Vary Focals &bifocals

[information]

Is there any difference? Thanks, Jersey, C,I.

[chrissa1]

Bifocals have a distinguishing line between the lens for nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Variofocals have one lens that is graduated to let you see things near and also things in the distance.

They take a bit of getting used to but, I wouldn't wear anything else.

[bhg481]

Yes, bifocals have 2 lenses, one for reading and one for distance; they are cemented together to form one lens. Varifocals have one lens which gradually changes the focal length as you get to the bottom of the lens. Thus, keeping your head still, as you look downwards to read you look through the correct part of the lens for the print to be clear. It has the advantage that middle-distance objects are in focus, as you look through the correct part of the lens for that too. A further advantage is that there is no obvious "reading" part of the lens, so they are aesthetically better (if you care).

[bibblebub]

I tried varifocals for a month a couple of years ago and couldn't get used to them so went for separate glasses for reading and distance. Earlier this year I decided to get bifocals for general use rather than needing to have both pairs with me whenever I go out and I find that I much prefer them to varifocals.

Opticians such as Specsavers usually let you try such lenses for 30 days to see if you're ok with them.

[chrissa1]

You've explained it much better than me, bhg481. :)

[Samuraisan]

I have used varifocals for years and wouldn't have anything else. They do take a few days to get used to though.

[bhg481]

Chrissa1 - funny you should say that; I thought YOUR explanation was simpler than mine.

I do agree, they take a day or two to get used to, but I wouldn't use anything else now. Certainly taking advantage of a 30-day trial from Specsavers.

[Old_Geezer]

I use varifocals but it often seems the wrong part of the lens is being looked through. That said other eye problems mean I ignore a lot of vision issues these days. Most of the time the lenses are smeared and there I am assuming it's my eyes. Roll on the day when the glasses can detect what you are looking through and at what, and auto adjust to be correct.

[mayennaise]

When we lived in North West France we used to take a day trip to Jersey from St Malo just to get our specs - my first ever pair of varifocals came from Specsavers, St Hellier and I can't recommend them (or the glasses)highly enough.

[taichiperson]

Although I had no problems adjusting to varifocals, I prefer separate reading glasses - the area dedicated to reading on varifocals is just too small for me. I often find myself wearing reading glasses around the house and have to remember to change them to drive...

[mayennaise]

taichiperson - my OH has exactly the same problem and he also has a 'distance' pair for when he plays golf, so he's now got three pairs, reading, distance and transition varifocals. He now says the transitions go 'too dark' so he's thinking of getting yet another pair of plain varifocals!! You can't please some folk!!!