Varifocal lenses - who has got them?

SexyGreyFox · 22 Mar 2012 at 22:07

I'm trying to make my mind up about having varifocals and want to know other peoples views.
My distance viewing is excellent 0 and 0 but my near is +2 and +2.25.
I get fed up of removing my glasses at work because I'm up & down all the time and I've been told that varifocals would solve that problem.

So have you got them and did your eyes/brain adjust quickly to them?

Thanks

Chasser · 22 Mar 2012 at 22:23

I got my first pair a few months ago. The optician said it may take a little time to get used to them but I honestly didn't have any trouble at all. It becomes a natural thing to move your head slightly to keep the vision sharp. Hope this helps.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 09:50

Let's try the question on the daytime crew

craarc · 23 Mar 2012 at 12:17

well i had eye test a few weeks ago as need glasses and both my near and far sight is gettin a little worse and thought about it but i spoke to 3 or 4 people who couldnt get used to them so went for a normal pair just for distance for driving etc so i was sorta pput off by the idea but i think you can have a trial period in someopticians with them and if you dont get on you can return them for normal lenses afaik

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 12:24

craarc said:
well i had eye test a few weeks ago as need glasses and both my near and far sight is gettin a little worse and thought about it but i spoke to 3 or 4 people who couldnt get used to them so went for a normal pair just for distance for driving etc so i was sorta pput off by the idea but i think you can have a trial period in someopticians with them and if you dont get on you can return them for normal lenses afaik

But you don't get your money back

craarc · 23 Mar 2012 at 12:30

i guess they will exchange for a normal pair if not a full refund not 100% on it tho best ask i reckon

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 13:19

I thought we'd have 100s of users on here

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:34

Moses said:
Platypus' girlfriend's an optician, iirc. You could try ask him (to ask her).

I want real experiences and I foolishly thought we'd have 100s of wearers.

footman · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:43

I've used them for years, absolutely brilliant and far far better then bifocals.

Merlin5 · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:56

I've had vari's for a few years now. They're great. Eyes adjust very fast to them, you barely notice having to move your head up and down to use the different parts of the lens. Make sure to spend as much as you can afford to get the thinnest lenses and get Varilux Comfort, which is what I have. They giver a broader scope of vision from central to peripheral. Also, smaller frames aren't always a good idea as when you raise your head to use the lower part of the lenses, you may have some of the frame in the way. Bigger frames allow more lens. We're not talking BIG frames, mine are rectangular and still look nice, just don't go too small. I normally upgrade my lenses after an eye test every 2 years, and it costs around £250 if I don't change frames too.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 17:58

footman said:
I've used them for years, absolutely brilliant and far far better then bifocals.

There are 4 types now: basic, premium, elite and made for you so I presume you have the best?

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:02

Merlin5 said:
Also, smaller frames aren't always a good idea as when you raise your head to use the lower part of the lenses, you may have some of the frame in the way. Bigger frames allow more lens. We're not talking BIG frames, mine are rectangular and still look nice, just don't go too small. I normally upgrade my lenses after an eye test every 2 years, and it costs around £250 if I don't change frames too.

Have you got a link to your frames please?

Merlin5 · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:19

Dimple said:
Have you got a link to your frames please?

Mine are a 2 year old model by Hero design, and I took my old lenses out and had the new ones put in a few months ago.

http://www.eyebuddy.co.uk/product-frames/12355/H-4057-Hero-c2-brown-52x17x135

They look extremely close to H 4119. I always choose gunmetal colour for frame and arms. The arms on mine are a bit thinner than in that photo, plastic, with flexi arm connectors for easy removal from face. The lense shape is basically the same.

http://www.eyebuddy.co.uk/search?cat=3&bra=Hero&st=1

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:26

Merlin5 said:
http://www.eyebuddy.co.uk/search?cat=3&bra=Hero&st=1

On that page which ones would you say wouldn't be good for varifocals?
I'm presuming 4121 & 4116 and the rest would be OK.

Lonewolf · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:47

When I got my varifocals from Asda they suggested that I could return them if I wasn't able to adjust, but thankfully they've been ok.

Merlin5 · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:54

Dimple said:
On that page which ones would you say wouldn't be good for varifocals?
I'm presuming 4121 & 4116 and the rest would be OK.

Hard to tell really. I just took these pics for you in the interest of science.

Here's both my current frames and older frames. The older frames (at the top of the pic) are 2.6cm depth, and the current frames at the bottom of the pic are 3.1cm. So you kind of need a minimum 3cm depth. You can still go with narrower like my older frames, but I'd recommend more depth and your optician will no doubt recommend the same, unless you're happy to have some bottom frame in view as you look up.

Merlin5 · 23 Mar 2012 at 18:58

Also, these frames are not expensive but are good quality, comfortable and very durable. You don't really want to go with frames too much under 50 to 60 quid, probably false economy if you did.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 19:02

Merlin5 said:
Also, these frames are not expensive but are good quality, comfortable and very durable. You don't really want to go with frames too much under 50 to 60 quid, probably false economy if you did.

I've got to start at £69 for BOGOF offers.
Your advice as been invaluable.
Thanks and keep on drumming.

Merlin5 · 23 Mar 2012 at 19:09

Dimple said:
I've got to start at £69 for BOGOF offers.
Your advice as been invaluable.
Thanks and keep on drumming.

Oh you'll get nice frames at £69+. Thanks and good luck.

Let us know how you get on and what your optician recommends. Instead of binning my old lenses, I asked them if they could fit them to my old frames which they did by cutting the lenses down slightly. As much as I wanted to go back to my narrow frames, I'm glad I didn't. They're fine as backup specs and I can still get decent focus through them even though my prescription has changed. But yeah, when raising my head, I see some of the frame in my line of sight which would be kind of annoying on a regular basis. So it had to be function over form really, but at least the bigger glasses still look trendy enough, I mean they're only a few mills deeper

SexyGreyFox · 23 Mar 2012 at 19:26

I've now decided to get varifocals for work because I'm always up & down from the PC to somewhere else and moving my glasses to the top of my head or bottom of my nose is getting on my nerves.
I'm also having the same varifocals to use as sunglasses but the H&S Manager told me today that the NHS (who I work for) will pay for a pair of normal reading glasses so I'll save a few quid there.
I'm trying to find out if I can get extra discount because I'm diabetic.