Anyone wear Vari-focal specs?

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Ed

I've used Specsavers for years and I've always been satisfied. My wife gets her specs there too and she has experienced a few problems with her latest prescription. If you do too go back and tell them about it – don't just struggle along. She went back three or four times , had re- tests and changed lenses until they were just right. Absolutely no hassle about this, no extra charge, and she is now quite happy with the result.

Cheers

Norman

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I've always used bifocals and years ago my optician with the near sight at the top an dlong at the bottom excelent for drawing board work

Roy

[Anonymous]

I've worn glasses for 40 years, and varifocals for the last 10 years.

When I got my first set of varifocals I was told to try them for short periods at a time to get used to them. I then drove to work, tried the varifocals, and never took them off. I had absolutely no problems adjusting to the varifocals, and no problems judging levels and straightness. It was easy to land taildraggers without bouncing.

After a few years I needed new varifocals and went to a local 'cheap' optician on recommendation. Big mistake! The glasses were awful, eveything was wavy, off level, and made me feel very sick. I complained and got the glasses adjusted so they were better, but they were never completely right. I couldn't land a taildragger for toffee with these glasses.

Finally I went back to a 'proper' optician and got a new set of varifocals. I've had no problems with these glasses; in a completely different league to the ones from the 'cheap' opticians; who by then had gone out of business. As soon as I got these new glasses landing a taildragger beccame a piece of cake again.

Three years ago I had a major eye operation which significantly altered my prescription, so I'm now on my fourth set of varifocals, again with no problems.

I use my varifocals for all day to day activities with no problems. They're the only glasses I have (plus a spare pair of course, as it's a legal requirement of my aviation medical to carry a spare pair).

With my varifocals I can focus down to about 6 inches. However, I do take my glasses off for fine work, particularly in electronics, where the components are so small you can't even see the darn things at 6" let alone read what is on them.

Regards,

Andrew

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

I wear Varifocals and agree with most of the comments so far. Although generally I get on well with them there are times when I wish I had a single vision pair of glasses. My problem is that I have one eye that is different to the other so non prescription glasses are useless for me. I am intrigued by these adjustable focus glasses **LINK**

Has anyone tried them? At £25.00 they may be worth a try?

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Ed Duffner on 15/06/2013 10:31:22:

I can also have thin, light glass (optical plastic) with anti-scratch and UV coatings.

… but not, in that case, an anti-reflection coating. (The anti-scratch has to go on the outside where it negates any anti-reflection coating).

I personally prefer the anti-reflection coating, especially for driving at night, so I forego the anti-scratch.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Twice I have had (non cheap) glasses ruined when the coatings have crazed. In less than two years it can start to go and rapidly spread.

The last time I got some glass etching cream which completely removed the spoilt coating and the glasses were as new. I don't worry about losing the anti-uv – after all non-spectacle wearers have to cope without it!

Neil

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I have worn glasses since I was 11 (am now 65) due to myopia, I have worn vari-focals since they came on the market many moons ago & wear them for everyday use (100%). It took a while to get adjusted but I am now so used to them it is second nature to me. I have a spare pair on hand & both have transition lenses in them which is a boon when we get (very rare) sunny days. I have become so used to them that when I am reading or doing something mid range my head goes into 'auto mode ' & adjusts accordingly without me making any conscious movement.

I have a pair of bi-focal safety glasses that I use when I'm in my man cave & on either machines but these need renewing now as they are quite old & I can tell the difference clearly now. The disadvantage with these is that they are sighted for long distance & the 'D' bi-focal is for reading so not really suited for machine work (med' -close range, so on my toduitlist ) so when I look around I get two sight variation extremes. If I keep my vari focals on I tend to put a full face shield on or dig out a pair of over glasses that I have kept close at hand, also, like Andrew, I when I have need to examine some thing 'close up' I find I have to take my specs off for anything less than 12" away.

Regards

George

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I have worn varifocals for many years now. I could not drive with a single vision lens because I cannot read the instruments. There are time however when the "pilot" version would be very useful (have the top edge also reverting back to near vision) Still obtainable but not the cheapest. As I change prescription virtually every year I go for midrange pricing (not from the optician). Do not have a problem with level or roundness that others refer to.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Hello Ed – I have had my vari-focals for two years and wished I'd had bi-focals instead. I just cannot get on with them. The distance part of the lens is OK but when I use the middle part for the computer screen I end up with a crick in the neck. Trying to read with the bottom bit for any more than a couple of minutes hurts the back of my eyes.

In the workshop I use my computer type glasses for regular work, a pair of readers for closer work and a third stronger pair for very close work. These three are duplicated in my study and again in the car with an additional pair of prescription Polaroid's for driving. Sometimes things get a bit mixed up and I can end up with six or seven pairs on my desktop – something of an optical spectacular.

