Varifocals: First impressions + Questions

[IrvineHimself]

I got my nice, shiny new varifocal glasses on Monday, and, although extremely difficult [even unpleasant] to get used to, my first impressions are most definitely positive. Being able to walk around supermarkets without the hassle of constantly switching between 'distance' and 'reading' glasses is very rejuvenating. It almost makes me feel young again. 😎

In the first 36 hours, many of my other activities have also benefited. For example: I have been struggling to answer phone calls when the screen is locked on my new smart-phone. It turn's out that, because I had always been wearing the wrong glasses when the phone rang, I had missed seeing the vital 'swipe up to answer' instruction. As a result, until now, I have been futiley pressing a blurry green telephone GIF and, when that inevitably failed, franticly trying to unlock the screen. (Note: Despite being deeply antagonistic to smart-phones in general, and only having the bloody thing for a month, I already have so much personal/health data on my phone that turning off automatic screen-lock was never an option.)

In view of the above, persevering with the varifocals is a no-brainer. Having said that, I am struggling to get used to them, and find that after a couple of hours I feel slightly nauseous/disorientated with mild headaches. In particular, I find quickly scanning over a range of distances extremely disorientating: This include: scanning the forest on a nature walk; looking out of bus windows, and quickly scanning crowds.

A couple of other problems I am having, (which may be bad habits or indicate other problems,) are:

• Tilting my head at odd/uncomfortable angles in an effort to force something into focus
• Making slight adjustments to the position of the glasses on my nose to suit different activities.

Apart from that, for general use when out and about they are great. Although, currently, for more sedentary activities, I find the reading glasses are more appropriate for use with my laptop and my distance glasses are better for watching TV.

I am curious to hear other peoples experience with varifocals. In particular, I would love to hear any tips or advice on how get the most out of them.

Irvine

 

[Robin]

I’ve been wearing varifocals for a few years now, and it did take me a couple of weeks to get used to them. I now find I tilt my head automatically without thinking about it. This does have my riding instructor screaming at me ‘don’t look down!' and I have to explain I’m not looking down, I’m tilting my head down so I can look through the top part of my glasses! The only thing I find ai need to concentrate on is getting on and off an escalator. I need to tilt my head quite far down to make sure my feet are in focus as I step on and off.
Regarding answering phones, I found I just couldn’t get the 'swipe' right on mine, and kept missing calls while I futilely attacked the green button, but there was an option to change the way you answer, to pressing the 'Volume up' button on the side, so I now have that as my default phone answering button,

 

[eggyg]

I’ve been wearing varifocals for over 20 years. Yes, they do take some getting used to and I still have to use reading glasses for reading and sometimes my iPad. That’s because I’m long sighted and have a strong reading prescription. I worked in an opticians before I retired, as a receptionist, and I would strongly recommend you give it at least two weeks and if they still are making you dizzy/ off balance go back and get them to adjust them. It’s amazing how much they stretch on your head, and they do need to be in the correct position. As @Robin says, you do need to learn how to move your head. My biggest problem is coming down fells, it is very disorientating but as it’s not an everyday occurrence I put up with it. As for escalators, I just hang on for dear life!

 

[Leadinglights]

I’ve been wearing varifocals for over 20 years. Yes, they do take some getting used to and I still have to use reading glasses for reading and sometimes my iPad. That’s because I’m long sighted and have a strong reading prescription. I worked in an opticians before I retired, as a receptionist, and I would strongly recommend you give it at least two weeks and if they still are making you dizzy/ off balance go back and get them to adjust them. It’s amazing how much they stretch on your head, and they do need to be in the correct position. As @Robin says, you do need to learn how to move your head. My biggest problem is coming down fells, it is very disorientating but as it’s not an everyday occurrence I put up with it. As for escalators, I just hang on for dear life!

Interesting you get on fine with varifocals being long sighted, my otherhalf just couldn't get to grips with then at all, wasted money I'm afraid so went back to the bifocals.
I also have worn varifocals for 30 years and at first, I was wizzing my head about and it made me feel queasy but I went back and the optician said they were not adjusted to sit properly. Once corrected no problem but he did say to try to move your eyes not your head.

