Varifocal glasses - different types?

olkiny

Hi, I got varifocals about 3 years ago in a local opticians - it was my first time to have varifocals and I had no problems with them whatsoever. I had my eyes tested recently in Specsavers and got new glasses with Tailor-made lens. When they arrived, they were great when I put them on (I could see clearly) but I couldn't read with them. I could only read a couple of words before they became fuzzy - i.e. if I looked at the page, I could read a couple of words but everything to the left and right was fuzzy. The guy thought they'd been measured wrong. He also spotted that the frames didn't actually fit - as soon as I put them on, they fogged up and my eyelash started to rub.

So, I had my eyes retested just in case, and they told me I'd have to get frames as close as possible to what I was already wearing. And the optician told me they'd give me Essilor Comfort lens instead of the Specsavers Tailormade.

I've had them a couple of weeks now and they're fine for general viewing, and the computer. But when I go to read a book, they're just not comfortable. And if my eyes are tired at all or the light is poor, I find myself taking off my glasses as I can see better without them.

Could anyone enlighten me as to whether a different type of lens would suit me better, or whether I should have gone to an independent optician, instead of Specsavers? My original lens were over €400 in the local optician, which is why I went to Specsavers (€195 for the lens plus €45, I think, for the coating).

My prescription isn't that strong:
Right: -0.75, -1.5, 175.0 +1.5
Left: -2.5, -0.75, 5.0 +1.5

Thanks in advance.

slongwill

It really depends on the original varifocal lens you had been wearing. The Vx Comfort is a really great lens but if you are accustomed to a different lens from your original dispense it can make adjusting more difficult. Did Specsavers give you the impression that the Comfort would be the same as your original? Usually allowing at least 1 full week of wear with a new lens is a good idea before you give up on them.

Foggles

The Vx Comfort lens was top of the range about 15yrs ago. Essilor and other lens companies have several lenses that out perform the comfort now but it's going to cost you more.
Well worth the money I say because if you spent €400 and they last you 3yrs then that's 40c /day for a bit of comfort.

heffoo

If you keep your head still and turn your eyes left or right your vision will become distorted. You have to read with your head moving instead of your eyes scanning the page

olkiny

Thanks for replying. specsavers say they've given me the same lens as I had previously since I didn't like their own lens (I couldn't read with it). should I reject these glasses and ask for a refund and go elsewhere? theyre not suggesting anything else. they said I'm probably just noticing that my sight has got worse. I thought that was why you got new glasses.

would an independent optician offer me a better solution or should I ask Specsavers to try another lens? they seem to think they've exhausted all options

thanks again

endplate

If they are replacing your lenses for the same as you had before. Let them try that out for you. Not everybody takes well to changes in varifocal types and so are best to stick to what works for them.