New glasses, bifocals or varifocals

[plewlandsbob]

I have worn glasses ,for last 30 years, too see long distance. I could read and look at things up close with them on , no problem. But I now need to take them off for close up, small writing, such as wiring / multiplug terminal no.s , etc .
Optician is recommending , varifocals. But I am not sure about these, working with power tools, wiring , welding , reading schematics.
Would Bifocals be better?
Can I have your views / experience please?
Thanks Bob

 

[Dilkris]

I wear varifocals because I cannot see long or short distance without them - I have however ruined the lenses of plenty of them by activities in the workshop .... and they are expensive. . To reduce this cost, I now wear bifocals in the workshop, they are cheaper although not as "comfortable on the eye" as varifocals - ie: I can see close and far, but that "in between" sighting is awkward.

If I were you, I would keep glasses away from "activities" where they could become damaged and remain where you are obviously comfortable; stay as you are - and save the money.... - as a final point, and not wishing to worry you unduly, not everyone can get on with varifocals.

 

[northwest]

Varifocals without a shadow of doubt. Muchlike @Dilkris I have ruined expensive glasses in the workshop, down to my own stupidity rather than any fault of the glasses.
Rather than the long tale of my journey to varifocals and the risk of boring you to death, just get the varifocals and learn how to wear and use them properly. They are, I consider, one of my most important tools and I don't skimp on them. Nor do I take my chances at some "well known high street chain" I go to a proper optician who has been there years.

 

[Bravheart]

Hi bob I have needed glasses for a number of years now. Started with reading glasses and now with glasses for both reading and distance but the opposite of your requirements.
Had bifocals for a while which were ok in the workshop but next to hopeless for welding and had to go back to single vision lenses under the mask but needed to swap back when the mask was flipped up so less than ideal.
Trying varifocals now they take a bit of getting used to I would feel seasick for a while when putting them on in the mornings. That has settled now so not too bad but covid and labyrynthitus didn't help.
Varifocals are ok now in the workshop and can weld with a cheater lens inside the mask. Now no need to swap glasses but as mentioned varifocals are expensive and I know mine are getting scratched already also all glasses are a pita in the rain.
HTH but remember my eyes are the opposite to yours and the workshop is not my primary earner.

 

[optima21]

Im short sighted and have two different pairs of glasses, but you need to think about how you look at things,

for really close work less than 12" away I dont wear any glasses (except safety glasses if appropriate)
12" to arms length reading glasses
longer than arms length I use distance glasses.

what Ive found is that beyond those ranges you can still use the glasses but things are slightly blurry, but like at home and work I wear reading glasses all the time, but when I go outside (and need to look long distances) wear distance glasses.

I went down this route rather than wearing varifocals as I dont need to move my head to see what Im doing when going from close to distance work, I can see straight ahead.

I did try bifocals first for use at home but then went back the next day and ordered just the reading part for the full lens, as I realised it was the best compromise for me.

 

[MCKDAVID]

I'm the same, full time glasses and have runined more than my share, so now have two pairs, one for the workshop (cheap pair) , and one for outside (better quality). Change them as soon as I arrive, it's the only way, I can avoid scratches / grinding sparks etc.

The workshop pair is the type with the magnet at the bridge and the loop all the way round the back, as I can use the variofocals for everything except really close up stuff, and can't use them at all welding. Unclick and drop them off before I drop the lid, they stay round my neck, clicking together, then when I've finished back in place. Got sick of laying them down and covering in grit. For welding I tried everything, from the 10 quid reading glasses to cheater lenses, normal glasses on a cord round the neck, etc, etc. This works fine for me...

 

[Edward Teach]

My eye sight is not that bad, but I have worn varifocals for 15 years or so,
They work very well,
When I first wore them, I do remember my vision being a little 'swimmy' (is that a word), which some people may refer too.
But this doesn't last long, (minutes) for your eyes/brain to adjust.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Varifocals here too...I got got two new pars ordered last week from spec savers ...were around £300 for the pair.

The technology is amazing...some people take a few weeks to adapt...I was instant.

I have a pair for the garage and a clean pair....mine just work for everything and it's subconscious how they work so just feels like a pair of glasses that you can see everything with.

 

[Dexy]

I need glasses for reading and got varifocals 15 years ago and there great only issue is when you are in a tight position and you can not get your head in a position to look through the prescription part of the varifocals like under a car or similar confined area so still have a pair of reading glasses I put on when need to see detail close up

 

[rtcosic]

Varifocals for nearly 20 years. I went straight from single vision 'distance' lens to them without going via reading glasses. My optician warned me about @Edward Teach 'swimmy vision', but like @Pigeon_Droppings2 I had no issues - except when going down stairs!

Like @Dexy I used to get a pain in the neck from trying to adopt strange positions to see through the lower part. But that is common to bi or varifocals. My answer was the same - have several pairs of cheap reading glasses for fixed distance close work. Proper optician supplied ones - not pound shop ones. I currently have 2 pairs optimised for slightly different distances and a pair dedicated to reading in bed!