 

[eggyg]

Interesting you get on fine with varifocals being long sighted, my otherhalf just couldn't get to grips with then at all, wasted money I'm afraid so went back to the bifocals.
I also have worn varifocals for 30 years and at first, I was wizzing my head about and it made me feel queasy but I went back and the optician said they were not adjusted to sit properly. Once corrected no problem but he did say to try to move your eyes not your head.

I tried bifocals but did not like those at all. Strange how we’re all different. I just wish I didn’t have to wear specs, full stop. I hate them, always cleaning them, steaming up, needing to get them adjusted all the time! Grrr….

 

[Leadinglights]

I tried bifocals but did not like those at all. Strange how we’re all different. I just wish I didn’t have to wear specs, full stop. I hate them, always cleaning them, steaming up, needing to get them adjusted all the time! Grrr….

I have worn them since I was 10 years old, so it feels odd without them.

 

[khskel]

Persevere with them. I wouldn't be without mine now. Once I got over the sensation of the ground coming up to meet if I looked down all was OK.

 

[grovesy]

I have worn varifocals for 20 + years, I was told I young to start wearing not had any problems. Could not be doing with chaning glasses, I also have reaction lenses too for same reason.

 

[IrvineHimself]

... there was an option to change the way you answer, to pressing the 'Volume up' button on the side...

I will look into that.

... As for escalators, I just hang on for dear life!

You and me both, there is a shortcut I use through Waverley station that involves several escalators, and they were a nightmare even before I had varifocals. Yesterday, one of the 'Up escalators' was stationery and I made the mistake of trying to walk up: Ye gods, the visual distortion from the striated steps, combined with the varifocals nearly caused me to fall. (This is the reason I gave your post a laugh emoji, I can truly imagine you "holding on for dear life", since I feel the same way myself.)

Also, I noticed that the mesh security fencing they are using on Leith Tram works has a very similar effect.

I designed a walking stick for stairs and getting on and off buses. I don't have time to do it now, but when I get back, I will post an annotated photo with an explanation.

I still have to use reading glasses for reading and sometimes my iPad.

That is reassuring, I seem to find that is also the most convenient system for me. I thought I was maybe doing something wrong.

Once I got over the sensation of the ground coming up to meet if I looked down all was OK.

Oh tell me about it, but then again, lately I have been feeling that way even without the varifocals. In fact, on a couple of occasions, it actually has.🙄

I also have reaction lenses too for same reason.

I got the 'reaction' tint as well. Apparently, I look very dapper 😎

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I've been wearing varifocals for longer than I can remember, at least 25 years and glasses from age 6 or 7. Previous replies have answered most of your questions, I think.

But you should not have to move your glasses on your nose to bring something into focus. While recognising that new frames stretch and slightly change shape initially, once you have the optimum fitting for you, the varifocals should provide you with optimum all round vision for all distances above your personal focal length. The physics behind this is pretty straightforward, but only works properly if the centre of each lens is perfectly matching the centre of each eye, ie the lens separation and fitting into frames is right for you.

About 7 yrs ago I had ridiculously expensive new lightweight frames (my 3rd or 4th pair) with new lenses. After the first fitting I felt reasonably happy, but went back a fortnight later to get a modest fitting adjustment. I had used this ophthalmologist for many years, knew the owner to be not only competent, but an authority in the County for opthalmic matters in our hospital; the dispensing optician fell into the same category of competence and was always patient and helpful - and the premises were in easy walking distance of home. So I found myself repeatedly popping in for minor adjustments, over several months. On one occasion the dispenser was away and his colleague attended to me; she checked my notes, adjusted the frames - but couldn't quite find the optimum fitting. It transpired that the lenses were correct, but not in the right place in the frames. The very expensive frames and lenses were duly replaced, at no cost to me and I then didn't need to keep popping in! Because of the otherwise normal excellent and friendly service from this local business, I wasn't upset about what felt like a minor inconvenience over the months. But ever since I always ask that the setup is formally checked for lens positioning and the dispenser always courteously acknowledges the former error and a lesson learnt.

