Glasses

Gentlemen,

Reading various posting recently I have seen mention about the use of varifocals lenses in glasses, I currently wear Bifocals and over the last six months I have noticed a small problem, I'm short sighted and my distance vision is good as is the close up vision through the lower lense but in between things are starting to go out of focus, I'm due an eye test soon and am wondering wether to strengthen the lower lense or maybe go for varifocals, I have family and friends who dont like them because under certain conditions stuff rushes up to meet them if they dont look through them properly, I would like peoples views on what they think.

Regards,

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 03/07/2014 15:08:57

I wear varifocals and don't have any problem with them. I also know a number of people who couldn't get on with them. As far as I can tell, that was mostly because they didn't persevere with them for long enough.

It does take a considerable time to get "tuned in". If you hold them away from your face and look through them you can see they do moderately strange things to the field of view. When wearing them the brain has to compensate and direct the eye to the appropriate part of the lens (and the head to the correct position). That training doesn't happen overnight.

That said, if i want to read a book or mag for a long period, I still find a pair of single-vision (reading) glasses more restful. I also use single vision (distance) glasses for TV because i use a recliner and it's difficult to position the head correctly when at full recline with the varifocals.

I used to use single-vision (distance) for long-distance driving because it gave more freedom for head position but with the advent of nav systems, I've reverted to the varifocals to be able to see the display.

Overall, I probably wear the varifocals at least 90% of the time I'm wearing glasses.

Edited By OMG on 03/07/2014 15:31:02

My distance vision is good but I have age related long sight.

For the workshop, I got Specsavers to make me up a pair of bifocals with the top focusing at about 2 feet ( a comfortable standing at the lathe and focusing on the job distance) and the lower focus at about 6" for reading drill and cutter sizes. In my 10' by 10' workshop I have found these to be very comfortable. The only time I take them off is if I drop something on the floor and have to look for it from a standing position.

Cheers,

Rod

I have developed the habit of focusing by moving my spectacles up and down my nose. When are affordable adaptive optics going to become available?

I do feel sorry for anyone who spent a fortune on getting laser correction for short sight, and then discovered they need reading glasses anyway by their mid 40s!

Neil

I've worn varifocals for over ten years now and wouldn't change back to bifocals. Yes, they do take some getting used to. Going down stairs was disconcerting at first but the adjustment took less than a week.

The only problem I find is when working on ceilings - I could do with un upside down pair.

Oh, and don't get frames with small lenses. That makes the distortion worse and they don't work well whatever the optician says.

Russell.

Martin - My last pair of specs were my first try at varifocals and the experience was not a good one. I could not get on with them at all and have now replaced them with bifocals-----much better!

Even so I can only use the reader part on the bifocals for very short periods as I can feel my eyes straining.

For longer reading periods and for close work in the workshop I have dedicated readers.

Another mid range set does me for the computer.

Duplicate the lot for the study and some spares in case any get lost and bingo ---- specfest

Rik

I fell out with varifocals because of the poor peripheral vision from them. When driving, objects coming into view from either side were initially blurred and took longer to register and react to than without them A bit scary!
Swapped them for 2 ordinary vision pairs but now I specially request mid range focus that allows me to get best focus on a pc screen.
I was also fortunate in having one short focus and one long focus eye until my late fifties which meant I managed without glasses for a long time.

Bob D

The main problem I have is to do with my job, I go into area's to work on machinery where I am only allowed to go with the glasses I'm wearing, I'm not allowed to take tools, they are within the area and supplied, and any extra equipment has to go the day before to be processed into the area over night, I cant afford to have several pairs of glasses which as you are all aware are expensive, I cant buy from the like of Specsavers as my prescription fall in thier fifteen percent of being made specially , so I have to be certain that varifocals are for me, which means buying a pair, thanks for your input.

Martin P

I have used varifocals for over a decade and are very satisfied with mine. As others have said it takes time to get used to them, it took me over a week.

Thor

Rod, I like your idea! I wear bifocal safety specs in the workshop, but they are only corrected in the small viewing area - the majority of the lens is uncorrected. . I will investigate a pair such as you describe. I'm sure Specsavers will tell me, but may I ask the cost of your glasses?

Many thanks,

John

(edited for fat fingers!)