The best thing I ever did was ask my optician to make me a pair of desk work varifocals. The 'distance' part is optimised for about 70cm - the distance to my computer screen and the 'reading' part about 30cm the distance to my physical desktop. I sometimes wear these for workshop/DIY if I need the varying depth of field. The optician was very sceptical about this request but 15 years later apparently they are common.

 

[Robotstar5]

After 50+ years of wearing "normal" glasses and in later years bifocals I tried varifocals last year, didn't like them initially but percevered and after 10 months I still can't get on with them so will be taking the frames back for re-glazing with standard lenses.

 

[tom2207]

I make glasses for a part time living . Not every one will get on with vari , the swimming effect is a bit strange to start with , but it does depend on the script in your glasses and how much add there is in there too.
the sad thing is , that like lot of things in life the more you spend the nicer things get but , and heres the catch if youve just spent a lot of cash on a pair of glasses there may be a reluctance to wear them to work in ,, a couple of options spring to mind , 1 glaze your new glasses with glass , not plastic lenses it can help with the life span of the new lenses. 2 get a pair of working glasses most optoms will do a deal on a second pair at the time of purchase , maybe if your working a lot at very close distances etc you could get the second pair as bifocals with the upper part being intermediate , not quite distance and not quite reading , just a good working script , but then get the insert segment , the d at the bottom slightly over the reading add , as most folk read at 450 to 850 mm I tig a wee bit closer than that on fine things ,, but if you talk to your optom about what you actually want to do with your glasses they will be able to sort you out with something that will suit you well , bi focals are not crazy money and once you find the script you like for your task specific glasses you can order the replacements online for humble humble money .
If you do get a pair of vari as your main glasses most big lens company's offer a non toll deal , where non tolerance of vari will be swapped for either bi foc or single vision free within a certain time period , usually 28 days ,, again worth asking as not every one gets on with the '' swim'' .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Have a look into [see what I did there? ] laser eye treatment. Not for everyone [prescription-wise, I mean] but I had it done years ago when I was wearing 2 x sets of specs. Updating frames/lenses every 3 years[ish] was becoming expensive so I took the plunge and had both eyes done, but not simultaneously.

I was told that I'd eventually need reading glasses, but just the cheapo 'Pound Shop' variety, and this has proven to be the case in the last year or two.

The treatment was pricey [don't believe the "only £535" advertising] but in my experience well worth it to be glasses free, and over the years I'd have paid the same for the replacement/updated pairs anyway.

 

[TechnicAl]

I dont need glasses since I had the operation but before I had varifocals. They are brilliant but you have to get used to them.....move your head and not your eyes and persevere....it will become automatic after a while....The only issue I had was walking down stairs.....I couldnt get my head into the place where my eyes needed it to be.....but hold on to the handrail

 

[Stupoty]

I wear varifocals because I cannot see long or short distance without them - I have however ruined the lenses of plenty of them by activities in the workshop .... and they are expensive. . To reduce this cost, I now wear bifocals in the workshop, they are cheaper although not as "comfortable on the eye" as varifocals - ie: I can see close and far, but that "in between" sighting is awkward.

If I were you, I would keep glasses away from "activities" where they could become damaged and remain where you are obviously comfortable; stay as you are - and save the money.... - as a final point, and not wishing to worry you unduly, not everyone can get on with varifocals.

safetyspecs.co.uk

safetyspecs.co.uk

www.safetyspecs.co.uk

quite good value and the "Trivex" petrol resistant ones hold up very well in workshop enviroment.

Stu

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Varifocals every time. Don't however buy them on line as you need to go to a proper optician. It's not just the prescription that needed to be taken into account when optician works out but also other aspects of your eye that need to be determined manually for vario's - something the on line suppliers can't do. This is from daughter who is a senior consultant for Boots Opticians !

 

[TechnicAl]

Varifocals every time. Don't however buy them on line as you need to go to a proper optician. It's not just the prescription that needed to be taken into account when optician works out but also other aspects of your eye that need to be determined manually for vario's - something the on line suppliers can't do. This is from daughter who is a senior consultant for Boots Opticians !

and the glasses themselves have to be the right size and shape.........

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Forgot to say I get safety glasses in vario format just the same as my everyday glasses. Safety glasses are VAT free and sometimes your employer can provide a certificate confirming they are needed for work so even cheaper. Parm will probably know more about that aspect

 

[500e]

Run trifocal
Tried Varyfocal for a week or so periferal vision especially when driving, flying, climbing did not suit me.
The the VF were latest with much better spread than earlier versions.
Have had tri for 25 years the only thing I have done is where the lenses split I had a fight with opt as I wanted the intermediate lens hire & he said it would not work does for me

 

[AndersK]

Varifocals the last 5-7 years. Also in the safety and sun glasses. Also a +2 cheater lens in the helmet (in combination with the varifocals.

They do take some time to get used to but I won't go back. Still degrading sight so haven't considered laser treatment yet.

Heard the comment on walking down stairs before but I don't look at the feet while walking so don't have that problem.