Varifocal Lens

Archergirl

I have been wearing varifocals for 11 years and have had many pairs but this pair I cannot get on with, I have been back and they realigned them but still not right so they re tested my eyes and said the prescription was correct and realigned them again but still not right.
I had them put in the frames I bought last time and the still have my old lens which I am going to aske them to replace, but where do I stand with the new lens I can't get on with, can I ask them to remake them?

Aylesbury_Duck

Yes, you can ask them.  See what they say.

TELLIT01

My first thought on reading the start of the post was that you had new frames which were shallower than the old ones.  I made that mistake once and never did adjust to those glasses.  As the lenses have been fitted in frames used previously that clearly isn't part of the problem.  When you say they 'realigned them' do you mean they remade the lenses or tried adjusting the angle of the frame?

soolin

Where did you get them?

We used Specsavers for years and they replaced my husbands varifocals with no complaint as he had them adjusted once and still thought they were wrong, and we were within their 30day exchange period. They actually replaced them with something completely different.

More recently my last but one pair of frames annoyed me as they were trellis style and kept catching my hair when I moved, went back explained the problem and was allowed to change to an entire new frame and had the lenses replaced as well. 

born_again

Do you still have the old lenses?

If you do look for the markings on the lenses & see how they match up. 

Archergirl

born_again said:

Do you still have the old lenses?

If you do look for the markings on the lenses & see how they match up. 

I only had one or the other, not both. 

Archergirl

I went back this morning and they refunded me, now I have to decide weather to stick with my old lens or take my prescription somewhere else. 

Spinybif

Where did you buy them ? There are two likely explanations which will need help from the new Optician:- 
1.  The new prescription is wrong. Ask them to check your eyes again. If NHS test originally you can request a retest on the grounds of non-tolerance.  Automatic in Wales, you may have to write to NHS services for permission in England.  If private and purchasing new glasses they may retest you for free to ensure they are happy prescription is correct before making lenses.
2. The lens design is different. The main manufacturers Zeiss, Hoya, Essilor all make different grades of lenses. Dropping back a grade to save money may cause problems, not everyone can tolerate swapping between brands as each have different properties. The chains all market own brand lenses. The name may stay the same between visits but if they can source lenses cheaper they will. A Specsavers manager admitted to me that their premium lenses were only equivalent to the basic lenses offered by an Independent down the road which were actually cheaper!

Archergirl

Spinybif said:

Where did you buy them ? There are two likely explanations which will need help from the new Optician:- 
1.  The new prescription is wrong. Ask them to check your eyes again. If NHS test originally you can request a retest on the grounds of non-tolerance.  Automatic in Wales, you may have to write to NHS services for permission in England.  If private and purchasing new glasses they may retest you for free to ensure they are happy prescription is correct before making lenses.
2. The lens design is different. The main manufacturers Zeiss, Hoya, Essilor all make different grades of lenses. Dropping back a grade to save money may cause problems, not everyone can tolerate swapping between brands as each have different properties. The chains all market own brand lenses. The name may stay the same between visits but if they can source lenses cheaper they will. A Specsavers manager admitted to me that their premium lenses were only equivalent to the basic lenses offered by an Independent down the road which were actually cheaper!

They did a retest there and said the prescription was correct, she did say a minor variation but nothing important and (I don't think it's an exact thing as what you say is sometimes a bit different I am happy it's correct)
Interesting what you say about Specsavers, not sure I would go there, have heard of people having difficulties.

The new script has +1.75 under Inter Add the old one has nothing, I'm wondering if that would make a difference?

TELLIT01

born_again said:

Do you still have the old lenses?

If you do look for the markings on the lenses & see how they match up. 

What markings?  Genuinely interested as I wear varifocals and have never noticed any markings.  Unlike bi-focals where there is a clear distinctiong between the distance and reading parts.

born_again

TELLIT01 said:

born_again said:

Do you still have the old lenses?

If you do look for the markings on the lenses & see how they match up. 

What markings?  Genuinely interested as I wear varifocals and have never noticed any markings.  Unlike bi-focals where there is a clear distinctiong between the distance and reading parts.

https://www.abdo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2015-Hidden-Markings.pdf

page 7.

They are very light markings. If you are able to take you glasses off & check looking at something like a strip light you will see them, can sometimes be very feint. 
Markings are required for lenses to be glazed into frame. 
Optician should leave the transfer that is also on them to highlight the markings on to check that fitting of frame & lenses is correct. Then they clean them off. 👍