Edited By John Corden on 03/07/2014 18:30:23

It's interesting that there are many different feelings about varifocals, probably because no two brains have exactly the same connections. I have used varifocals for quite a few years and my experience was very good right from the start with only a few days of adjustment.

My latest pair are rimless with small lenses and they work perfectly for me. The only way to see if varifocals are right for you is to try them out. I think most opticians will let you return them if they are not suitable and supply you with a different type at no extra cost.

Doug

Martin, I have varifocals and use them almost all of the time, the only exception is when welding, I find the position needed to be able to see out of the helmet is such that the varifocals don't sit in the correct position so I use a pair of half eyes.

One last point is that there is a great difference in the quality of varifocals lenses and most opticians' seem to have a deal with the lens producers to be able to sell them on a sale or return basis if you are not happy with them provide of course you buy and alternative from them. The first time I had them it was a no go for me but I was persuaded to try a different brand and they were as chalk and cheese and I never looked back.

Personally I would go for Zeiss , Nikon or similar brand and you will find that the close vision area is greater and the lens is more forgiving than Mums own brands.

I would say try them and speak to your optician about what happens if you just can't hack it.

I have worn varifocals for a few years, the only problem I have is sometimes a flat surface seems to have a slight bow or curve in it, it is the same for vertical things as well. I overcame the problem by asking the wife "is that straight/flat"

Regards Mark P

I think it also probably depends on the strength of the user's prescription. Logically strong prescriptions and those with large differences between near and far ranges would imply large variations across the lens and would be harder and take longer to accommodate.

My spherical for instance is just about zero for distances over 4 feet (once advantage to ageing with initial short sight) and quite mildly positive for reading. A constant cylindrical on that for mild astigmatism. So I found varifocals relatively easy. I imagine it's not so easy for some others. If you use a separate ophthalmologist for eye checkups (one that doesn't dispense glasses and has no axe** to grind) (s)he might be able to estimate the difficulty in specific cases.

** or lenses presumably

Edited By OMG on 03/07/2014 22:15:28

I started a thread a while ago on this forum asking about vari-focals. I tried them for only a short time only to discover I just could not get on with them. After about 20 minutes of wearing them my eyes started streaming and I felt nauseous. The field of in-focus view was very narrow.

I now have two pairs of specs but it's still not ideal unfortunately. My distance specs focus down to about arms length and my 'hobby' specs are only good from almost arms length to about as close as 1ft. Any closer than this and I need to take off my glasses altogether for anything more precise.

I too tried varifocals and persevered, they just make me feel sick. The only way I could recommend anyone to try them is on some sort of money back guarantee if they are not suitable.

Been wearing varifocals for years and very happy with them. It did take some weeks or more to get used to them. At first they seem to "bend" straight lines in the peripheral vision and you are also consciously moving your head to get the right part of the lens in line with the pupil to suit the distance being looked at.

But once you get used to them, the brain compensates for all this and you don't notice it all. I wear mine for everything from motorbike riding to clock repair without dramas.

Well worth a try, and worth persevering with for at least a month (wearing them all day every day) to let the old grey matter adjust to the new input.

as noted above, there are various grinds of vari/multifocals, with differing prices as well. They vary in how the different focal lengths are merged, and where the main focus points of the different lengths are. Your (good) optician should be able to show you various options, with diagrams showing the various spots. I also changed to rimless with high index lenses a long time ago and would never go back (the frames weigh only a few grams, of titanium wire) and the lenses are also high impact (cant remember the name but apparently they also make helicopter canopies out of it!).

And yes, until your brain adapts, every head movement results in the world tilting around you! but it does adapt after a day or 3.

-russell

If your varifocals are making you nauseous/sick then I would say your brain is adjusting itself to them. As that chap Percy Vere said, you have to stick with it and give your brain time to adjust. Nothing in life is perfect - don't expect miracles.

With lenses you get what you pay for.

I have had mine for years and would not go back, I wear them all the time, there are times when things are not perfect but you learn to live with it or adjust.

Another of my pastimes is archery (compound bow) ANY form of glasses let alone varifocals is a real pain in the ass.

One snag with varifocals that hasn't been mentioned yet can come when working close up in a confined space, such as under machinery. It can be difficult to line your eye up with what you want to look at and the right part of the lens. Having said that, I've worn varifocals for some years and the thought of have multiple pairs of glasses appalls. It certainly helps to go for larger lenses with a good sized close up bit.