Varifocal lenses a good option for VDU and phone use?

Nova1307

Hi, 

This seems to be the closest thread to my question. I use reading glasses for using my laptop and phone for work purposes (lens strength is +1.25 and so not too strong) but my distance eyesight for everyday life is generally fine. 

I'm getting a bit fed up of constantly putting my reading glasses on and taking them off (every time I read a text or email) and wondered if anyone has experience of varifocals? Do they require to be worn all the time and if so would this affect my eyesight when I am not wearing glasses i.e. would I become dependent on them? I would rather only wear them when I need them and not all the time as I don't want to become dependent on them given my distance eyesight is fine.

Many thanks

TELLIT01

I wear varifocals and have no problem at all for all purposes.  Some people simply can't get on with varifocals at all.  The advice I would give is not to select frames which are too shallow or you will have very narrow 'sweet spots' for either distance, mid-range, or reading functions.  Voice of experience there!

Marcon

Nova1307 said:

Hi, 

This seems to be the closest thread to my question. I use reading glasses for using my laptop and phone for work purposes (lens strength is +1.25 and so not too strong) but my distance eyesight for everyday life is generally fine. 

I'm getting a bit fed up of constantly putting my reading glasses on and taking them off (every time I read a text or email) and wondered if anyone has experience of varifocals? Do they require to be worn all the time and if so would this affect my eyesight when I am not wearing glasses i.e. would I become dependent on them? I would rather only wear them when I need them and not all the time as I don't want to become dependent on them given my distance eyesight is fine.

Many thanks

If you have varifocals prescribed and fitted by a competent optician, and the prescription is reasonably up to date, you should be fine for all purposes. The 'fitting' bit is crucial - they really aren't something you can buy cheaply online and be certain all will be fine from the word go, especially with your first pair when you've no idea what to expect.

It would be interesting to see how good your distance vision is - or more accurately, how much it is improved by prescription lenses! You may be surprised that 'generally fine' can become 'excellent' at a stroke. If on the hand it's perfect,then the part of the lens you look through for distance vision will have little or no 'strength' in the lens.

Varifocals don't change your eyes, so whether you wear them all the time or just for parts of the day is up to you. They do take a bit of getting used to, but it is well worth persevering.

Completely endorse the comment above about not choosing lenses which are too shallow.

MalMonroe

Hi, I've tried varifocals and just can't get on with them (as mentioned by TELLIT01 above). 

You're generally meant to wear them all the time but you should definitely speak to your optician and ask their opinion. Once they've tested your eyes they'll have a good idea of what's best for you.

SandyShores

I had a similar problem.  I found supermarket shopping during lockdowns especially annoying, having to adjust the mask each time I removed my glasses to read a label.  I'm shortsighted so also started to notice a problem with reading the satnav when I was driving in my distance glasses.  I went for the mid-price range and didn't have any problems with them, they take a little bit of getting used to, but after a year or two I don't even think about it and couldn't go back to single vision.  

J63320

I have some varifocals that were described by my optician as “office glasses”  and I find they work for general indoor use - light reading, PC and tablet, meal prep, housework, TV. I’m wearing them as I type this. I need normal varifocals with longer distance for driving, but they are no good for reading or general indoor wear because there isn’t enough of the lens area providing near vision. I also have a pair with a reading prescription but I often find I’m several pages into a book before I remember I’m still wearing the “office” ones.

MikeJXE

I have had both varifocal and bifocal but prefer single vision long distance for driving. I don't consider either of them good for driving. I read all the time on iPhone iPad and kindle paper white all with larger text no glasses. If I want to read tiny print on a label which is not very often it's easy to take a photo and expand it. 

TELLIT01

A couple of comments about personal experience with varifocals.  I had absolutely no problems with mine and wore them home from the opticians.  The biggest shock I got was to discover writing on the inside of the bezel of my watch when I got my first varifocals.  It was crystal clear too.  I hadn't previously seen any writing there let alone been able to read it.  I have always gone for top of the range lenses as cheaper ones can create distortion when looking out toward the edges.

The only pair of varifocals I did have problems with were a pair with quite shallow lenses and the opticians failed to set those up so that I could see properly at mid-distance.  In the end they acknowledged that they weren't really suitable for varifocal lenses and did change them.

On the other hand my mother gave up with hers as she simply couldn't adjust to them.

Savvy_Sue

I don't wear mine for walking around all the time and especially not for coming downstairs! I can, but I don't 'feel' safe doing so. 

I do have a pair for driving which live in the car and get on really well with them, they have a tint. 

TELLIT01

Savvy_Sue said:

I don't wear mine for walking around all the time and especially not for coming downstairs! I can, but I don't 'feel' safe doing so. 

That's one of the reasons I paid out for top of the range lenses.  There is little or no distortion when looking through the edges of the lens.

Nova1307

Thanks for all the advice.

I will book an eye test and discuss my options with the optician. Main takeaways are no shallow frames and no cheap online lenses. I have identified a pair of Ray-ban frames I really like and may order them online (much cheaper) if the optician is able to fit lenses. The online company offers refunds for frames but not for lenses (in the event that I can't get on with varifocals).