varifocals.

roddydogs

Agree, I have fairly bad astigmatism & wear Variofocals, they work OK.
As i said, cheap variofocals are no good.
PS its BiFocals that make you look old, not variofocals.

davsidipp

roddydogs wrote: »

Agree, I have fairly bad astigmatism & wear Variofocals, they work OK.
As i said, cheap variofocals are no good.
PS its BiFocals that make you look old, not variofocals.

i had gone for the better varifocals,but what annoys me with specsavers is they charge extra for anti-glare and 49 quid for reactions,which i feel bumps the price up.

fluffymuffy

My mother (70s) had varifocals for decades. Then one day she tried my glasses on - just a cheap pair form Asda for watching TV. She then tried my reading glasses (Asda), and then a few other pairs I have for various distances (I've 12 cheap pairs - some to match various outfits).

Mother was angry and upset. She borrowed my "shopping glasses" to walk home and when she got home she rang to say she hadn't seen the pavement in years. She'd spent 100s/1000s of pounds on these varifocals over the years just to look at life through a Slot of vision focus.

edit - I mean the really cheap off the shelf glasses - sold as Reading Glasses, but I often buy a really weak prescription pair just for walking about. I do have a pair of prescription specs - not varifocals either - specially for playing the piano.

fluffymuffy

Another thought just occurred to me. I wonder how many falls older people are having because they trip over things they couldn't see while wearing their varifocals?

suki1964

Love my varifocals. I'm 48 and been wearing them around 18 years and really never had a problem with them bar one pair which had to be changed

The last 10-12 years been buying from specsavers, been paying the extra for the thinner lenses as my astigmatism is pretty bad and find I settle into them within a day or two. I don't get blurred edges but I am aware I don't have a huge wide Vision from the sides.

But I'm safe to drive a car which I'm not with just ordinary lenses

roddydogs

Well im in my 70s and can see the pavement fine with my variofocals, I just look down and there it is, never had any problem.

consultant31

roddydogs wrote: »

Well im in my 70s and can see the pavement fine with my variofocals, I just look down and there it is, never had any problem.

Me too Not sure how anyone wouldn't be able to see the pavement???

I've been wearing varifocals for donkeys years and never had any trouble with them, whereas my friend has 3 pairs of glasses (short, middle and long distance) which she has to cart around everywhere she goes. She can't ever use a dainty handbag cos she has to have all these pairs of specs to hand all the time.

I think it might take time for some people to get used to them but not more than a week or two. You do need to have slightly bigger lenses though, the new, very narrow ones really don't work.

tidus

I'm an optometrist.

Most people get on with varifocal lenses - there are millions walking around with them on right now. The success rate is 80-90%, depending on who you believe.

The reality is that if you don't get yourself into them, you'll be going off and on with multiple pairs for the rest of your life.

If you don't get on with them, usually your optician will switch them back to single vision anyway (or bifocals maybe) so there isn't any real reason not to try them.

Old people usually fall because they are old, not because they are wearing varifocals that they are well used to and adapted to. It might be a bad idea to try varifocals for the first time at 90 years old however after 40 years in bifocals.

Hints:

1) Better quality varifocals work better and are easier to get used to. Buy the best you can afford.

2) Don't leave to until you are elderly. Get in them early.

3) Persevere for at least 2 weeks when you get them, and wear them as much as possible during that time.

4) Have a positive outlook - if you start off assuming you won't get on with them, you probably won't.

nedmundo

Just to add to my learned collegaues excellent advice - fitting is critical. Best get them measured and fitted face to face with a qualified Dispensing Optician who understands what they are doing.

cfw1994

right: on with the varifocals after many years of "normal" glasses (but a struggle to read!).

Finding them very weird: I paid (nasally!) for the "top of range" ones....but having read things like "there is a small amount of soft focus at the edges" for the distance, I find myself questioning whether the right lenses were installed: feels like I have to be looking fairly directly at things for them to be in focus (& even then.....).

Also had ordered 2 pairs (deal at my opticians) and one feels a little fuzzier than the other.......worrying !

*sigh*

But I will persevere this week and try to get on with them.....