Varifocal Lenses?

[mrs.chappie]

Anyone have these, and if so, how long was it before you felt comfortable with them?

Thanks for any replies peeps.

[mrs.chappie]

My hubby tried for two weeks, then decided they weren't for him. He's encouraging me to give them a go though. I guess it's because I'm whinging (sp?) about having to keep swapping my glasses over and he's fed up of listening to me.

[boxtops]

It also means that once you have them, mrs C, you only have one pair you can sit on :-)

[mrs.chappie]

Good thinking Boxy. :o)

[jno]

could be, ladybirder, but I just wasn't going to drive another inch in them. Do yours provide for close-up vision at the sides, or the same distance as the main part of the specs? (Which was obviously what I'd been expecting.)

[Maydup]

OH has them and adapted easily.

However he did go to a good optician and is thinking about going to one of the high street names next time to save money. Are the as good or would it be that these cheaper lenses are the ones that people have touble with maybe?

[haysi06]

My lenses weren't cheap and I went to a good optician. I couldn't get used to them and felt like I had more headaches whilst I had them. mrs.chappie, best advice is to speak to your optician. I wish they did 'free' trials though! (if anyone knows of an optician that does, let me know)

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks Haysi, I will.

[askyourgran]

I've had varifocals for quite a while now, I wouldn't like to try single vision ones now. My sunglasses are also prescription varifocals - not that I use them much. As the others say, be careful going downstairs in them, and get the decent size lens to be able to have a better all round vision. Better than swapping glasses going around the supermarket.

[brenda]

Had them for ten years now -- a couple of days to get used to them -- brilliant wouldn't go back ever to the 2 pairs of specs routine.

[ladybirder]

jno I would have stopped driving as well, had I been in your shoes. Mine are very small lenses and you could say I don't have any sides. I am not aware of any change in the lenses, wherever I look, I can just see clearly wherever I want. I suppose I turn my head without realising it. Also I have very bad eyes and if I didn't pay a fortune to have thin Zeiss lenses they would look like bottle tops. When I had bifocals I had a problem with the split but not now. Such shame some peeps can't get on with them because it is such a pain swapping specs all the time.

[hc4361]

I was wary about having them, having heard bad reports and the high cost, but the difference is remarkable. After just one day I couldn't 'see' the different parts of the lenses, so I am not aware that I am wearing varifocals except I can drive, read, watch tv and use the computer with the same pair of glasses. I wear them from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed and would never go back to single lenses.
Never noticed a problem with navigating stairs, either.

You must keep them clean as a little smudge will have a big impact on that part of your vision, but really this isn't a problem.

[Ann]

I've had mine for 20 years or more .... I got used to them immediately. If you don't - please go back, there can be a problem positioning the "line" where the distance and the reading part of the lens starts. It should be in the centre of your pupil I think, often the dispenser makes an error (mine did only last month!) they are used to people going back and should (if they are a good optician) work hard to get it spot-on for you.

[terrywogan]

I don't know if it would help, but I've found not wearing the new varifocals straight away (the day you get them) but when you get out of bed the next morning, seems to allow you to adjust quicker.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks very much for all your input, peeps. x

[boxtops]

ann, I agree with you about the line - as there are three bands on varifocials, I can't have mine through the middle of the eye, otherwise my sight gets confused. The small band acorss the centre of the eye is set to my computer screen.

ladybirder - I too go for Zeiss - the best, and worth it.

Maidup - personally, I wouldn't. the personal attention I received from an independent optician far outweight a cut in price at a chain.

My sister has varifocal contact lenses - I have no idea how they work, but she seems to get on OK with them - obviously they always have to go in, the right way up!

[gingejbee]

There are different "qualities" of varifocal from the same manufacturer- let's say standard, premium and optimum at increasing cost. You may find that you can never get on with the standard ones but the premium or optimum ones could be perfect. This happened to me - I need the top of the range (most expensive, naturally)- otherwise I can't get on with them.

[flicrat]

I have had them for five or six years now. They took about 48 hours to adjust to, but I found them brilliant - am not a driver, though, but have no problem organ and piano playing , looking up at congregation, back to music, down to pedals, etc, etc.Think you will find them good.

[rowanwitch]

I find them brilliant... but the best bit of advice I was given was don't wear them when you collect them put them on first thing the next morning when you wake up... I did that and my eyes seemed to adjust straight away

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks all, I appreciate your replies. x

[Buenchico]

The trick with varifocals is to remember (in the early days at least) to move your head, rather than your eyes. So, for example, if you want to look at something on the ground immediately in front of you, don't just realign your eyes. (If you do that, everything will start swimming!). Tilt your head downwards instead.

Chris