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I have three sets of glasses. One for general use, one for my laptop and one for reading. (especially small print) My question is this: How long does it take to get used to varifocals and are they worth the money? My latest eye test was due six weeks ago I may add.
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First off...How big do we have to type the response?
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I have been wearing varifocals for years. Speaking for myself, I got used to them straight away although I have heard of people who have taken some time to adjust to them especially descending stairs.
I recently changed mine after an eye test and as they were offering two for the price of one I got a pair of reading glasses as well just for reading in bed. As well as that I got a voucher for 50% off the price of any other glasses within six months so I invested in a pair of varifocal sunglasses which I'm very pleased with. |
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I never got on with mine, and despite the variable feature, they were no good for on here.
The distance was fine for watching tv and to infinity, and the reading range was fine but a bit restricted. I had another dedicated pair for the PC. I recently got two new pairs of all singing, all dancing specs. Got them in a semi-rimless "Aviator" style and with three fields which blend together. That, plus "Transitions", meaning they are also sunglasses and they are brilliant! Problem before was that I had selected styles where the lenses were too small to get full features and I really should have been advised. Anyway they cost about £280.00 including anti-glare coating, from "Spec-Savers". |
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 @ SS |
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Thanks for the replies so far. It gets on my wick having three pairs as I usually have one pair around my neck. Ms stew has varifocals and she's still struggling slightly with them. I will probably do the 'right' thing and take my optician's advice.
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I've had them for years but they took me longer to get used to than having glasses for the first time.
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I wore normal glasses from 1998 to about 2007, then changed to varifocals. Got used to them in under a day and had no problems.
As Aunty post said, they're not cheap. I may have paid more as they are two entirely different lenses, as my right eye is a lot weaker than my left eye. I got two pairs, one with plain lenses and the other with whatever you call lenses that go dark in the Sun. I used to call them 'reactolite' as that was what they used to be called. I took the wrong pair to my daughters wedding  and when we came out of the church for photos in the grounds, all us men stood in suits on the steps, with everybody looking 'cool', like a scene from Reservoir Dogs, except me. I looked part chinese I had my eyes almost closed as I was blinded by the Sun. |
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Been wearing Varifocals for a few years now and would never go back. As another poster mentioned, get a tint as well - Transitions - and you've got good quality sunglasses built in.
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cmat - correct, for "Reactolite" read "Transitions".
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I got a pair about 5 years ago and hated them from day one, not that I didn't get on with them but they were huge and I felt really conspicuous when out wearing them.
I had previously talked over such issues with the optician and he assured me they wouldn't be to big, so I took them back to complain and he sent them off to be shaved right down, hey presto within a week my new glasses were here and I haven't looked back. Not sure if they have managed to reduce the size of them over the last few years but I would imagine that people would find them off putting |
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 I have been wearing varifocals for years. Speaking for myself, I got used to them straight away... |
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Yes they are worth the money.
I took me upwards of two weeks constant wear to get fully used to them. |
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These are mine.....
. http://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/marto?sku=25635959 |
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Buy mine from Specsavers too.
Took a few days to get used to the very first pair, felt like I was floating along above the pavement. Once used to them everything has been fine.I always wear varifocals now. |
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Can you chop and change long distance glasses with varifocals?
I have 5 pairs of "normal" glasses. Would getting a pair of varifocals make all these redundant? |
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The bulk of the lens is your distance prescription, just the lower part (when you look downwards) is for reading, so yes, you wouldn't need long distance glasses too. If you have small lenses then the reading area is quite small and you may want to have a separate reading glasses prescription.
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egg.... I have had many pairs of "Varifocals" over the years.
The ones I have now are fantastic, as there are three zones of vision, blending gently into each other. |
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Thanks for the replies lads. I think I will go down Alias's route and go for the added transitions.
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I have 3 pairs as well. I think the varifocals lead to headaches as you spend a proportion of your time straining your eyes whilst looking through the wrong part of the lens. If you are long & short sighted and a racing fan, it's impractical to switch glasses constantly whilst you switch between the tv and paper, so the varifocals are good for that. I think it's a scam the charging for the lenses. You pay more for a bigger area of the lens for the long distance, though it's very hard to believe that it costs them more to produce them. Surely it's just settings on the machine they use to produce them? For those that go to the high street, you'll find a much better deal at cillary blue and other companies like them. Just go to the high street for your prescription, then plug the figures into your order. Send a pair of frames/glasses off and they switch the lenses and send them back.
I'm planning on the fairly extreme step of going for symfony lenses at ca. 3.9K per eye. I have the consultation (£250) on Friday. The most expensive eye test I've every had! They reckon it takes 2-3 hours. |
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When getting your reading glasses, I last went for intermediate distance as I spend far more time on the pc than reading.
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everythings gone green
29 Jul 14 15:08 Can you chop and change long distance glasses with varifocals? I have 5 pairs of "normal" glasses. Would getting a pair of varifocals make all these redundant? To use varifocals takes a bit of practice. When looking at the telly, and then reading a book on your lap for instance, you don't move your head like you would with normal glasses, you just move your eyes to look through the bottom part of the lens. |
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Cheers all. So would I be able to have varifocals for work where I have to go close up to distance and back quickly (at present I look under my glasses to read) and still use my old glasses the rest of the time?
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my yusual gladdes r fine
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Have had mine for about a year. Thought I only needed readers but French national health optician decided otherwise.
Got a pair of "Michael Caine's"; was a bit difficult trying to describe the style to the Alan Afflelou sales assistant who had never heard of him and it didn't help when I showed him the "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" clip on my phone because Caine was spec free for that film. Anyway, generally only use them for reading, but occasionally use them out and about when I wish to project an intellectual but manly image to the laydeez; this usually lasts until I trip up mis-judging a pavement (as mentioned as a potential hazard above).  |