Earlier this year had eyes tested and I need glasses for driving/distance and reading can't seem to have the right pair at the right time. So thought what about varifocals .....anyone wear them? I understand that unlike bifocals that have a "line" dividing distance to reading the vari's are distance top blending to middle to reading at the bottom the key being the blending of the glass rather than the top bottom.

Have seen spec savers have an offer on try varifocals and if not suitable 30 days to exchange for normal etc. Just wondered good bad experiences? 

Oh tried contacts and cannot I mean cannot do them

Some people say they are hard to get on with. And yes they are more expensive -  the clincher for me was when the optician said they are better for computer work.

They did take a few days to get used to but no longer than that in my case. After a year they now feel as normal as normal can be (when you are wearing specs). Oh and I started driving again not long after I got them - no probs at all.

I used to have contacts - wore them from age 16 for about 25 years. Then needed to change to specs. THAT was difficult to the point of trauma! The pavement wanted to jump up and hit me!

I've ben wearing them for about 6 years now.

My first pair from Specsavers were amazing!   Brilliant, loved them.  But I did pay for the best quality lenses.

Second pair, they had changed the lenses, took three returns to get the prescription right,  once they gave me the same lenses as first time, excellent.

Third pair, have been back twice, had my eyes retested, again, they got the prescription wrong, and still can't wear them!    I wear them a day or two, then get pains in my eyeballs!   I know they are wrong, but not getting anywhere with Specsavers :-(     So huge outlay, but no working glasses.  

Not sure what to do now, as it's been six months and I still can't wear them :-(

Son had his eyes tested there and had huge trouble with the last pair, took almost a year to sort out (just a normal prescription)
Has had his eyes tested recently and we're wary of getting his glasses there, but other shops make it difficult to know how much
you'll pay 

Prices are excellent but ability to supply an acceptable pair of glasses seems to be a lottery

Thanks for that never been to specsavers previously will enquire at other opticians as don't want to buy them and find I can't use them..........but if I could it could be the answer.

I do think that which Specsavers you use can make a difference.  One town, I'd never go back to such a rubbish customer service.  The town I use now I love the service.

However, I forked out for really expensive varifocals and felt sick every time I wore them.  Just didn't suit me.  Yet as soon as I tried bifocals, it took 24 hours to get used to them, and I never see the line anymore.  I love, love, love them.  I'm very long sighted, don't know if that makes a difference.

I have the super dooper tailer made ones and still have to put my glasses on my head to read my iPhone or a magazine or book !

I've been wearing them for about 6 months now. It wasn't easy to start with and I was beginning to think I'd wasted a fortune and was so disappointed. I couldn't drive in them and walking anywhere was awful, I was so scared of tripping because the vision was just awful. Anyway, I went back to the opticians and it was a simple case of a slight adjustment to the fitting !. They'd been sitting slightly too high so I was always seeing out of the bottom part. I walked out of there and took to them straight away.
Re specsavers, a bit hit and miss. I had a terrible time when my elderly mum got glasses from them a few years ago. It was a 30 mile round trip which I had to make 5 times. They got the prescription wrong, then they hadn't put the prism in, then they rang to say they were in when they weren't, then the lense was broken when I took her back again - the next visit they were ready and ok but we never went back and now we both use the local independent optician. A little old fashioned and maybe a bit more expensive but efficient and a very caring service - and on the doorstep !.

I've lived with varifocals for years now. Initially started out needing glasses for distance such as driving and watching the tv (comfortably) but eventually my close sight started to go. The first time I wore them it was very strange, but after a few hours it was as normal and I have worn them ever since from the moment I get up to the moment I go to sleep. The thing they tell you is to move your head if you want to see things to the side rather then swivel your eyes. The edge of the glasses will not have the varifocal in them and you will be unable to see clearly. They have improved more since I have been wearing them and less of the edge is out of focus. It is worth getting a better lens rather then the cheapest from specsavers as more of the edges will focus. It's now second nature and I hardly think about what I'm looking through anymore.

> I have the super dooper tailer made ones and still have to put my glasses on my head to read my iPhone or a magazine or book

I still prefer to remove mine to read despite getting larger lenses with my current glasses. When I was working, I had to remove them to use the computer too but had to put the glasses back on to see down the office :) Apart from that, varifocals do work well for general living :)

I have astigmatisms as well as long sight, so really need my glasses.

I think the main problem with mine, was that I was paying for premium lenses, but not getting them.   Once they put the right lenses in, they were fine.

Not sure what t/he problem is with the last pair.   They did the 'sorry we put the cheaper lenses in'   but they still aren't right.   It takes a couple of days wearing them though, so must be a really minor fault.   They did say that their lenses provider had changed, and I think that is the bigger problem.

Quality of the frames is fine :-)

Just be clear about what you want.

I have to wear safety glasses for work. I got variofocal safety glasses 2 years ago for work and I really don't like them. I was told to point my chin at what I want to read - not practical when what you want to read is on your desk. When I mentioned this recently when having my eyes tested I was told that it is not the best quality lenses that they put in safety glasses. So like someone above posted I think the quality of lenses you pay for are crucial. But if you can find a place that will offer to let you try them for 30 days that  might well be worth a shot.

We've had good Specsavers, and bad - it really just depends on local management and staff - so it's well worth finding a store you like BUT my husband recently bought varifocals and was told that he would be able to have a two week trial at our local Specsavers.

He had varifocals a few years ago and couldn't get on with them so they exchanged them for free.  This time when he went for a sight test they suggested varifocals again they said that things had moved on a lot and that he probably wouldn't experience the same sickness as he did before.  He could have swapped them if he didn't like them but they were right and he was a true convert in just 2 days :)

Thanks all. I am going to make a few enquiries and look at the local opticians as well as the chains.  I went to Tesco last time and not struck. I take Mom and Dad to Boots and they like it there and always had good service so may enquire there.

I have been to specsavers for my glasses for a while now and like the one I use. Just picked up my first pair of varifocals yesterday. Atm the jury is out on how I will get on. Its my long sight that has deteriorated just enough to need something if the light isn't bright or the print is less than 10pt. Distance vision has been the problem for years although not that much so we will see  what happens. Sounds like I am just like you Daisy normally its on and off with the glasses all the time and cant get contacts right any more after 30 years of wearing them :(

Wish I could just have laser or something but its too expensive for me and have been told it may make my longsightedness worse.

Will let you know how I get on
i
h

I got a pair from a local private optician earlier this year as my job means I have to both drive and read (RM) so seemed the best option.
Not cheap but I did get a 30 day money back thing if I couldn't get on with them.
Biggest problem I had was adjusting the way I lokked down when negotiating stairs, they were out of focus if I just glanced down as normal.
Now though I have no problem, much better then having 2 pairs