Varifocals & migraines?

Running_Horse

The thing about varifcoals is you have to get used to turning your head rather than your eyes to see, otherwise you are looking through a distorted part of the lens. Most have a fairly narrow distance or reading or corridor in between. All varifocals are a compromise between the above three things. Trying a different design/brand of varifocal might help, but if you haven't got used to turning your head instead of your eyes, then nothing will help you. Go back and talk to your qualified optician about the best options.

Raksha

Went back today, for the £95 I paid for the original pair of varifocals, I will get a pair of distance glasses and a pair of reading glasses - £40 worth! No refund, no nothing - this was not made clear when I placed the order, infact the manager was very snotty and told me they don't discuss those issues until the 14 day period is up. I don't think this is acceptable and I should have been told when I told them that budget was an issue that if I don't get on with varifocals, then I end up paying a lot of money for 2 basic pairs of glasses.

To make matters worse, the manager turned away from me mid conversation and started talking to the girl on the till!!

nedmundo

I would have thought that they would have tried you with a different varifocal design or at least credited you with the full £95 to put towards 2 pairs of single vision. This wasn't the place offering 'free' varifocals by chance was it?

BTW - I've never encountered varifocals as a cause to migraine in 15 years.

Raksha

No it wasn't the free varifocals (it was Mr T). I also chose the 'mid range' lenses to start with. No mention was made of a different style of lense (which I assume carries the 'distance' prescription over a wide angle of the lense.

BTW - I was having migraines before the varifocals - Dr recommended getting my eyes checked to rule out any eye problems causing the migraines. I don't think the varifocals caused my recent migraine, but I've been suffering with a weird front of the face headache since I started wearing varifocals.

I am so dissapointed because I had a really positive attitude towards varifocals, I wasn't going to be the one who couldn't get used to them

And to add to it all, I was so stressed out by the bloomin' manager, I left my handbag on the trolley after I'd unloaded my shopping, and now I've got to go back to the store today to get it

pattycake

The different grades of varifocal lenses are at different prices. The more expensive ones have better fields of vision. For example, my lenses alone are £185. I do not have particularly bad eyesight. Some shortsightedness and the difficulty with reading that comes as you get older. My husband's lenses are only £99 and he gets on perfectly well with them.

If you only paid £95 for varifocals and frames, that does seem very cheap to me. I use a local independent optometrist. He may not be cheap but I know if I have any problems they will be sorted out to my satisfaction. I am a firm believer in the saying "You get what you pay for".

suki1964

pattycake wrote: »

If you only paid £95 for varifocals and frames, that does seem very cheap to me. I use a local independent optometrist. He may not be cheap but I know if I have any problems they will be sorted out to my satisfaction. I am a firm believer in the saying "You get what you pay for".

Whilst I agree and it was cheap, for many people the cheaper lenses are perfectly fine.

I remember when I first went to varifocals and they were near on 500 quid a pair because I was talked into buying the best top of the range lenses available at that time and yep - they were lovely glasses and really easy to get on with - I was used to them in 24 hours. Then with a loss of income I had to go to Specsavers for my last two prescriptions and whilst I havent gone as low as their cheapest, the middle of the range lens is as good as the ones I used to have - with really no blurring at all.

I think we just have to remember that varis are a complex prescription and that its not always easy to dispense the perfect pair that suits straight away. I know that Specsavers you have a month to wear them and have adjustments made before you get your second ( free pair) ordered. I know if I start getting headaches straight away then they arent fitted correctly and I go in and get them to fiddle with them till feel better - can take two or three times - depending on frames. Soon as they start getting loose and falling down my nose the headaches return - because Im straining to see through the wrong part so back I go again.

Varis can be difficult to get used to but once mastered you would never go back to chopping and changing glasses for different jobs.

Raksha

I've been thinking about what I've been experiencing, and it's not that I can get used to looking through the lenses, it's that the blooming things actually hurt! I've already taken them back once to have the arms loosened and the nose pads adjusted - but they are just as bad again, if not worse. First day I had them I wore them for 3 or 4 hours before the symptoms developed, second day about the same, third day I had the migraine, and from then on could only wear them for an hour or so before my nose and the front of my face started hurting as if I had sinusitis. As soon as I took the varifocals off, the symptoms stopped bothering me so much..........

Savvy_Sue

Raksha wrote: »

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that a couple of pairs of reading glasses, stratigically placed (home and work) and a distance pair for driving etc. might be a better solution for the same money.

I'm fortunate in being able to manage with 'ready readers' rather than needing a proper prescription, but I have glasses by my bed, in the lounge, at work, in my handbag, in the kitchen/diner, and in the car (for mapreading!)

I am dreading the day I need prescription glasses ...

But the other thing which helps me hugely is good lighting - are there any lighting issues where you work?

Raksha

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But the other thing which helps me hugely is good lighting - are there any lighting issues where you work?

I don't think so - it's hard to describe - office is a converted garage with window and door on the short side. I have a corner desk and sit with my back diagonally to the door (so window is behind my rh shouldar). We have halogen lights but often make do with natural day light instead.

fifi63

Raksha, try to persevere with the varifocals. It took me over a month to get used to them.

I too get really bad migraines but I haven't had any increase in frequency since I got them. I think mine are hormone related, as I have had an increase since I had a mirena coil inserted. Have just had it removed will see if there is any difference.