Glasses

[Donna]

Some of you may remember me mentioning that I was struggling a bit with reading etc and suggested some reading glasses like what they sell at Boots.

Well anyway, due to the fact I get free eiyesight tests from work as I am a pc user I took advantage of a free eye test. Bad news is that the optician has says I need glasses for reading AND distance.

Bit of a shock really as never had a problem with my eyes or had to wear glasses. Feel really self conscious just wearing sunglasses so dont know how I am gonna cope :roll:

Question is they have suggested "varifocals". Can anyone tell me if they are a good idea, or whether bifocals or two separate pairs of glasses for reading or long distance are better.

Obviously cost is important to me as although company give me free eye test, they leave me to it for the cost of any glasses I need.

Sorry for long post.

[MrsH]

I'd had reading glasses for quite a few years, then at one check-up the optician said I had to have glasses for driving too. The obvious thing was to have vari-focals,so that both the road and the dashboard were clear, so I did some research among family and friends.

OH had never had any problems apart from the first few days when things were "woozy" a bit until he got used to them. Brother got so scared by the wooziness that he came down stairs backwards for about 3 weeks as he found it difficult judging where to put his foot! A surgeon we know thought they were the greatest invention of mankind, and without them he would have had to modify his role in the hospital, as he didn't think he'd have been able to continue doing operations.

I've now had varifocals for 6 years and think they are amazing. At first the gaps between the pavement slabs seemed to swim around a bit and I saw what my brother meant about the stairs! The trick is not to look down at your feet when coming downstairs! You have to move your head as well as your eyes at the beginning till you get used to focusing, but after a short while that became more automatic or less necessary, I'm not sure which!

Nobody can tell by looking at me that my glasses are not single vision and I don't have to wonder where I last left my reading glasses. Nor do I have to take a second pair with me everywhere. I don't know if any of this helps. ( Gosh! Long post!)

[Mags]

Donna, firstly there is no need to feel self conscious about having to wear glasses ......... they are almost classed as a fashion accessory these days and there are plenty of lovely styles to choose from. At my opticians you can try on any number of pairs of glasses, and a pic of you wearing them will come up on a screen (4 pics at a time) so that you can see what you look like wearing them .......then it's just a case of eliminating them until you come to the pair you are happy with.

I have had both bifocals and varifocals and I definately prefer the varifocals. With bifocals you have a visible line from close to distance, which I didn't like.
With the varifocals it is a smooth transition from near to far..........and to others it just looks like you are wearing ordinary lenses.

I have been wearing varifocals for about 10 years now (but I don't need to wear my glasses all the time) and I am very happy with them. When you first wear them they will feel strange as you feel you have to move your head around to find to correct part of the lens to look through.......but you soon get used to it!
Another thing worth mentioning about varifocals is you need to look straight ahead with them....for example, you don't look out of the corner of your eye at something... you must turn your head to look at it.

Another thing too is that bifocals and varifocals are more expensive than ordinary lenses;)

Here's a link Donna that will explain the different lenses to you clearer.....

http://www.college-optometrists.org/index.aspx/pcms/site.Public_Related_Links.Spectacles.Spectacles_ho me/

[Donna]

Thanks for the link Mags. Interesting reading. Also found on Boots website that as a pc user I am entitled to free eye test (which I know my company provides) but also if I need glasses my company have to pay for basic glasses (if I am a designated pc user - which I am).

Must look into this with Head Office on Monday as even if I get a voucher towards the cost of glasses it will be a great weight off my mind. Glasses are SO EXPENSIVE :shock:

Its all so new to me. Does anyone have preferred opticians or had bad experiences with any companies? My brother said Specsavers give you glasses whether you need them or not to make money, but not sure that is entirely true :o

[alexgirl73]

Specsavers haven't always recommended glasses for me when I've had my eyes done, and they also have glasses at quite a cheap price compared to Boots and places like that! They also have that screen Mags was talking about where you can see different pics of yourself.

[Donna]

I wasnt shown the screen at Specsavers today where I had my eye test - maybe the larger branches have it.

I am sure they are regulated and audited like most places so didnt think they would just issue prescriptions without needing them as surely that is dangerous in itself making people wear glasses they dont need!!!!

Are the more expensive frames worth the extra money or are the cheap and cheeful range just as good???

Sorry, so many questions!!

