Wearing varifocals and looking at screens

I've just paid £400 for varifocals..... I shouldn't have bothered. Useless. Same problem as all of you ....constantly adjusting reading material or my glasses... gone and brought myself a cheap pair of reading specs from shop 3.0 magnification...and stuck the others in drawer. I don't even believe I need them at all. I don't drive so why bother with long distance.....as long as I can see the bus when it's coming toward me .!!

I paid extra for better varifocals and I have never got on with them.

I take them off if using stairs as they blur the edges of the steps and I nearly fell down a flight of stone steps when using the kite winder part.

I would expect most opticians to allow a refund within 14 days if you don't get on with them.

I have worn verifocals for years, and love them, however as has been said, you need to adjust sometimes when reading, I think my head moves to adjust more than I realise.
The main problem is stairs, I always hold on as there can be a problem, while looking down.

when I had a cataract op recently the surgeon asked me if I wanted my new lens to be a varifocal one (bet you didn't all know that could happen!). I was totally bemused, as I've never worn varifocals in my life and don't need them now either.

I got my first multi focals a couple of years ago. When the optometrist discovered I was an enthusiastic reader including in bed and also used the computer a bit she suggested I also get reading glasses which was very good advice.

With multifocals there is really only one sweet spot for close up activity and it doesn't always fit with varied postures such as the odd visual angles when reading in bed.

I put mine on my head for close work like reading or using my phone and then pull them down to my eyes for other purposes. Sounds mad but it works for me.

Have had fun for many years without a single problem. I'm no expert but could you perhaps be swivelling your eyes rather than a head motion? I'm very aware that it's my head that moves but totally robotic nowadays of course.

I was sold varifocals but when I went back to complain I couldn't read a book properly with them I was told 'You didn't say you wanted to read. They're just for reading labels in the supermarket'! I now have reading glasses!

I got varifocals a few years ago but found I couldn’t walk around wearing them as the ground looked further away than it was. I kept them in the car and then only wore them for driving. My reading vision got worse so I got some reading prescription glasses. The next time I had an eye test I said I would just get the distance prescription for driving. These were ok until I looked at the dashboard and couldn’t see a thing. I still keep varifocals in the car and have several pairs of reading glasses in various places, desk at work, work bag, kitchen, lounge, bedroom so I always can put my hands on a pair.

I only wear them for driving. Found they were too much of a compromise for reading. Luckily I only need distance glassses for driving but now I can see the satnav clearly as well!

I love varifocals and have been wearing them for years. (This post has reminded me that I'm overdue for an eye test!) I think that Yorkeshiregirl gives excellent advice - do get everything checked.

I have worn varifocals for years and never had any problems. Oh, just once like Nitpick above they got the lenses the wrong way round.

I found out recently (after many years of wearing varifocals) that there are different types of varifocals depending on the company who makes them and the quality (and therefore the cost) I once had one pair of glasses made and couldn’t get on with them....after going back numerous times it was discovered they’d put the lenses in the wrong way round!!

I never thought that varifocals or bifocals would be a complete replacement and have always ordered a pair of reading glasses suitable for using the pc and reading books.

I like the bifocials (or varifocals if you can get on with them) for everyday use, seeing distance and also reading labels, menus etc, watching tv and glancing down at knitting but never for concentrated reading or computer use.

I tried varifocals & couldn't get on with them. The optician made a wider 'corridor' for the long distance section. This didn't work for me either so asked for a refund (£400+ so not cheap). They were super. No fuss, full refund & good customer service. Thanks Specsavers.

I had worn contacts for over 40 years and tried normal glasses, but they didn't work for me at all, everything was distorted and I kept tripping up, and couldn't see the computer screen without reading glasses on top! I thought varifocals wouldn't work either, but when I saw that I could try some at Specsavers completely risk free I thought why not. I have had them a couple of years now and they're perfect, I can see everything. I have to tilt my head back very slightly for the computer, but it's not enough to bother me, and can see my phone and tablet perfectly. I also had the more expensive version, not the very top one, but the next one down. I never thought I'd say this, but I don't wear my contacts any more.

I could not get on with varifocals despite trying, so the optician changed them for bi-focals and I have separate reading glasses.
However, my new reading glasses are hopeless when using a screen unless I am within three or four inches of the screen but my old ones are just fine. Perhaps I should go back again but I've had them for a month now.

I worked as a optical assistant for many years. It sounds like either the varifocal hasn't been measured correctly and isnt sitting in the correct position, or you aren't using them correctly. Remember that thebtop part of the lense is for distance (anything further than an arms length away) while the bottom half is for close up. You must move your head so your eyes look through the correct part of the lense, which is especially important while going down steps...dip your head and look through the top of the lense. Close up adjust your head or book etc to look through the bottom of the lense. If this doesn't work I'd ask for a refund.

I've had varifocals ever since they arrived on the scene. The first time I wore them, they seemed to distort everything so I went back to the optician who merely adjusted the fit and in the many years since then, I've had no problems. I did get separate glasses for a desktop computer, but since I changed to a laptop, the lenses have been perfect. I don't go to you-know-who but have stuck with the local optician with many years of personal service - more expensive, I know, but worth it.

Agree with others that you need the best varifocal lenses . (Arm and a leg job). I once tried to economise and bought the cheaper ones and felt really sick with the distortion.

Oh, gosh, I thought this problem was just me! I can't read or look at a screen for any length of time with my varifocals. I have to tip head back to get the correct bit of lens in the right place. I chose lenses that were a decent size, to allow room for the grading but that hasn't worked so I use reading glasses indoors.

The other issue is that screens look bowed with my varifocals. The middle appears nearer while the sides dip away. Most disconcerting, like something from Alice in Wonderland!

I've tried contact lenses, too, but for me, they fell between two stools. I sampled numerous combinations but none gave me good results for both long and close vision.

I've just had a reminder for my eye test so I shall go along to that armed with the information gleaned from this thread!

I use reading glasses when using a screen - or reading a book.

I've worn varifocals for several years. The first time I had them I couldn't get on with them, but tried again 2 or 3 years later, this time buying the most expensive ones available (i.e. the ones with the widest reading area) and they were perfect, so I've worn them ever since. The only problem I have is using a desktop computer, because I find I have to tip my head back in order to view the screen through the lower, reading part of the lens. The quick fix for this problem was to buy a cheap pair (£25) of reading glasses which I leave by the computer. Problem solved

I was persuaded to get varifocals but could not get away with them, I fell on the stairs and got headaches at the computer. The optician allowed me to return them and I went back to single lenses.

I wear glasses, am very shortsighted but don't wear varifocals. My optician recommended, one lense near focus and the other far. It works extremely well. In fact I don't notice any change when looking at something near and then far.