Not Happy With New Specs

zenmaster · 14 April 2010 at 12:37AM

I recently bought 2 new pairs of glasses from Asda.

They are their "new custom varifocal lenses" (whatever that means) in stylish designer frames. The new lenses are shallower than my previous ones - not much, about 3mm to 5mm - so this obviously means that the field of view for the short and long distance vision is narrower.

Firstly, the good part is that the prescription is much better than my old pair. I tried those again at the weekend and everything was definitely fuzzy around the edges.

BUT - these new ones distort the shape of everything very badly. For example, if I look at at a circular dinner plate at any other angle than straight on (like when washing up) it appears as an extended oval shape. When I sit at the table it seems as if it is downhill. Rectangular items (PC screen, book etc.) look wider at the top than the bottom. I was reading a book just now and the line of text seemed to curve downward toward the middle like a section of a circle.

This is obviously not right and I am beginning to find it extremely irritating, especially when I was trying to play golf last weekend.

I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?

Is it possibly due to the narrower field of view or a feature of the "new custom varifocal lenses"?

Will I eventually get used to it?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks.

dmg24 · 14 April 2010 at 12:46AM

Have you had varifocals before? I don't have them myself, but I know that they can take some getting used to.

zenmaster · 14 April 2010 at 1:25PM

Yes. Last pairs were varifocal and I have had those for 5+ years with no problems.

pattycake · 14 April 2010 at 5:08PM

Varifocals do create distortion off centre of the field of vision. I am sure you know that already if you have had them before. The better quality the lenses, the less the distortion.

In your place, I would persevere with the specs for a couple of weeks and if you are still unhappy, make another appointment with the optometrist. Firstly, they will need to check that the lenses have been made up correctly. If they have, they may need to re-test your eyes.

In any case, any reputable firm should sort out your problem.

sillyvixen · 14 April 2010 at 10:58PM

as it is a smaller frame than before have you got a' compact varifocal' which means the areas are closer together and therefore more distortion. also a increase in the reading prescription can lead to more distortion as the change is much steaper and coupled with a compact design or on its own can increase distortion and make a page look wierd.

zenmaster · 18 April 2010 at 9:27PM

sillyvixen wrote: »

as it is a smaller frame than before have you got a' compact varifocal' which means the areas are closer together and therefore more distortion. also a increase in the reading prescription can lead to more distortion as the change is much steaper and coupled with a compact design or on its own can increase distortion and make a page look wierd.

I think it is this. Unfortunately all the frames seem to use this "compact" format these days.

I think I will go and see them again because it is not just a slight distortion. As I walk aroung the house everything seems uphill and the door frames are not perpendicular. It's like one of those "crooked houses" at the fair, or a scene from "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas".

Thanks for your replies.

Not Happy With New Specs

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