I did think of getting my eyes lasered but if only 1 in a thousand ops go wrong I just know I'd be the number 1. So I've been out and bought a new lathe and milling machine with the money instead.

Rik

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I think the question was how are varifocals for model making? It may depend upon how much you pay for them. Mine do not cover the whole of the lower part of the lens and consequently 'straight' things are like a banana! I have just lashed out on some +2.5 safety specs for lathe and mill work, and use fixed focus for other workshop stuff. Enter w/shop, take off varifocals (as they are expensive) and use cheaper single focus (if they suit you).

Bob

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

If you have significant astigmatism in addition to normal long/short sight, then non-prescription single vision lenses probably won't suit and those things usually (always?) come in the same strength for each eye which may not work either.

[john jennings 1Participant @johnjennings1]

I have used varifocals for some years now and apart from initial "wobblies and bendies" get on fine.

The small lens size that fashion dictates is not helpful especially if you have a stiff neck to cope with.

I found a useful middle way was a pair of "office varifocals" which are basically a normal vari focal with an additional "closeup lens" integrated. In practice this means the maximum sharp focus is a few feet (2 or 3) and looking straight ahead (as at a computer screen) is sharp, with closer focus as you look downwards. Distance like out of the window is blurred.

I did try a pair of bifocals engineered in the same way but they were not easy to use – the dividing line was always in the way!

John

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Rik,

I have very short sight, but losing accomodation (focusing power) I now culd do with several sets of glasses. The thing about laser, is it can only make your eyes right for one distance – you still need reading glasses. So why bother?

Neil

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

As I have got older my eyesight has gone to far distance / long sight and of course the eyelens hardens and will not focus to short distance, this one of the faults of old age!

I have varifocals and a pair the same that darken in the Sun, but these, I cannot use when working the bees as they darken everything and I cannot see the bees properly so i wear the non darkening for the bees.

Being an Instrument tech. I need to work very close sometimes and I find that Solder flux fumes cloud the lens. A quick dunk in the ultrasonic cleans them up.

Clive

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by NJH on 15/06/2013 10:41:47:

Ed

I've used Specsavers for years and I've always been satisfied. My wife gets her specs there too and she has experienced a few problems with her latest prescription. If you do too go back and tell them about it – don't just struggle along. She went back three or four times , had re- tests and changed lenses until they were just right. Absolutely no hassle about this, no extra charge, and she is now quite happy with the result.

Cheers

Norman

Wife, son and myself have recently been to spec saver for a total of 6 pairs of glasses.

5 pairs have had to go back and I had had 3 eye tests in 4 weeks, still not happy with either pair I have. Will never use them again.

However I did notice when in there that you can get hobby varifocals that combine reading and computer glasses, so close and mid range. Does say these are not for driving.

So if they are doing them I bet others are

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Well John

All I can say is go back again until they do get it right. Your experience has not been mine with Specsavers.

N

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I had a pair of 'computer glasses' that covered about 2' to 16' when I got them. One day I sdove a few miles in them, when I realised I changed to my prescription sunglasses!

By a couple of years ago they were ideal reading and computer glasses, much better than my proper reading glasses, but I left them in the Stourbridge Glass museumm of all places.

With all glasses, the better the illumination the greater the depth of field.

It's my hearing that is getting me most worked up. It seems as sensitive as it ever was, but I find it hard to pick out conversation when there is background noise.

Neil

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Neil

I don't think your hearing problem is that unusual so I had a little search see HERE – I don't think it is NECESSARY to attend a drinks party however! I might add that the facility of selective deafness is, at times, practiced by my wife. (Oh yes and the dog – especially when in pursuit of a cat, rabbit etc.etc) My wife assures me that I too suffer from such a selective hearing defect – but I don't believe it.

Norman

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

What a 'blind' old set of bods we must be – does engineering send us prematurely sight impaired !!

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I'm sure it does; all that close up work etc, asking ourselves ..'is that a 3 or an 8'..or similar vein.

G

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by NJH on 15/06/2013 21:22:28:

Well John

All I can say is go back again until they do get it right. Your experience has not been mine with Specsavers.

N

Norman,

After 3 eye tests in 4 weeks, surely my perscription can't change that much ? I have basically given up and trying to get a refund.

I think it's ironic being advised to keep on when if it was a Chinese lathe it wouldn't be fit for purpose

[NJHParticipant @njh]

John

If you are saying that they have done three tests and made three sets of lenses and they are STILL wrong then I agree – I too would be making a stink. I would though be wanting answers as to WHY they had got it wrong that many times . Yes you have every right to demand a refund but I would also want an explanation and apology from the head honcho!

On the other hand what's to guarantee that another optician will not get it wrong too? Maybe insist they get it right this time and look elsewhere in the future?

 

N 

 

Edited By NJH on 16/06/2013 22:11:58

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