Sadly, the owner retired and sold the business early this year and the chain that bought it have kept her name above the door - but it's no longer got the same ethos and the dispenser and receptionist have moved on. Inevitable I suppose - change is a constant ....

 

[Leadinglights]

I've been wearing varifocals for longer than I can remember, at least 25 years and glasses from age 6 or 7. Previous replies have answered most of your questions, I think.

But you should not have to move your glasses on your nose to bring something into focus. While recognising that new frames stretch and slightly change shape initially, once you have the optimum fitting for you, the varifocals should provide you with optimum all round vision for all distances above your personal focal length. The physics behind this is pretty straightforward, but only works properly if the centre of each lens is perfectly matching the centre of each eye, ie the lens separation and fitting into frames is right for you.

About 7 yrs ago I had ridiculously expensive new lightweight frames (my 3rd or 4th pair) with new lenses. After the first fitting I felt reasonably happy, but went back a fortnight later to get a modest fitting adjustment. I had used this ophthalmologist for many years, knew the owner to be not only competent, but an authority in the County for opthalmic matters in our hospital; the dispensing optician fell into the same category of competence and was always patient and helpful - and the premises were in easy walking distance of home. So I found myself repeatedly popping in for minor adjustments, over several months. On one occasion the dispenser was away and his colleague attended to me; she checked my notes, adjusted the frames - but couldn't quite find the optimum fitting. It transpired that the lenses were correct, but not in the right place in the frames. The very expensive frames and lenses were duly replaced, at no cost to me and I then didn't need to keep popping in! Because of the otherwise normal excellent and friendly service from this local business, I wasn't upset about what felt like a minor inconvenience over the months. But ever since I always ask that the setup is formally checked for lens positioning and the dispenser always courteously acknowledges the former error and a lesson learnt.

Sadly, the owner retired and sold the business early this year and the chain that bought it have kept her name above the door - but it's no longer got the same ethos and the dispenser and receptionist have moved on. Inevitable I suppose - change is a constant ....

My other half had a pair of glasses from a chain optician and never got on with them and one day he was being silly and put them on back to frontand they were perfect, of course it was too long to take them back but something had gone wrong there, me thinks.

 

[AndBreathe]

I'm another varifocal wearer. I have to say I took to them very quickly.

It's "just" a case of a bit of brain training and a bit of acceptance of doing some things a bit different - fr example, I just pause for a nanosecond before getting onto escalators, just to be sure of what's going on.

I picked up some new specs last week, so have been through a mini brain training course because the frames and lenses are a slightly different shape to my previous specs.

Persevere. It really is worth it, in my view.

 

[Benny G]

I had my fingers crossed that varifocals would work for me, I got a pair about 6 years ago, and I tried for a couple of weeks, went back to the opticians and complained that the sweet spot was too far to the left and I was constantly cocking my neck. They swapped them out for an upgraded pair with a wider sweet spot. I tried those for the next 2 weeks, but the sweet spot was still too far to the left. I gave up and now permanently (90% of the time) wear my reading glasses on the end of my nose, (like poor man's bifocals), the distance is a bit blurry but I can read.
The only use I got out of the varifocals was when I was taking photograhs, I could both see what I was shooting and see/use the controls on the back of my expensive camera.

 

[IrvineHimself]

I'm convinced, even in the short time I have been using them, varifocals really do make a real difference to my quality of life. From what I noticed today, I am much closer to getting that sweet spot on my nose and was adjusting the position much less often. I still find certain things disorientating, and they are still a bit fatiguing, but I think I was bit more comfortable with them today than yesterday.

