Deteriorating eyes
Discussion
Unfortunately I am now at the age where the eyes aren’t quite what they used to be (a year of home working hasn’t helped).
The optician has advised varifoculs. I’m not convinced they are a better option than having two pairs of single vision glasses - one for long range (driving) and one for short range (reading/ working on computer).
Just wondering if anyone who has transitioned from single vision glasses to varifoculs could comment. For example, are varifoculs good for driving / working on a PC?
Thanks
The optician has advised varifoculs. I’m not convinced they are a better option than having two pairs of single vision glasses - one for long range (driving) and one for short range (reading/ working on computer).
Just wondering if anyone who has transitioned from single vision glasses to varifoculs could comment. For example, are varifoculs good for driving / working on a PC?
Thanks
Yes, I have. I would not go back and wouldn’t touch bifocals.
Varifocal lenses do vary in terms of the amount of the leans that have the full focal range, usually as a strip down the middle so you lose the peripheral edges. The more expensive lenses will give better coverage.
Take a couple of days to get used to them before driving in them. You will need to eat used to moving you head as much as your eyes.
Varifocal lenses do vary in terms of the amount of the leans that have the full focal range, usually as a strip down the middle so you lose the peripheral edges. The more expensive lenses will give better coverage.
Take a couple of days to get used to them before driving in them. You will need to eat used to moving you head as much as your eyes.
Roma101 said:
Unfortunately I am now at the age where the eyes aren’t quite what they used to be (a year of home working hasn’t helped).
The optician has advised varifoculs. I’m not convinced they are a better option than having two pairs of single vision glasses - one for long range (driving) and one for short range (reading/ working on computer).
Just wondering if anyone who has transitioned from single vision glasses to varifoculs could comment. For example, are varifoculs good for driving / working on a PC?
Thanks
Just get longer arms like most aging men. The optician has advised varifoculs. I’m not convinced they are a better option than having two pairs of single vision glasses - one for long range (driving) and one for short range (reading/ working on computer).
Just wondering if anyone who has transitioned from single vision glasses to varifoculs could comment. For example, are varifoculs good for driving / working on a PC?
Thanks
I've had varifocals for about seven years.
Driving I like them because I can clearly see the instrument cluster and what is on the road.
Working at a PC I like them too. I can look at the screen and then chat to someone without swapping or taking glasses off.
I was very short sighted and have had my distance vision corrected to near perfect with a couple of cataracts operations. However I still use varifocals but with no prescription in the top half. I did this for exactly the same reasons as above.
Driving I like them because I can clearly see the instrument cluster and what is on the road.
Working at a PC I like them too. I can look at the screen and then chat to someone without swapping or taking glasses off.
I was very short sighted and have had my distance vision corrected to near perfect with a couple of cataracts operations. However I still use varifocals but with no prescription in the top half. I did this for exactly the same reasons as above.
I get 10 pairs of Varifocal contact lenses a month - they work really well, especially with sunglasses..
Given how little we've been allowed out over the past year or so I still have plenty in stock!
When I don't need to wear a mask I use single vision glasses for the TV, etc. and take them off if I want to read.
Hopefully you can find a solution that works for you.
Given how little we've been allowed out over the past year or so I still have plenty in stock!
When I don't need to wear a mask I use single vision glasses for the TV, etc. and take them off if I want to read.
Hopefully you can find a solution that works for you.
I have had varifocals for years at a fairly eye watering cost. Basically the more expensive the lenses the less you’ll notice the join. With the benefit of hindsight I had one pair of lenses I never got used to, if this happened now I would complain. Fairly sure it was an error in either the prescription or measurement.
The more expensive the lenses the light they are etc so there are benefits
The more expensive the lenses the light they are etc so there are benefits
Used them for years, BUT always buy Essilor....
Recently had to get new lenses as, basically, the last company I used, (should have gone to...) totally ground them wrong.
Found a local indie that actually grinds the lens in house, and thus can truly set them up for you.
I do have to now have a very closeup specific pair of specs for a limited job I have to do at work, but this is is when you are very limited for space- IE head under a shelf, and cannot get the Vari's onto focus.
Recently had to get new lenses as, basically, the last company I used, (should have gone to...) totally ground them wrong.
Found a local indie that actually grinds the lens in house, and thus can truly set them up for you.
I do have to now have a very closeup specific pair of specs for a limited job I have to do at work, but this is is when you are very limited for space- IE head under a shelf, and cannot get the Vari's onto focus.
Yes - I've had varifocals for about ten years now, but unlike many others here, found that the best (indeed, only ones which worked 'out of the box') came from Asda of all people.
My last ones were £120 for 2 pairs (one rimless titanium, one Nike fashion) with everything included - varifocal, anti-glare, anti-scratch etc. I'd previously paid ~£500 for one pair which I eventually rejected as useless from one of the High St. favourites...'Rapid' but no good!
My last ones were £120 for 2 pairs (one rimless titanium, one Nike fashion) with everything included - varifocal, anti-glare, anti-scratch etc. I'd previously paid ~£500 for one pair which I eventually rejected as useless from one of the High St. favourites...'Rapid' but no good!
