|
Post by ariella on Jul 15, 2023 13:21:34 GMT
I’ve recently collected my varifocals, moving from reading glasses to needing distance lenses too. The optometrist was convinced varifocals were the best option and ruled out bifocals. I knew they took a bit of getting used to but I’m finding it really difficult. The distance part is absolutely fine but I’m struggling with such a small near sight area and the intermediate area is never in focus. I spend a lot of time reading, crafting and doing close work so I’m finding it really frustrating that I can only see such a teeny area in focus and I need to constantly move my head to read or make my cards. The headache is constant and I feel so disorientated and nauseous when wearing them, like the floor is uneven and the iPad or computer screen is concave with nothing sharp and in focus. I get vertigo and mentioned both dizziness and migraines when I went for my eye test but was reassured I’d be fine. I know they say it takes 2-4 weeks for eyes to adjust but I don’t really want to only be able to see my book from such a small area and need to keep moving my head and changing posture. I don’t drive very often but this is the only time I’ve benefitted from having both near and distance vision in a single lens. Does anyone have any tips or advice if you use varifocals or does anyone use bifocals? I’m thinking half a lens for close work and half a lens for distance could work better rather than the small amount of lens for near vision i currently have in the varifocals. It’s left me feeling quite out of sorts and although they say not to, I have put my old reading glasses on just for some respite. Not sure whether bifocals would be the way to go as there’s no fuzzy peripheral vision which you get with the varifocals and I could literally have half the lens for my close work and only need a single pair or just get two separate pairs. I like to cross stitch when watching tv sometimes and there’s just no way my varifocals are going to be suitable as being able to see such a small area of cross stitch and then needing to move my head to look at the tv is a constant focusing change. I’m used to having my reading glasses perched down my nose so I can look down and read, bake, groom the dogs, see what I’m eating, etc and just lift my eyes to see TV, not keep changing head posture. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how did it resolve? Thanks…
|
|
|
Post by Ira on Jul 15, 2023 13:48:25 GMT
My grandparents always had bifocals. They tried varifocals once but didn't get on with them.
Other than that I can't be any help.
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Jul 15, 2023 13:53:46 GMT
I have had varifocals for ten years now. I was lucky, I just needed a day to get used to them.
I suppose they aren't for everyone but the advice I would give is to be deliberate in what you look at and how you look at it. Tilting and raising the whole head helps.
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Jul 15, 2023 14:03:55 GMT
I’d be the same. I’d feel sick and dizzy.
Can you change them?
|
|
|
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jul 15, 2023 14:27:40 GMT
I wore bifocals for many, many years. I found them good for knitting while I watched tv, any close/distance intermittent work such as looking at budgie poops while checking out how my guys were looking in the morning. I also got them in sunglasses so I could easily look at the GPS while driving.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,780
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 15, 2023 15:00:00 GMT
I have a separate pair of reading glasses and have to swap from my normal short sighted ones when I am reading.
|
|
|
Post by criswell on Jul 15, 2023 15:08:17 GMT
I have separate distance and reading glasses but rarely wear the distance ones as I don't drive. I had the distance ones for years before needing reading glasses. When I got reading glasses the optician suggested bifocals but I decided to keep them separate as I don't often wear the distance ones. Like you were doing, I have my reading glasses on the end of my nose when doing crafts and watching TV.
Are varifocals available with a larger area for close work? I guess they would be much the same as bifocals.
I hope you get used to them.
|
|
|
Post by ariella on Jul 15, 2023 18:13:27 GMT
Thanks so much for all your replies. I am able to change them, which is good. What I need to ask is whether I can change them to bifocals and if the bifocals aren’t any good, if I can swap again for separate reading and distance glasses or if I can one change and that’s it without forking out more money. It sounds so silly but they’ve disorientated me so much I felt confused and couldn’t think properly this morning. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Taking them off and resting my eyes made a huge difference. I then had to go to my daughter’s to cut her Guinea Pigs’ nails and tried the varifocals as she drove but luckily I took my reading glasses as I could not focus on their nails whatsoever. By the time I got home I had another headache. I thought bifocals would be good as I don’t care about there being a visible line between the two areas and I think you can have a much larger reading area but I googled and it says they can take getting used to also, so I’ll have to see what Specsavers has to say about it. If I can only change once then I’ll just go for two single pairs in case I can’t get along with the bifocals. Whenever I’ve had my reading prescription glasses updated I’ve always been able to see the difference in the size and sharpness of the text but I can’t with the varifocals. I’ve tried moving my head and looking directly at something and it works perfectly for distance but that’s all. I looked at my cross stitch pattern and it’s harder to see with the varifocals as I often need to count down, up or sideways and with the focus on just a small area and not being able to just move my eyes along but needing to physically move my head just makes it more difficult. I’m so disappointed as I thought they were going to make my life easier. I opted for the varifocals with the largest area for near sight, which pushed the price up a lot criswell so I know if these don’t suit, no other varifocals will. This is my first need for distance as I have noticed the tv is completely watchable but not sharp and I came in just below the threshold for legal driving so ideally bifocals could work, else I’ll just have to drive with distance glasses (though I only drive if I absolutely must). I don’t really go out at all if I can help it. I used to be out all the time running the kids here and there when they were younger and taking my daughter shopping when she was a teen but now I hate crowds, I dislike shops and I only go out for anything medical, to the vets or if the kids absolutely need me. Having three of the kids driving has taken a lot of pressure off and I know they’d help one another out instead of it being only me when hubby is at work. I had a pair of glasses and a pair of sunglasses as they were 2 for 1, both with varifocals at no extra cost for the second pair, so I guess if I am able to try bifocals I can have the sunglasses as bifocals as well. However if I can’t and I go for separate glasses for near and distance the sunglasses will have to go. I guess the only thing I could do is have reactor lenses in the reading ones for the garden. I think I’m so annoyed because I mentioned my migraines and vertigo to the optometrist and she said it wouldn’t be a problem and yet I’ve read today that people with vertigo shouldn’t wear varifocals.
