First varifocal lenses/glasses: Go for the best?

Murphybear

When I got new varifocals last year I went for the more expensive ones.  The difference was amazing, I could see almost perfectly as soon as I put them on, it normally takes a few days 

i had a bad experience with Asda, I couldn’t see properly with my new glasses and it took 2 visits (80 miles round trip) and a court threat for them to admit there was anything wrong.  They also didn’t explain that their prices only included the basic quality and I wasn’t given a choice to upgrade.  

Murphybear

If you get NHS vouchers there is something you need to be aware of.

I bought my last specs from Specsavers and they were offering a 2nd pair for half price.  I thought I’d get a second pair but was surprised to find that the second pair would cost a lot more than the first.  This is because the NHS won’t fund a second pair so you have to pay the full price.  

t8769

Is there a real difference between expensive Varifocals, and moderate or cheaper lense?
Specsavers offers expensive and cheaper lenses.
I'm using them for computer use mostly, with some reading.

t8769

Should I get the expensive varifocals for computer use?
They advertise a digital pair, most expensive, but is it worth it - would mid range be enough.
Is there any real advantage or is this unnecessary?

meeemee

I use boots opticians, they are more expensive but vision and quality is better, usually the dispensing optician measures but if not two members of staff usually check each other, never had a problem compared to when I used to go to specsavers and realised theirs is done all computer rather than humans. 

andre_xs

I don't have experience with different quality of varifocals. However, I now went with the expensive version (Essilor Varilux 4D) - ordered today. I do believe that there are quality differences depending on the price and, as a rule of thumb, one can say 'the more expensive, the better'.

It can affect things like the quality of the glass (how easy does it break, refractory index, thickness,...), the quality of the coatings (anti-reflex, UV-filter,...), the accuracy of how the glass is produced, and further things. High quality optics quickly become very expensive, just compare lenses for cameras and alike.

However, I'm not saying that middle-range glasses (personally I wouldn't opt for the cheapest option) are not good and wouldn't suffice. And also I don't know how much better the higher priced lenses are, and how noticeable the increase in quality is in the end.

I decided for really good glasses because I currently have other eye problems as well and there's a tiny hope that good glasses might help (at least I then can't say that I wouldn't have tried :-) ). I used my last pair of (high quality) glasses for at least 8 years (I can't even remember when I got them) and I only get new ones because my prescription changed.

If I consider that I'd have spent £250 anyway (good option at Specsaver), I'm now paying a 'premium' of £365 to get the Varilux 4D. If I use them for 4 years only, then this premium is an extra £91/year or £7.60/month. For an item which I use and wear for 16 hours+ every single day, I think it's worth it...

For the above, I only considered the first pair of glasses, which have been at my local independent optician £615, £450 for the lenses and £165 for a titanium frameless frame :-) and the variable sunglass shading (clear if inside/dark, going brown when outside). See the thread here, I think the free second pair offered by the big chains is either not worth the money or you need to pay additional to get the same quality as the first pair.

I also ordered a second pair of glasses (same frame, Essilor offer a second pair of lenses for flat £50 instead of ~£400) for in total £130, but without the sunglass option.

But that's my very own personal decision. I know that's a lot of money to pay in one go, but when broken down to the lifetime of the glasses and expressed as 'additional costs per month', the differences become negligible.

So, for Specsavers, cheapest option £130, 'Premium' glasses £220 if I remember correctly. Thus, upgrade costs £90. If you wear them 3 years, that's £30 per year or £2.50 per month.

Floss

andre_xs said:

.... See the thread here, I think the free second pair offered by the big chains is either not worth the money or you need to pay additional to get the same quality as the first pair....

Mine have always been exactly the same lenses & coating at no extra cost - whether Specsavers, Boots or independent optometrist.

LandM1

I’ve had varifocals for years. I’ve had the lenses done in numerous places because I often buy frames abroad where they tend to be more interesting, especially in Italy. I usually pop into a couple of places with my frames and prescription and get a price, then  I go for the cheapest. Never had a problem. I think that some opticians massively overcharge and mystify specs. I’d get some sunnies too, I apply the same idea to those, although I’ve had ok ones from Specsavers. My last pair of varifocals cost me about £160. Frames from Venice, 99 euros, bought online, and lenses done locally £70. 

Q02

Been wearing varifocals since 1998 and have had very poor to good experiences.

First pair were from the small local optician I had used since the early 70’s. Told me I needed the best lenses and sold me 1.6 Hoya, one pair cost about £300. Took quite a bit of getting used too but persevered, eventually OK (just). Year later sold me a pair with the latest 1.7 (thinnest) Hoya lens, cost about £400, total disaster, would not sort the issues, last time I went there.