Turn7 said:
Used them for years, BUT always buy Essilor....
First varifocals I got (and wife got some at some time too) were from Specsavers on a BOGOF offer - had Essilor Panamic in the clear pairs and Specsavers own lenses (they use the Pentax name) in the second pairs with photochromic lenses. They just worked and we couldn't tell any difference optically between the two pairs (other than the phtochromic ones went dark!).Neither of us have ever had quite the same experience again. Next sets from Specsavers had to be remade and still didn't seem quite right. Tried other opticians. OK, but just not right. I just had another pair from Boots (although it's actually a franchise) and they were hopeless - they're being remade. Paid for Essilor lenses. They tested my eyes again and got a different prescription.
It seems all this is much more hit and miss than Opticians would have you believe. You've probably as much chance og getting a pair you're happy with from Asda as from an expensive independent - and based on experience, the indy really won't want to remake the glasses.
Partly agree, but having now used a local who grinds them himself, its night and day better.
He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
Also, my guy siad if I wasnt he happy, he would offer full refuns, as he could regrind and resell my lens if I wasnt happy.
He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
Also, my guy siad if I wasnt he happy, he would offer full refuns, as he could regrind and resell my lens if I wasnt happy.
Turn7 said:
Partly agree, but having now used a local who grinds them himself, its night and day better.
He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
Also, my guy siad if I wasnt he happy, he would offer full refuns, as he could regrind and resell my lens if I wasnt happy.
I don't know how it works but 'even' Specsavers do tailor made lenses - I guess the difficulty if you customise them is determining what you want the lenses for. They might be great in one situation and hopeless in another.He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
Also, my guy siad if I wasnt he happy, he would offer full refuns, as he could regrind and resell my lens if I wasnt happy.
Turn7 said:
Partly agree, but having now used a local who grinds them himself, its night and day better.
He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
Not having a pop at you, Turn7, but I think you (a) may have misinterpreted what you were told or (b) your indie 'guy' went down Super Karts after work and was told he should be in Formula One.He can customise exactly where each tranisition area is and how they blend.
Nearly all the chains just order the lens from a wholesaler who grinds to a standard varifocal pattern.
I think you've been dispensed a varifocal lens with design characteristics that suit you better than the previous ones. Your indie guy very may well have an edging machine out the back and is able to cut the lens blanks to fit your frame. He may also be good at measuring you up for your lenses and they have been made and set up well for you.
There is no way that your guy 'grinds' his own varifocals, introducing lens characteristics as he goes. He will either buy in lens blanks (surfaced already to your prescription) from any number of sources and edge them into your frame, or he may have a remote lens tracing machine that uploads a scan of the shape/size of your frame to the lens manufacturer who then sends him lenses of your prescription cut to shape, which he then just fits to your frame.
Lens manufacturers spend millions on R&D. Joe the Optician just could not take a lump of CR39 and turn it into a working varifocal lens.
Turn7 said:
Also, my guy siad if I wasnt he happy, he would offer full refuns, as he could regrind and resell my lens if I wasnt happy.
If these were his actual words, then he's having you at it.If you are pleased with your new lenses - great stuff, that's what we all want. Satisfied patients.
But the chances of him being able to 'grind' a pair of lenses that were previously measured for you specifically and make them work for another patient with a different sized head, different frame, different prescription, different PD etc, etc are - frankly - absolutely zero.
It's standard practice to offer a try-out period for varifocals and credit the patient back if they're intolerant or wish to swap back to separate pairs of single vision lenses. If your guy made a point of saying he could re-use your lenses for someone else, then he's talking complete nonsense and is probably at Super Karts as we speak.
Again, I'm not ridiculing your post, Turn7, I'm sure you made it in good faith.
I'm sure some folks have read this thread and thought - that sounds good, where can I get a bit of that?
Sorry, but you can't.
Interesting to hear it from the other side, and I suspect you me well be right.
One tends to "trust" a professional and take their word, even if they done fully understand.
However,my new ones are night and day better than the specsavers cut, and they are as near as possbile the same Essilor blank.
One tends to "trust" a professional and take their word, even if they done fully understand.
However,my new ones are night and day better than the specsavers cut, and they are as near as possbile the same Essilor blank.
I got my first pairs of glasses last year. I wish somebody had told me how annoying they are! I have two pairs, reading and driving/watching TV and wish I had got varifocals. I am going to see if I can get some PPE ones so I can wear them at work, which is particularly excruciating having to wear normal eye-protection and two different pairs of glasses.
Turn7 said:
However, my new ones are night and day better than the specsavers cut, and they are as near as possbile the same Essilor blank.
I'm not sure what you mean by this - I was under the impression that your new lenses WERE Essilor lenses (following your hearty endorsement - warranted, I might add, they ain't cheap but they're very good lenses).Essilor make the lenses to the prescription details/measurements that the optician orders. They are cut to shape to fit your frame by one of the two methods I mentioned above.
When you say your new lenses 'are as near as possible to the Essilor blank,' I'm a bit lost.
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