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Jul 15, 2023 18:39:21 GMT
I would say don’t despare yet. Ask if you can try a different make of lenses, it can make a big difference. Also if they haven't got the positioning of the lenses in the exact correct place it can make a big difference . If you can get everything right you really won’t regret it……
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,780
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 15, 2023 19:25:38 GMT
On another note, you have made me realise that I might also have vertigo ariella. I do hope you find a solution that works for you with the glasses.
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Jul 15, 2023 19:36:30 GMT
If the resolution on my phone with updates, alters, I go through it. So I know I can’t do varifocals etc. I can’t watch things that go round and round on tv even
I’m sure you’ll get sorted
|
|
|
Post by ariella on Jul 16, 2023 16:04:39 GMT
They’ve gone back to Specsavers and I feel better already. My vertigo isn’t going to go away and so getting something that confuses the brain even more was probably a silly move on my account, even though I mentioned both migraines and vertigo at my test. I should have trusted knowing my own body instead of the optometrist. Lesson learnt! I have changed them for two separate pairs of glasses, one distance and the other reading, and have added reaction lenses to both to compensate for not having the sunglasses. Specsavers didn’t try and talk me out of it or encourage me to keep trying or to alter the positioning. They were really helpful and sorted it all out really quickly. So less than a fortnight for the reglaze and additional pair and I’ll be back to normal. Huge sigh of relief!!! What makes you think you have vertigo Marianne Marlow? Going really dizzy and feeling like the room is moving or the floor is coming up to slap you in the face is horrible. I’ve had episodes from trying yoga (thankfully at home) and also when I used to do Wii fit and if I used the spring jumps whilst cycling I’d literally feel like I was in the air and my brain would get all confused by what it was seeing being different to what my body was doing that I’d end up dizzy, break out in a hot sweat and feel sick. Have you ever had labyrinthitis Marianne Marlow? I’ve had it about 3 times and going from perfectly fine to hitting the deck in a space of a second and a small head movement is bewildering and makes you feel so so poorly. I think my worst fear is something like menierè’s disease. So I empathise with anyone who has balance issues, conditions of the vestibular system and even ear infections that create dizziness and sickness. I’m the same ffiscool and I can’t watch anything moving on the tv, such as if someone is on a boat. I’ll start to feel seasick quite quickly. I’m quite hopeless. 🙄😂 Thanks for the encouragement ladybird. I know they’re amazing for those who can adapt but I couldn’t have spent another day feeling so ill. They literally stopped me functioning and that meant I could never have got used to them but at least I know now.
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Jul 16, 2023 16:15:49 GMT
Years ago, I had dizzy attacks a lot. Had tests - omg it was horrific - but it’s labyrynthitis. Touch wood, very few and far in between now. But if I get it, I take 3 Stugeron and it goes within about 30 minutes.
|
|
|
Post by ariella on Jul 16, 2023 19:42:26 GMT
I’m so glad they were able to find the cause ffiscool and now you can remedy it quickly. I went through the Epley Manoeuvre about 10 years ago which involved a Dr rapidly moving me around while I had to focus on his eyes only. Unfortunately it didn’t work other than to give me a headache for a number of days. I take Prochlorperazine when I have it and have to spend a couple of days minimum laying down with head propped up, trying not to move.
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Jul 16, 2023 20:03:12 GMT
That sounds awful
I only knew to take what I did, after ending up in an ambulance from work to UCH. they sent me as I was so sick/dizzy. After an injection equivalent to 3 Stugeron, I was able to go home on the tube after an hour
|
|