailored for you, some folks will benefit, but many will find it hard to identify the benefit.

In my experience of wearing progressive lenses, really shallow designs at the limit of what the optician will supply give problems because the area of each part is so small. Getting used to them you still end up getting the nickname of Noddy as you try and find the correct in focus vision. Even now I still end up taking specs off for close up diy work, e.g. working above your head wiring up a ceiling light switch often can't tilt your head back enough to look through the near vision part, so they're not magic.

Also again ime with progressive lenses it is far more critical to get accurate positioning in front of the eye, which is why you need to use a decent optician and not online providers. The latter make it sound simple but in reality much more complex than just providing a prescription and self measured PD. Other measurements needed which you cannot do yourself, and the stronger the scrip esp if significant astigmatism increases the need for proper dispensing.

[dk365]

V8RX7 said:

The other option is reading glasses but having tried (distance) contacts I was shocked how often I need to see / read close up.

You can get multifocal contact lenses that deal with distance and reading. One eye deals with distance and the other handles close up work. It takes a couple of days for your brain to adjust but you soon get used to it. I've been wearing multifocals for a 3 years now and prefer them to wearing glasses.

[mike9009]

I wore varifocals for the last few years (no longer need varifocals after a cataract operation... )

I used to wear narrow, 'fashion' glasses then needed to switch to varifocals. It was recommended I had a larger frame to get true benefit of the varifocals. I did this. It was explained to me that when looking at a computer screen I would need to scan the screen as it would 'probably' mean I couldn't see the whole screen with small lenses. This may not be true, but it persuaded me. I got on really well with the varifocals - very effective.

I was highly myopic (about -8.00 in both eyes) - so had the highest refractive index lens I could - the larger frames helped hide the thickness of the lens too.

Now I don't need glasses for distance work, and a cheap pair of readers for close-up work. Much better after having glasses from the age of 6/7.




Mike

[V8RX7]

Thanks

I'm thinking maybe I try contact lenses again and reading glasses.

I tried different contacts (long and short) but didn't get on with them, possibly because my right eye is so dominant

[GadgeS3C]

V8RX7 said:

Thanks

I'm thinking maybe I try contact lenses again and reading glasses.

I tried different contacts (long and short) but didn't get on with them, possibly because my right eye is so dominant

You can also get varifocal contacts that don't require one eye for close and one for distance. See link, easier than trying to explain. See the concentric ring ones.

I use them for outdoor stuff such as skiing and mountain biking where I need distance and ability to read piste maps. Work well for me.

I don't find them great for lots of reading or screen work but that could just be my prescription; they are obviously a compromise.

Although I've had varifocal glasses for a while no one ever mentioned varifocal contacts and I didn't realise how they worked.

BTW I resisted varifocal glasses for ages as I didn't think I'd get on with them. I found them very easy to get used to. It's great not needing to take several pairs of glasses everywhere.

Edited by GadgeS3C on Friday 3rd May 12:22

[CAPP0]

I've needed reading glasses for about 15 years but due to general deterioration the optician recommended varifocals to me last time and I had a pair made.

They're in the bottom of my work bag and I am using the cheap over-the-counter readers which I have been for ages (not least because I'm always scratching/breaking them) as I just couldn't get on with varifocal, despite having them re-made twice. They sort of do work but I end up moving my head all over the place to get a focus and they end making me feel very fuzzy and muggy.

Which reminds me I must go back today and get them changed. I'd rather have two pairs, one for computer and one for reading closer-up. Long sight is fine, nothing needed for that.