Varifocals and Other Specs Advice Please

[Parafox]

I went to the optician the other week as I have been due an eye test for some time but I never really felt I needed glasses except the standard readers you get from supermarkets.

I was told I need glasses because I have a weak left eye with astigmatism and that the muscles that adjust the lens of the eye get weaker as one gets older and they need help to correct the vision. I decided to go for varifocals on the advice of the optician.

I didn't really know what to expect but now 3 days in, I'm really struggling to use them. It seems almost everything is out of focus unless I find the sweet spot in the lens, which is really difficult. When I move my head to look at something, the periphery seems to move and I can't look down at the laptop without having to tilt my head back to bring the screen into focus. The assistant told me they would take a while to adjust to and that I don't need to wear them all the time.

Do I persevere or go back and try something else?

Any other spec wearers have any advice?

[davieG]

I've had varifocals for years, it took a short while to get used to them but I found for using a PC  a normal pair set up for the shorter distance was best. 

 

I think varifocals are best for when you're looking down at say some paperwork on a desk but also having to look up and view things in the distance like in a meeting or reading  your phone and watching the tv at the same time.

 

It could be that they got the mid-point set at the wrong level give it a bit longer and if you're still having trouble definitely go back.

[Buce]

16 minutes ago, Parafox said:

I went to the optician the other week as I have been due an eye test for some time but I never really felt I needed glasses except the standard readers you get from supermarkets.

I was told I need glasses because I have a weak left eye with astigmatism and that the muscles that adjust the lens of the eye get weaker as one gets older and they need help to correct the vision. I decided to go for bifocals on the advice of the optician.

I didn't really know what to expect but now 3 days in, I'm really struggling to use them. It seems almost everything is out of focus unless I find the sweet spot in the lens, which is really difficult. When I move my head to look at something, the periphery seems to move and I can't look down at the laptop without having to tilt my head back to bring the screen into focus. The assistant told me they would take a while to adjust to and that I don't need to wear them all the time.

Do I persevere or go back and try something else?

Any other spec wearers have any advice?

 

Yeah, she's right, it does take time for your eyes to adjust.

 

I wear varifocals and had exactly the same issues that you're having, to the point where I was only wearing them to drive or read. It was only when I started wearing them all the time that my eyes adjusted - now it's like I'm not even wearing them, my eyes switch focal length automatically in an instant. Just stick with it, mate.

[Guest Electric Yetis]

I just have normal glasses and have astigmatism in my right eye. Got new glasses last month. Took about 10 days for my eyes to adjust properly.

[Parafox]

54 minutes ago, davieG said:

I've had varifocals for years, it took a short while to get used to them but I found for using a PC  a normal pair set up for the shorter distance was best. 

 

I think varifocals are best for when you're looking down at say some paperwork on a desk but also having to look up and view things in the distance like in a meeting or reading  your phone and watching the tv at the same time.

 

It could be that they got the mid-point set at the wrong level give it a bit longer and if you're still having trouble definitely go back.

Yeah, I need to try them at work where I need to clearly see, for example, a blood vessel close up in order to put the needle in and then being able to look up at the patient, which is where I've always tended to look over the top of my supermarket glasses or take them off and put them back on again. I will give it time. Thank you.

[Crinklyfox]

13 hours ago, Parafox said:

I went to the optician the other week as I have been due an eye test for some time but I never really felt I needed glasses except the standard readers you get from supermarkets.

I was told I need glasses because I have a weak left eye with astigmatism and that the muscles that adjust the lens of the eye get weaker as one gets older and they need help to correct the vision. I decided to go for varifocals on the advice of the optician.

I didn't really know what to expect but now 3 days in, I'm really struggling to use them. It seems almost everything is out of focus unless I find the sweet spot in the lens, which is really difficult. When I move my head to look at something, the periphery seems to move and I can't look down at the laptop without having to tilt my head back to bring the screen into focus. The assistant told me they would take a while to adjust to and that I don't need to wear them all the time.

Do I persevere or go back and try something else?

Any other spec wearers have any advice?

I also have specs and one eye with weak eye muscles, so much so now that I can't focus well at short range.  I was offered varifocals many years ago and tried them, I was bumping into objects and people are daredn't drive with them.   After about a week I gave up on them and went back to single lens specs which I wear all the time now except for close work, when I have to remove them.  It's a little inconvenient but I'd rather do that than persist with varifocals which just felt wrong for me.

[String fellow]

I have varifocals and wear them all the time, except when in bed. The brain quickly learns to get used to them if worn throughout the day, but if you keep removing them the brain can't do this necessary learning. Also, they last much longer if they are worn all the time. Furthermore, they provide a fantastic first line of defence against foreign objects - recently I was using a pair of wire-cutters to cut steel piano wire. One blade snapped and shot up straight towards my left eye. It ruined the lens but almost certainly prevented something much worse happening. One final thing - muck can build up between the lenses and the frames, which is difficult to completely remove, so I put my glasses into a glass of warm water with several Mentadent tablets. It's very searching and works a treat!

[Rob1742]

Two points here, you have to stick with it. My missus was about to give up saying they weren’t right, then after another couple of weeks she is sorted. My father in law though gave up straight away and so isn’t seeing the benefit.

You adjust to them and they become perfectly normal.

 

The second point is, you are offered different lenses at different prices. As your vision is important I have always gone for the highest cost, even though sometimes they have assumed I would want the lowest cost. I don’t know what the difference in vision is between the costs, but thought it crazy to pick something less than the top lens on offer. So not sure if lens quality has anything to do with your issue or not, but I wouldn’t think it would be that much difference between all three options as they wouldn’t offer them if they were not good enough.

 

Stick with it, find a way through it as you just move your head differently in the end and you really don’t know you’ve got them on. For me they are amazing. 

 

The other option is the father in law who now has a couple of pairs, forgets them, gets the wrong pair, forever changing and you think what a load of hassle he is having while I am just sitting here with my bins on not having to think what to do.