Varifocals cost dilemma

zenmaster

gfplux wrote: »

I have always thought that varifocals were NOT recommended for computer work. Have I got this all wrong.
This was because you would have to tilt your head back to use the lower part of the lense.

If that's the case the screen is in the wrong position.

Spectacle wearer or not, the top of the screen should be at eye level when looking straight ahead with the head in a neutral position. The entire screen can then be read by moving the eyes rather than the head. For varifocal wearers it also means that they are naturally using the lower part of the lens.

faddy

Does anyone have experience, good or bad, of moving to Asda varifocals (lenses by Shamir apparently) from a dearer brand? (My current glasses have Varilux Physio)

Buzby

Why keep looking at retail? I got off the hamster wheel in 2002, I get Vision Express to do the prescribing - and I purchase frames I like online. I see no benefit in purchasing 'designer' brands so I save a fortune rarely paying more then £49.

With the script and frames, I then go to my local manufacturing optical workshop (found them on Yell). They took these 2 items and marked up the lens for varifocals. The cost for high index lenses varied from £42 to £92 (for Seiko). The equivalent non-direct price was £425.

There are times the odd BOGOF retail offer will minimise your actual savings, but rarely will the long term costs of a retail purchase be good value.

curlygirl1971

faddy wrote: »

Does anyone have experience, good or bad, of moving to Asda varifocals (lenses by Shamir apparently) from a dearer brand? (My current glasses have Varilux Physio)

I'm really interested if this too.

My local Asda say they get 50% of their lenses from one manufacturer and 50% from Shamir. The optician, who I had quite a good chat with, really recommended Shamir and said he'd make sure they'd get my lenses from there. He said he could also supply varilux Physio incl frame at £220 (plus £80 for thinner lenses) if I really wanted but he himself wore Shamir. If I don't get on with Shamir then he'd upgrade me. So I've been reading about Shmir (& Varilux) but am curious as to which Shamir lenses they actually do supply as there are various 'grades'. These options probably aren't as good as the really premium lenses like Zeiss Superb.....but whether I would notice the difference is another matter. At £99 I think it's certainly worth finding out

I'd kinda settled, reluctantly!, on going for the Zeiss lenses at £580 but after talking to the optician in Asda I feel that Shamir might be a good and reasonable option. Reading quite a bit online including some optical boards - half the battle with varifocals is the quality of the fitting.

If you go for them in the meantime then let me know how you get on please.

curlygirl1971

Buzby wrote: »

Why keep looking at retail? I got off the hamster wheel in 2002, I get Vision Express to do the prescribing - and I purchase frames I like online. I see no benefit in purchasing 'designer' brands so I save a fortune rarely paying more then £49.

With the script and frames, I then go to my local manufacturing optical workshop (found them on Yell). They took these 2 items and marked up the lens for varifocals. The cost for high index lenses varied from £42 to £92 (for Seiko). The equivalent non-direct price was £425.

There are times the odd BOGOF retail offer will minimise your actual savings, but rarely will the long term costs of a retail purchase be good value.

To be honest I need to try frames on first . Although I guess I could still buy ones that I like in store and save on the lenses.

I did try finding a workshop near me but couldn't easily see one.

Who does your pupillary distance etc?

curlygirl1971

theoretica wrote: »

I can't speak for the varifocal issue, but if you can get your opticial to say you need separate specs just for computer work then I believe your work should pay for them.

Certainly not in my case unfortunately - I'm that short sighted I can't see my own hand clearly 10 inches away from my face. I need specs just for getting out of bed. But now my very near vision ie reading vision, rather than computer-middle-distance, has started going

Poppy9

OH is a contact lens wearer but at his last up grade for specs he was advised to have varifocals (he is long sighted). He went for the one down from top quality lens as he doesn't wear daily. When he went back to collect they had incorrectly made up distance only glasses (with the nice thin lenses) so they gave him these for free. :T:T:T The then made up his varifocals and he was surprised when he tried them how easy they were to see with and he didn't need to "adjust" to wearing them.

As he has a lens contract he had discount so paid about £220 for the varifocals.

faddy

Buzby wrote: »

Why keep looking at retail? I got off the hamster wheel in 2002, I get Vision Express to do the prescribing - and I purchase frames I like online. I see no benefit in purchasing 'designer' brands so I save a fortune rarely paying more then £49.

With the script and frames, I then go to my local manufacturing optical workshop (found them on Yell). They took these 2 items and marked up the lens for varifocals. The cost for high index lenses varied from £42 to £92 (for Seiko). The equivalent non-direct price was £425.

There are times the odd BOGOF retail offer will minimise your actual savings, but rarely will the long term costs of a retail purchase be good value.

Interesting idea. What do I search for to find one of these establishments? Are they happy to deal direct with the public? Do they take your measurements for fitting?

Undervalued

faddy wrote: »

Interesting idea. What do I search for to find one of these establishments? Are they happy to deal direct with the public? Do they take your measurements for fitting?

Yes, some are and advertise the service. Just Google (or yellow pages) "spectacle makers" or something similar. Often found on a industrial estate on the edge of a large village!

One note of caution though with an expensive purchase. If there is a problem you might find they blame the optician's prescription (maybe rightly maybe wrongly) and the optician blames the maker. If you buy from the optician then there is only one backside to kick in the event of a problem. However you may feel the substantial saving is worth the slight risk?

Murphybear

I got my current pair from Specsavers and even with their offers and an NHS voucher they were still quite expensive. I haven't had any problems with them but haven't worn very expensive lenses to compare.

They gave me a half price voucher for an additional pair and I got a quote for prescription sunglasses. I have one of my lens thin and this is always extra. Even with half price they seemed dear.

I went to Asda and they quoted £99 for my prescription including designer frames and ultra thin lens for one eye. My Oh paid the extra to have Polaroid it was about £40. I have just got them and they are amazing, just need a bit of sun!

The Asda person did tell me that they used to use Zeiss but they got too expensive.