[Mags]

I have been with Dolland and Aichison for years. A few years ago my hubby and I thought we would both try Boots ........we found the frames we liked there but we both had nothing but problems with both our glasses. The screws kept coming out and the lenses continually dropped out of hubby's glasses :mad:
Neddless to say we both went back to our ususal optician and have never had any problems with them.

Do you have a branch near you Donna?

Obviously the the more you pay for a frame, the better it is ..... but some designer frames can be quite expensive...

[alexgirl73]

lol, no probs. Well, mine are the cheap and cheerful frames and never had any problems with any of mine. And when you think it actually only costs a few pounds to make glasses frames and then they stick huge prices on them, well, I won't pay it!!

[Mags]

A good idea is to pop into a few of the opticians in your area to see if there are any frames that you particularly like........not every optician has the same frames;)

[Donna]

When I tried a few on I did feel happier knowing they were more expensive. Silly I know. Did see some nice fcuk ones that suited me (so the lady said). They were £125 plus all the bits they add on.

Will see if there is a Dolland and Aitcheson in my area...

[Mags]

When I tried a few on I did feel happier knowing they were more expensive. Silly I know. Did see some nice fcuk ones that suited me (so the lady said). They were £125 plus all the bits they add on.

Will see if there is a Dolland and Aitcheson in my area...
The lens will bring the total up a bit, I'm not sure what standard lens cost these days.....

[Donna]

I had a quote done which was:

Frames £125
Lenses £110 (varifocal)
Ultraclear glaze £30

£203 total

[Mags]

That's a fair price Donna, mine were around £300...

[alexgirl73]

Flippin' nora!! You could buy a car for that lol!!

[Donna]

My totals dont add up!!!

Not sure what I done there!!

I have two options

One pair totals £150 or get two for £205.

[dandysmom]

I refused to even consider varifocals. Both of my parents had to get them, and both had a dreadful time: couldn't estimate distances, bumped into door frames, tripped over curbs and had blinding headaches! Lasted for months and months, not just a short time. Until I had cataract surgery in both eyes I always had two pairs: reading and distance, and could hot have been happier with them. With the cataract surgery I had the IOLs that give me clear close vision; I only need distance glasses now. I think designer frames are grossly overpriced; I've dealt with a neighborhood optician here that does carry reasonably priced frames. Good luck!

[Donna]

Well my opticians do a 30 day varifocal trial so if I cant get on with them I can take them back and get two separate glasses for reading and distance and they will also refund me any price difference.

Is this a good deal?

[dandysmom]

Sounds like a very good deal to me, Donna! And maybe you'll be lucky and have no trouble adapting to them; seems that most here didn't.....

[MrsH]

I've got no opinion on which optician is good. I used to go to one of the chains mentioned and wasn't at all happy with their service, I felt it was very much a case of being in a shop. I have for some years now gone to an independent optician where the eye-test, frame choosing, lens type/coating/tint discussion is all done by the same person, and I feel much happier. I suspect that I'm paying more for this service however and unlike the national chains there are no special offers like 1/2 price sunglasses to take advantage of.

[dandysmom]

I quite agree with you, MrsH! I had a very bad experience with one of the big national chains about 10 years ago; ever since I've used an independently owned optician recommended by a friend, and have been very satisfied with the prices and service. Last year in a stupid accident I managed to step on my glasses, and completely ruined (I thought) the frames. Went back to the shop the next day to get new ones: they repaired the old ones for me....at no charge!

[Donna]

Have found a Dolland and Aitcheson near me (Mags recommended). They are not so commercialised as Specsavers etc but are still a chain....

Tis so confusing!!

[Mags]

Have found a Dolland and Aitcheson near me (Mags recommended). They are not so commercialised as Specsavers etc but are still a chain....

Tis so confusing!!
Dolland & Aitchison have been in business for 50 years or more Donna, long before all these commercialised companies arrived on the scene. They give your eyes a really good examination and do several tests.

It only took me about a week to get used to varifocals and I never had headaches or problems with the stairs. I admit they seem strange to begin with but once you have adapted to them you don't realise you are wearing them. Bifocals are the worse ones for causing mishaps on stairs as there is a definite separation line between the two strengths of lens used..

