Glasses (as used for seeing)

[Minxy]

Optical Express are doing free eye tests at the moment with no obligation to buy anything from them ... I'm off for one in the morning.

 

[Southdowners]

I’m trying out varifocal contact lenses at the moment.

I’ve worn varifocal glasses for a number of years and got on really well with them but thought felt i’d like to try the lenses. So far the trial is going well.

 

[popotla]

Thanks for so many helpful replies.

In my o p I meant, actually, varifocals; just didn't know that term and so came up with "tri-focals".

So it looks like I'll be going for varifocals - give them a try - but if I don't like them it'll be an expensive try (equivalent of 570 pounds but with Zeiss lenses and the "second widest" available).

I already use a pair of reading/computer varifocals, which are excellent.

 

[River gypsys]

I have varifocals with the widest possible vision, it's cost about 40 quid more but there's no having to move your head around it's just like not having glasses at all, I've used them for 15 years with no problems

 

[Nasher]

I’m trying out varifocal contact lenses at the moment.

I’ve worn varifocal glasses for a number of years and got on really well with them but thought felt i’d like to try the lenses. So far the trial is going well.

I first tried them 18 years ago, put them in at the opticians at 10:00 returned from a party that night with them still in at 02:30 - no problem at all

These days, I just use them for activities (paragliding, Motorcycling, snowboarding & water sports) oh & when out on the 'pull'

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nasher]

Thanks for so many helpful replies.

In my o p I meant, actually, varifocals; just didn't know that term and so came up with "tri-focals".

So it looks like I'll be going for varifocals - give them a try - but if I don't like them it'll be an expensive try (equivalent of 570 pounds but with Zeiss lenses and the "second widest" available).

I already use a pair of reading/computer varifocals, which are excellent.

You are doing the right thing, definitely worth spending money on good glasses

I wonder how many peope people have struggled with bi/varifocal glasses as they have bought cheap?

 

[Augusta08]

.

 

[Stewart J]

I was born with extreme longsight so have had to suffer wearing spectacles with thick lenses all my life. My opticians laboratory in later years have struggled to find manufacturers producing thin high index blanks and to keep lense thickness to a minimum I have always had to have frames with a small diameter not always an easy task. In my 50s I had to start wearing bifocals making my prescription even more complex. Last year the only ones they could source from U.K. /European lense Also at this time I had to switch to Titanium frames as over the years I had become super sensitive to the nickel and cadmium platings used on steel specs causing very irritating rashes on my brow and cheeks below both eyes.
Last year the only lens blanks they could source in UK/Europe were 12.5mm thick this caused them problems fitting the curvature of the lens into the frame and they wrote off two frames in the attempt. The final result I struggled to use also over the week I did several people commented on how thick they looked. So it was back to the optician and the laboratory started a search that took several months to find a high index lens supplier of thin lenses. They did succeed, an American manufacturer who had a single supplier in the U.K. so at 6.5mm I now have the thinnest and lightest lenses I have had in life. I can post photos if anyone is interested.

 

[Reallyretired]

I wear Varifocals for general use and they are fine. I find they work best with the largest lenses available. Specsavers were able to hunt around and find me another two pairs of 'Bishop' frames, which are discontinued but the ones I like though no doubt very unfashionable (Do I care?). I now have four pairs of these so if nothing else suitable is available I will just have them reglazed next time.
I also have a couple of pairs of single vision set up for a medium distance for computer use as the varifocals do require hold head at an awkward angle for prolonged periods. I am very shortsighted but my eyesight actually seems to improve with age (ie less correction required) If reading or doing close work I just take my glasses off.

 

[Minxy]

I went for my eye test this morning at Optical Express, very friendly and thorough and we talked through the different options, I was told that I wasn't suitable for laser surgery as it wouldn't give me much improvement so the only option if I didn't want glasses or contact lenses would be lens replacement at £6-7k!

I'll stick with my glasses!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[popotla]

Yesterday I ordered new varifocals which ended up costing 583 pounds including the very nice pair of frames, which are quite deep and thus the lenses can be relatively large.