Next time I went to a different small optician near where I worked. Did a 2 for 1 offer and also did the Hoya 1.6 lens that I had the first time. Cost me just over £200 for a pair of varifocals and a pair of single vision tints, bargain. Best bit was the simple fact I could see perfectly. 2 years later went back and since my reading prescription had changed they suggested a new pair of Hoya varifocals and putting a tint on my old pair of varifocals. Total cost was about £200 again and as before excellent. 2 years later went back again, new pair of varifocals (Hoya again) and to save money they suggested a pair of Hilco sun clips (which worked a treat – still have them).

3 years later in 2010 I had changed jobs and after chatting to people at work decided to try Specsavers. At that time they offered Hoya lenses and I got a pair of clear vari focals and a pair of tinted varifocals for about £250. They lasted me until 2016 but I did get a pair of single vision reading specs 2013 which were far better for long periods spent checking documents. In 2014 I fancied new specs despite no prescription change but when they arrived (pair or clear varifocals and a pair of photochromic varifocals) I could not see clearly through either left lens. Lab upstairs checked them and the lens was not my prescription, at the time I hoped they would sort them but they simply refunded me which in truth was no bad thing, it saved me about £350. They were Pentax lenses this time.

Went back to Specsavers in 2016 for 2 new pairs, clear and tinted, problem again with left lens in both pairs but this time they sorted it after I had made it clear that I was not happy 2 years before. They were fine then, their own brand lenses now.

Starting in 2012 I was diagnosed with glaucoma in my right eye and then in 2018 a cataract in my right eye as well. So come February 2019 I had the cataract sorted. After the hospital had discharged me I decided to return to the local independent I had used in the early 90’s. After my test I looked at the frames they had on offer and talked about varifocal lenses, could not believe the prices, £150 for the cheapest frame and £400 for Essilor lenses, £1100 for 2 pairs. Took the prescription to Specsavers and got a pair of clear varifocals, a pair of tinted varifocals and a pair of reading specs for about £350, 1/3 of the price of the independent shop. No problems with them at all.

Come summer I decided to get a pair of darker tinted varifocals and having read about Asda’s £45 all in specs went to our local store. Chose a similar frame I was used too and the lenses had all the coatings and paid the £45 as advertised. Very happy with them, so happy that when I needed new specs the following year (bit of a change as the new lens settled in I am told) I went back to Asda and bought a pair of varifocal clear, a pair of varifocal 45% tint and a pair of varifocal 75% tint, all for £135. All were perfect, no issues at all, how do they do it. After 2 years in 2022 there had been a change in my left eye as a cataract began to form. So a new pair of Asda varifocal clear and pair of Asda photochromic varifocals, total cost £139. Fine again, jury’s out (as always) on photochromics but that is not an Asda problem. Also bought a new pair of reading specs but got them from Specsavers from their all in £19 range, really good value.

Got the other Cataract done in November last year and after being discharged by the hospital in January it was time for new specs. This time the Hospital did a full eye test and provided a prescription so no need to visit an optician for that. With the new lenses I have a very small prescription for distance but still have a +2.5 for reading so immediately got a pair of readings specs from Specsavers, this time they had dropped to £15. The hospital optician also suggested that I get a pair of intermediate specs for computer use (got them on now) with +1.5 lenses (she put all this on my prescription) and they are brilliant, wish these had been suggested before I retired, £15 again from Specsavers. Got varifocal clears from Asda for £45 and since both eyes are now balanced with the new lenses after my surgery my sight is better than its been since I was 8, total revelation. So to pamper myself I ordered a pair of 45% tints and a pair of 75% tints (varifocals) from Asda’s 2 for £120 sunspec range. Problem with these is simple, after 4 weeks I discovered that the frame they ordered is no longer available (you would have thought the system would not have allowed them to order them) thus I have got to make a revisit next week to see the dispensing optician again. Luckily they are only about 5 miles away so no major issue but in truth it should not have happened. When they finally arrive my total spend will have been £165.

So based on my experience and current prices, if you want simple single vision specs with no tints etc get them from the Specsavers £15 range. If you want varifocals, tints, photochromics get them from Asda.

Its crazy to pay more. Who but a mad person would pay £1100 for 2 pairs as charged by the optician in town when Asda is only 2 miles away.

trailingspouse

Have worn Varifocals for about 10 years now.

As well at the quality of the lens, think about the size as well. Because basically three prescriptions need to be fitted in to one lens, I found that a small lens size didn't give me enough of each prescription to be useful, particularly the reading part.

I get mine from Vision Express, more than happy with them. I get a 'normal' pair, with a pair of sunglasses as my 'half price' pair. As my glasses are the only item of 'clothing' that I wear on every single occasion, from gardening to going to a wedding, I spend a lot of time making sure the frames are right and I'll spend the extra money if I need to.