[dandysmom]

Mags, a friend of mine also had cataract surgery in both eyes; he had one adapted for distance and the other for near vision! It sounds really weird to me, but apparently many people do this...he says he's never had any problems whatsoever! It seems the vision center in the brain adapts quickly to something like this....

[Mags]

When you think of it like that, the brain is such a wonderful thing isn't it?:D

[dandysmom]

It really is! We are strangely and wonderfully made, as the saying goes....look how people who've lost their sight as adults have their senses of hearing, smell and touch greatly intensified in compensation.....

[Donna]

Spoke to another optician who can use my presciption from Specsavers, but if I have any vision problems then I need to go to them rather than the second optician for a complaint....

I dont want to pay for lots of eye tests so looks like I am either stuck with Specsavers or use Specsavers presciption and go elsewhere but deal with the two opticians separately if i have a problem with the lenses or frames!!!

[Mags]

I thought all opticians charged the same for eye examinations Donna, I may be wrong :? Do Specsavers offer you free eye examinations?

Just found this link to half price eye tests, plus an extra 10% off glasses at D & A, Donna..............

http://www.danda.co.uk/4295/

[Donna]

I get free eye tests through the tax credits schemes, but only allowed maximum of one a year. Cant go elsewhere and get a free eye test elsewhere, and cant afford to pay for another eye test if I have to find £200/300 for glasses on top of that!!!!

[Donna]

Well I have done the deed.

Went back to Specsavers and took a colleague with me and ordered my glasses.

I have ordered a pair for normal daywear and a pair of sunglasses.... and just looking at the frames managed to find some cheaper ones so the bill was a bit less than I originally thought as well.

Just got to wait a week (Thurs 19th) and they ready for collection.

And then have to pluck up the courage to actually wear them ....

[Moli]

Well done Donna, you have got over the biggest hurdle....

[Mags]

Donna, there used to be a stigma about wearing glasses years ago but in today's world they are just accepted as normal. I'm sure you will look lovely in yours ...;)

[Donna]

Its just a confidence thing, I know.... just that I dont have any :-(

[dinahsmum]

Might work wonders for you Donna - a whole new you, and one who can see really well.
Be positive - it'll be much better for you. Bet they'll look really smart ...... and just look around and see how many people (attractive and not so) wear glasses. Lots and lots.

[dandysmom]

Is there really still a bit of stigma about wearing glasses? :shock: I've worn them since I was six, and there was a lot of "four eyes" teasing going on in school, but good Lord that was back in the Dark Ages!!! Practically everyone I know wears them! Donna, you'll look just fine, and it will be great to see clearly again! How about a pic when you get them?

[Mags]

I don't think there is a stigma anymore Eileen , the amount of people who wear them nowadays, it's almost like a fashion thing...:D

Donna, I bet you never thought you'd see David Beckham wearing glasses but he looks quite dishy in his! ;)

[Donna]

Hmmm a pic!! Well not so sure about that!!! Will see how it all goes DM....

I feel good about losing the weight again, and I have a great new hairstyle that I love... so if I feel ok once I have the glasses then maybe I might post a pic... just maybe....

[dandysmom]

It's funny how styles in glasses change, just like clothes! I posted a pic of myself yesterday taken in the late 80s or early 90s, and the glasses I was wearing...huge old things with tortoiseshell rims...look so horrible now, but they were very "in" back then...

[Fran]

I've worn glasses since I was fourteen although I did wear CL for a good few years. There is deffo no stigma attached to glasses these days in fact my Em would rather like a pair as a fashion accessory!!!

[Donna]

Got the glasses...

Hate them - feel like a freak!!!

Not wearing them.

Will have to go back and ask about contact lenses or not bother at all. Dont make much difference to my vision when I put them on anyway so cant see that my eyesight is that bad and the varifocal thing makes everything move around the room.

Can see better without them!!!

[yola]

Sorry to hear that Donna. I know what you mean though, I really don't like wearing mine at all. The varifocals are odd too, OH has them and it took him a long time to get used to the strange sensation you get when looking through them.

I would recommend CLs . . . discreet, easy to use (especially the daily disposables) . . . I took to them like a duck to water and I'm the most squeamish person ever about eyes. Most opticians will give you a trial with them.

[dinahsmum]

Yes Donna - I rate lenses too. And it is a great confidence boost to be able to see properly without squinting or resorting to the specs.
It's so easy - go for a trial