Regarding the “spare pair” discussion on this thread, I'm not sure about the need to carry a spare pair. Sure, this would be very nice but in my case I would have had to lay out 1166 pounds (equivalent) rather than 583. Yes, what to do if glasses are lost or broken? quite apart from road safety, which is the prime issue, there's also the matter of what the law might say. In my case I have an old pair of bifocals which are good enough to drive with until I can get a replacement.

That doesn't have to be done in the UK. One can carry a recent prescription from there but even this might not be really necessary: if an optician is competent enough to make up a pair of glasses, he should be competent enough to give a suitable eye test. Sure, cost comes into this: since I don't live in the UK and didn't intend having my glasses made there (because I'm not there) I, I don't know the UK cost. In terms of peace of mind and cost of replacement, it might make sense to always carry a spare pair from home. On the other hand, some people welcome the opportunity of having glasses made overseas , where the cost can be much lower. In 2015 I had a pair of glasses made in Bolivia and another pair in Paraguay. Everywhere there are competent and, no doubt, incompetent opticians. In Bolivia I also had dental work done and know this was first class. I chose a dentist with an excellent reputation (not cheap but bearable), and in any case the insurance company paid all except the deductible.

To sum up, there may well be a good alternative to carrying a spare pair. it depends on where you're going and the peace of mind factor.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Interesting, thanks for your reply.
I hate glasses especially as I'm now using bi focals and would like to not use them at all.

I hated glasses and especially bi focals.

I went for my eye test this morning at Optical Express, very friendly and thorough and we talked through the different options, I was told that I wasn't suitable for laser surgery as it wouldn't give me much improvement so the only option if I didn't want glasses or contact lenses would be lens replacement at £6-7k!

I'll stick with my glasses!

I had lens replacement surgery with trifocal lens two years ago in Prague. It is much cheaper than here and the clinic was excellent. If you work out how much you are going to spend on glasses over the rest of your life its actually cost effective. My husband had it done too at the same time. It was a BOGOF.

 

[Minxy]

To sum up, there may well be a good alternative to carrying a spare pair. it depends on where you're going and the peace of mind factor.

Trouble is if you don't have a spare and break your only pair you're stuffed. I seem to recall that having a spare pair is mandatory in some countries.

 

[Pia]

I've been thinking of buying a pair of those "tri-focal" glasses: reading, "computer screen distance" (which is the distance my satnav is at) and long-range. However, I've heard they can be problematic and not highly recommended: too narrow a range for reading and "middle" because of 'cramming so much in', and thus somewhat difficult to use/unsatisfactory - and they're expensive, of course.

I was wondering if I might receive advice from other Funsters who use or have used them. For me it's a relevant topic here: I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the motorhome.

Varifocals are very good but you get what you pay for......comfort lenses are, in my experience, the best in varifocals....they are more expensive but your eyes adjust to them very quickly and they are a pleasure to wear.

 

[dabhand]

Varifocals are very good but you get what you pay for......comfort lenses are, in my experience, the best in varifocals....they are more expensive but your eyes adjust to them very quickly and they are a pleasure to wear.

Now then, I tend to agree with this but..... I wore Varilux Comfort lenses for years as when I first got glasses, I said to the optician that if I was going to wear glasses I wanted the best lenses and that I also wanted varifocals as I couldn’t be bothered carrying a pair around (ie reading and distance) so the Comfort lenses was recommended as being the lense with the widest field of view. More than happy for years, Specsavers kept putting the cost of this lense up as they tried to sell their own Pentax ( not Pentax, only bought the rights to the name..go figure) and then some other lense, Elipse or something which the optician said was better, it wasn’t, it was rubbish, haven’t used Specsavers since but went back to Comfort lenses. I was reluctant to try anything else but a couple of years ago I needed new prescription sun glasses, Asda had an offer on at two pairs of varifocals sunglasses for £100, so I ordered them. Now when I got them couldn’t see anything on the periphery, it transpired that they had been fitted by an assistant who wasn’t an optometrist, so the optomotrist apologised and got them made properly and fitted them. They are brill, cheap, very wide field of view and have had ordinary specs made as well, sorry for waffling so.