As promised, I've attached an annotated photo of my custom walking stick. Believe it or not the thing actually works very well:

1. The ball on the top is for going down hills, stairs and getting off buses
2. The top handle is for normal walking
3. The bottom handle is for going up hills, stairs and getting on buses
4. The flashers are for during those dark winter months when the rush hour rat-runners are racing through residential streets in an effort to beat the traffic. Unfortunately, they never seem to see me and get very impatient when I am trying to cross the road.🙄

 

[IrvineHimself]

So, in view of your largely positive views on varifocals, yesterday, I made the effort to use the varifocals exclusively. I had a busy day where, in addition to spending several hours on my laptop following the current political farce; I was out viewing a potential retirement community; a few hours entertaining tourists; domestic chores and a couple of hours watching TV.

Emphasising that it has only been three and half days and I am still having problems adjusting: This morning, when I started my daily routine of coffee and heavy use of laptop, I found my reading glasses to be less than satisfactory and quickly returned to exclusive use of the varifocals.

I've got to admit they are tiring and I am getting a definite crick in the neck trying to find the best viewing angles; but, at the moment, varifocals are definitely winning.

Irvine

 

[Leadinglights]

So, in view of your largely positive views on varifocals, yesterday, I made the effort to use the varifocals exclusively. I had a busy day where, in addition to spending several hours on my laptop following the current political farce; I was out viewing a potential retirement community; a few hours entertaining tourists; domestic chores and a couple of hours watching TV.

Emphasising that it has only been three and half days and I am still having problems adjusting: This morning, when I started my daily routine of coffee and heavy use of laptop, I found my reading glasses to be less than satisfactory and quickly returned to exclusive use of the varifocals.

I've got to admit they are tiring and I am getting a definite crick in the neck trying to find the best viewing angles; but, at the moment, varifocals are definitely winning.

Irvine

I think they can take a while to get used to them but better not to chop and change as your brain has to adjust to the way your eyes are seeing.
A bit like hearing aids, my daughter was told it was her brain that did the hearing not her ears so she had to wear the hearing aids all the time, well not in bed so her brain adjusted.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I started on varifocals a year(?) back. I had to swap the first pair out, because of the recommended pattern)they had suggested . It had ‘zones’ for different reading distances I needed (distance/computer/reading, but unfortunately the result was that my normal ‘perfectly fine’ view was very blurry apart from a very small area of focus in the centre, well, actually slightly off centre! Focus also fell away quite quickly to the edges, making driving quite difficult when not looking straight ahead.

They suggested all manner of complex reasons, and reground the first lenses as they “weren’t aligned correctly”, re-measured my pupils for fit blah blah.

In the end I had success simply by switching to the ‘driving’ pattern of lenses that I had in my spare pair. These have a bigger distance area which goes full width (why would you not want it to??) and then a smaller reading section at the bottom.

So more like bifocals I guess.

Much much more usable for me, and far less ‘swimmy’ 🙂

 

[IrvineHimself]

@everydayupsanddowns: I gave up driving a couple of years ago, and have since been warned that because of my mini-stroke I should not be tempted to restart. However, my lifestyle involves a lot of scanning crowds at distance. So, what you described sounds perfect, I wish I had thought of that when ordering the bloody things. 🙄

@Leadinglights: That makes a lot of sense, it makes me even more determined not to chop and change.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I recently switched to them as well.
Just found two instances last night where they don't cope.
At the theatre, up in the top tier, looking at the orchestra below me, trying to find a comfortable way to sit back, look down, use the top of the glass, and not look like I was asleep!
Then leaving, walking up the tiers, trying to accurately find the steps which were constantly crossing zones.
(Coming in down was ok, they were all in the reading zone)
I do think they are worth having, but they also have their limits.

 

[trophywench]

First pair of bifocals I ever had, when I picked them up from Specsavers, the assistant said, 'Right, pick up your handbag, and come with me' and walked me out of the back door of the shop into the shopping centre it was in, down stairs, up the escalator with her arm jammed in mine in case I nearly fell over, When we went back in the shop, she asked me if I wanted to try more stairs - I did, so the internal door to their upstairs (staff room, storage, loo, kitchen) and I was invited to go up and down to my hearts content for a bit.

I've never ever heard of anyone else getting this add on service when they changed to bifocals - but have ALWAYS though it was a B good idea and should be done by all!