Specsavers varifocal lenses

Doc_N

Specsavers (masters of low lead-in prices but much higher actual prices after the sales people have done their work) offer four grades of varifocal lenses as extras over and above the standard lens price:

Standard varifocal lenses - £49
Premium varifocal lenses - £79
Elite varifocal lenses - £119
Tailor-made varifocal lenses - £159


Much like car manufacturers and builders, extras like this are where Specsavers really make their money, but does anyone have any knowledge or personal experience as to how big the differences actually are between these four grades please?

Enterprise_1701C

I don't know the differences, but I have been using the premium ones for a few years, I cycle and do everything normally, they seem to be pretty good to me.

Browntoa

The cheapest option means the varifocal part is noticeable when you look up and down , the premium means it's virtually unnoticeable when you move your eyes ( although I find I have to take varifocal glasses off to reverse my car as it plays havoc with depths and distance)

roddydogs

The cheaper ones are also thicker, so heavier. No ASDA opticians near you? Much cheaper.

Doc_N

Specsavers say this about them, but I've learned to take what they say with a very large pinch of salt over the years:






Actual experiences of MSE members are somewhat less biased!

Doc_N

roddydogs wrote: »

The cheaper ones are also thicker, so heavier. No ASDA opticians near you? Much cheaper.

I tried Asda, but for the first time ever the varifocals haven't proved very satisfactory and they only seem to offer the one grade. It's an awful lot cheaper than Specsavers, but the fact that I'm not going back probably says it all. The eye test was good, and comprehensive, but the rest of it wasn't a good experience.

martinthebandit

I bought a pair of the dearest option after using bifocals for a number of years.

I tried them for a month and really couldn't get on with them, when I went back to specsavers and explained the problems I was having with them they changed the lenses for me and refunded the price difference.

Which I thought was excellent service.

firefox1956

I have used Varilux lenses for about 10 years now.
Very expensive but very good.
You dont get the same problems as with Varifocals
New pair of lenses this week & new frames cost me £420.00 at an independent.
https://www.essilor.co.uk/index.php/Products/Varilux

Gloomendoom

firefox1956 wrote: »

I have used Varilux lenses for about 10 years now.
Very expensive but very good.
You dont get the same problems as with Varifocals

:huh: Varilux lenses are varifocals.

I have a pair of safety specs from Specsavers provided by my employer. They were only willing to pay for the cheapest (£49) varifocal option. Compared to my usual specs with high quality free-form varifocal lenses, the field of vision is terrible. To look at anything not directly in front of me and see it in focus, rather than just move my eyes, I have to turn my whole head.

pattycake

I use Specsavers and I always pay for the tailor made lenses. I don’t have a high prescription but I take the view that my glasses are on my face everyday for at least two years so cost per wearing is reasonable!

lisyloo

I paid for the best one at specsavers. I got 2x varifocals and 1 x readers for £350 with some vouchers for work. Strctly speaking I don't need them only for VDU but specsavers were amenable to taking the vouchers so worth a try.

Unless you are really financially stretched I think eyesight is a bad thing to compromise on.