Try the cheaper ones if they’re crap for you, you won’t have to pay, when I went to Morocco, I had no spare glasses so had a pair of Varificals made by Specky4eyes, an online seller, for £16, they were perfect only I didn’t notice I’d ordered petite, so I looked a bit of a dope in them, great for spares though.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EuroTrotters]

It took me long enough to get used to varifocals, don't think I could cope with trifocals

When I first tried vsrifocals I took them back to boots for a refund. I just could not get used to them .

I tried them again a few years later. A revaluation, I would not be without them.

My tip is, the biggest lens you can buy that suits.

 

[shunter]

Varifocals for me have had them for years now and my sunglasses briliant

 

[Fishie]

I agree with tofo, buy the best you can afford. I've always gone to specsavers (great service at mine) and they always seem to be around £240 for their elite (I think) varifocals lenses. I found the cheaper lenses affect peripheral vision (blurred). But I've had better luck with their own cheaper frames, as every designer pair has fallen apart!
I have also had cataracts sorted in both eyes, one clouded over after about 6 months, but a 10 min laser job sorted that. It's the liquid in the sack, that the lens sits in clouds. So a quick cut with laser drains it away, and wow the difference is unbelievable. Because unlike the cataract op the difference is immediately obvious.
Now I may return to just readers, as one of the benefits of getting older (apparently) is the eye muscles tightening, and now I find it easier to drive without them, as I am able to read the speedo etc!

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

I've been wearing varifocals for 15 years now. I pay top wack to get the widest possible viewing for close up work. The only issue I have is at work I may have to go under table height and have to look up to nail or screw something underneath which means you have to throw your head back to an impossible angle to see what you are doing, extremely frustrating

 

[Minxy]

I've been wearing varifocals for 15 years now. I pay top wack to get the widest possible viewing for close up work. The only issue I have is at work I may have to go under table height and have to look up to nail or screw something underneath which means you have to throw your head back to an impossible angle to see what you are doing, extremely frustrating

Why not just get a pair of reading glasses to use when you are crawling around on the floor looking up under tables ... and anything else at that eye level.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Why not just get a pair of reading glasses to use when you are crawling around on the floor looking up under tables ... and anything else at that eye level.

I used to have a pair but ended up putting a nail gun on top of them by accident and broke them in two. Having two pairs and to keep swapping them in a work situation was a real pain. I've yet to replace them

 

[scotzsue]

Have worn variofocals since 1992, big 'deidre' glasses were in then so very quick to get used to. Was at college and couldn't cope with glasses off and on ant he time it took to readjust my vision, when going from the board to writing.

I buy from wherever is giving the best deal but am not keen on specsavers as that is the place that has given me most problems. Not cntered properly, wrong lenses altogether once, funny because they were bogofs and the other pair was fine. Went to really small frames so I could get my bike lid on over them (pillion) Have a pair of driving only glasses which are quite a few years old, but I am told ok in an emergency
However I always have a spare pair and the previous set just in case. They don't work too well after you sit on them.

 

[dabhand]

I agree with tofo, buy the best you can afford. I've always gone to specsavers (great service at mine) and they always seem to be around £240 for their elite (I think) varifocals lenses. I found the cheaper lenses affect peripheral vision (blurred). But I've had better luck with their own cheaper frames, as every designer pair has fallen apart!
I have also had cataracts sorted in both eyes, one clouded over after about 6 months, but a 10 min laser job sorted that. It's the liquid in the sack, that the lens sits in clouds. So a quick cut with laser drains it away, and wow the difference is unbelievable. Because unlike the cataract op the difference is immediately obvious.
Now I may return to just readers, as one of the benefits of getting older (apparently) is the eye muscles tightening, and now I find it easier to drive without them, as I am able to read the speedo etc!

Just goes to show how different all our eyes etc are, it was the Elite from Specsavers that I thought were awful with a very narrow field of view, they said I’d get used to them, I wore them for three weeks but just never took to them.