Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: sheila99 on March 17, 2019, 11:22:33 PM
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Presumably some people find bifocals OK as they're still selling them. I can't get on with them. I find the line between the two lenses intrusive and if I'm looking through it while moving my eyes or head I feel sick. Are varifocals any better? Is there still a line or is it more gradual? They cost even more so reluctant to try them unless there's a good chance it will improve things.
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It sounds like they might not have assessed your eye movements for your bifocals correctly.
I have been using them for years and they did a thing where I had to look in different directions as they measured where the top and bottom of the lenses had to be.
I don't even see the line. Sorry, doesn't answer your question about varifocals.
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I have worn varifocals for years and love them. It just like your eyes would see naturally at any distance. There is no line.
Two things though. First it can take two or three weeks to get used to them. It's your brain that has to get used to the lens, not you.
Second, go for the best quality lens if your optician offers you a choice. You have a far better chance of getting on with them if you do this as. There is greater variation in near, middle and distance vision, with the better quality ones, so they are more affective and easier to get used too.
I really don't know I am wearing mine, unless the lenses are dirty. ;)
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I love my varifocals but my better half hated them so much he returned them ::). If you want to try them find an optician that will take them back and swap for bifocals or two pairs of single vision lenses if you don't like them.
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I tried varifocals once several years ago but didn't like them. I only need glasses for distance including TV, cinema , not close up. i can walk outside without any at all as my prescription is mild. I don't need any for close up reading.
More recently i considered trying them again because i have to take my glasses on and off so often (particularly in an evening class when looking up at the tutor and back down at a text. i mentioned this to the optician when i had my last eye test. He/she advised that they may not work so well for me because of my astigmatism.
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Thanks for your replies, I'm going back to the opticians.
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I think my brother in law has astigmatism and he definitely wears vari's.
The on .. off .. on.. off is a right pain in the proverbial isn't it? If you only need specs for distance though, vari's would seem a rather expensive option.
What you probably need is bifocals with distance lenses at the top and plain glass in the reading panel (if they actually make such things?)
I considered that idea but, when reading close up, I want the same vision across the book. i think I would just keep taking them off as I do now with single lens. I might ask the optician again when i have my next test done.
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When I said I was getting varifocals many years ago Friends told me I wouldn't get on with them, that they suffered migraines etc. when they had tried them . So I was really worried that I wouldn't get on with them either but I loved them from the start and never had any problems getting used to them.
Ariadne xx
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Varifocals ordered so I hope I get on with them. Good tip to go for expensive ones thanks, reviews seem to agree.
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Is your optician one of a chain or an independent.
I have found chain opticians more pushy about this so swapped to an independent, years ago. If the change is minimal they advise not to change as you can always go back if you start having problems.
I think independents can seem more pricey but they are not so much sales target driven as the chains.
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As long as your vision is OK and you don't get eye strain I personally wouldn't. But I tend not to go to the opticians unless my eyesight has deteriorated so my advice may not be the best! Mine annoy me by wanting new specs instead of replacing the lenses. I struggle to find ones that are comfortable so I may go elsewhere next time.
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I go to specsavers too, started with my daughter as the independent had only one pair that didn't have an additional charge. Ss had an offer so she got two pairs free.
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Varifocals ordered so I hope I get on with them. Good tip to go for expensive ones thanks, reviews seem to agree.
I know that this is an old discussion but did you get on ok with these please? I am considering them again. I had an eye test yesterday. My distance vision hasn't changed but my close range has slightly so I'd like to give them another try.
I am going for the most expensive one. I am about to go back to the optician to choose frames. I can trial them for up to a month.
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I'd go for the trial, you might find them OK. I went for the most expensive ones and still have them but I doubt I'll get them again when my prescription changes. I don't wear specs all the time which I think is part of the problem, I haven't really got used to moving my head to keep things in focus. I have most difficulty with mid range. I also find them worse outside where you use peripheral vision more (as this is reduced in varifocals). I do find them much better than bifocals which made me feel sick because of the distortion when you look through the line between the lenses.
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I'd go for the trial, you might find them OK. I went for the most expensive ones and still have them but I doubt I'll get them again when my prescription changes. I don't wear specs all the time which I think is part of the problem, I haven't really got used to moving my head to keep things in focus. I have most difficulty with mid range. I also find them worse outside where you use peripheral vision more (as this is reduced in varifocals). I do find them much better than bifocals which made me feel sick because of the distortion when you look through the line between the lenses.
Thanks Sheila99 . Very helpful. I will try them but suspect that I may get a single lens pair as the 2nd pair to use on days out (eg. Hiking) when I don't need to switch from close up to distance. Or I could just keep one of my older pairs for that as the prescription hasn't changed.
I wish they wouldn't insist on 2 fo1. Sometimes I'd rather buy just 1 pair at a lower price.
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I found I need readers so much that varies were the best bet. Saved having to wear the damn things around my neck.
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I found I need readers so much that varies were the best bet. Saved having to wear the damn things around my neck.
I don't actually need readers at all at the moment. I only have problems with very small print (eg. legal small print or small streets on an A to Z or in an index). Reading books or a Kindle in bed or a laptop screen is no problem. However I can't do any close up with my distance glasses. I have to take them off, even when chatting to a friend over a meal or coffee. In an evening class, I need the glasses to listen to the tutor but not o read from a book in front of me.
I have gone ahead and ordered 1 pair. I have longer to try them out than I was told yesterday. The sales person yesterday said 2 to 4 weeks but an older (and I think more senior) guy today said 'up to 3 months'. I could then exchange for single lens if I wanted to and/or buy a 2nd pair as single lens or varifocal. The price for the 2nd pair isn't affected by my choice of type.
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My advice is just persevere katejo. The first couple of weeks can be awful and you may think you'll never get used to them but then your brain catches on. Even now after many years of wearing vari's, if I have a change of prescription it takes a couple of days to feel really comfortable.
Actually I have had an initial good impression. I collected them earlier today. I walked around outside and also tried close up reading and then went to the cinema. Much better than I had expected on the 1st day. Will try them out at my work PC tomorrow. :)
It isn't working as well with the computer screen because I need the reading part of the lens which is at the bottom not the middle. I don't know whether the brain can adjust to that. I suspect not. I keep taking them off.