Varifocal glasses.

[gavroche]

Had my first eye test ever today at the age of 66. At present I only use cheap reading glasses but decided to have my eyes tested as I noticed my left eye is weaker than my right for long distance. Anyway, went to Asda opticians this afternoon and decided to try varifocals. I heard many stories about them, some good, some not so good. If you use them, what are your views? The nice lady in Asda told me I can change them if I don't like them.

 

[Roadrider48]

They just take a bit of getting used to.
Looking up or down for whatever it is you're doing.
Or am I thinking of bi-focals?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I am reading this through my Asda varifocals, the frame is solid and comfortable, the lenses good quality, no scratches after a few years, they are photochromic lenses and go dark & clear again very quickly. The varifocal is smooth and consistent up and down and side to side. I'm very happy with them.

I've had varifocal glasses from Tesco too that were more expensive, flimsier frames, I had no end of trouble with them grinding the lenses correctly, the glass was more prone to little chips and nicks after less time and all round I would not go to Tesco ever again for glasses, they are supermarket playing at opticians whereas Asda seem to have gone for putting an opticians in a bigger shop.

 

[mybike]

I have no problem with varifocals, wife couldn't cope. But remember to look down when at the kerb or on stairs.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I use varifocals but find they struggle to cope when I'm driving and need to shift focus between watching the road, reading the instruments and typing on my phone.

 

[Venod]

I use varifocals without any problems but some people find them awkward, sometimes a perfectly straight line can appear to have a curve it depends at what angle you view it but its very minor, the more you pay for the lenses the better they are, I am going to invest in some cycling specific ones with reactolite lenses when funds allow.

 

[Oxo]

I have used varifocals for a number of years. When out and about I can happily wander around and also read anything I want, as when browsing in a book shop, for example, without forever putting my glasses on or taking them off.
I don't need to wear them for driving or cycling.
They can take a bit of getting used to especially if you have a strong prescription. Definitely worth sticking with them if you have initial problems.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

My varifocals are just brilliant. No trouble. I always go to my local Optician as I get great service there

 

[psmiffy]

I have worn varifocals for almost 20 years - suit me as I have always been short sighted and with age near distance things became a problem as well - ordinary glasses OK to wear to see across a shop but not what is on the shelves - would not wear anything else now have a nice pair for cycling as well

 

[ufkacbln]

"Point the nose"

Best advice I was given

The problem is getting used to the lenses as you move your head

BY a positive movemet from point A to point B without a "wobbly bit" in between it makes the process far easier

 

[Hill Wimp]

I'm another one that can't get on with them. I recently had my annual eye test and found my distance vision is starting to deteriorate so I'm faced with potentially having two sets of glasses, one for reading and one for driving. I use cheap reading glasses now which are great and spend most of their time on the end of my nose or on top of my head but I am right on the limit for driving.

The joys of getting older.

 

[TVC]

I have varifocals, they did take a few days to get used to them. When I read I look down at a page rather than straight at it, now I don't even think about it.

 

[Salad Dodger]

I have used varifocals for years. I get on fine with them.
Just very occasionally, a sudden turn of the head - say looking both ways before crossing the road or something like that - might give me a brief feeling of disorientation. But I have never at any stage felt that I wanted to give up on them.

Mrs Salad, on the other hand, tried them and just could not get on with them. She took the first pair back, convinced that the prescription had been made up wrongly. A second pair, in a different frame, fared no better. So she has gone back to 2 pairs of glasses: "lookers" for distance and "readers" for close up stuff. It may have a bearing on her situation that she has one eye much weaker/shorter sighted than the other, so maybe that made it less likely that they would work for her......

 

[Fab Foodie]

I use Reactolite Varifocals and they're the dogs.

 

[PK99]

"Point the nose"

Best advice I was given

The problem is getting used to the lenses as you move your head

BY a positive movemet from point A to point B without a "wobbly bit" in between it makes the process far easier

Yes. point your nose at what you want to look at and tilt your head to focus.