Reading glasses I can’t read with

I asked my optician to make me a pair of vari focals that are just for use at conferences. i.e. typing notes on a lap top, reading papers, looking up and seeing members attending and then just a little bit at the top for the power point on the distant conference screen. This has worked out well. I can actually drive in them in day light because of the top bit. He has distributed the change in focus to suit my requirements. This is the first time I have had this done and will do it again. I think far too much of the varifocal lens is normally given to distance and not enough to close activities.

When not at conferences I keep these specs in a case at my computer.

I have used Specsavers and ‘good’ opticians and the service varies wildly. I now go to a Specsavers which is excellent, always quiet, never crowded, and no problems at all.
They should ask Merseybelle what you use your glasses for,
Reading, computer etc.but obviously didn’t ask you at the time, so poor training on their part.

I find easy readers from Boots or similar very goog

Just collected my new glasses from V.E. they are bifocals and they have a special wash to shield my eyes in sunlight - cost £220 -

Try repositioning the screen - I can't read DH's large screen as it's too far away if I use his computer but I can read mine without my glasses as it's nearer (and his is bigger )

Wow that’s a huge amount of money ! I’m complaining over £45 glasses !

Coast
Re the ASDA optician. When you say 'price includes everything' does that include high impact lenses.
Having said that, there are 'cheaper' high impact lenses.
I've found that Ziess work best for me.
Maybe I could get out the shop without paying £450 + ?

LJP1 - brilliant ! Problem solved . Thanks

Try increasing the font size setting on the computer, to what suits you, so you can read with reading glasses or without as you fell inclined?

Charleygirl15 I have my eyes tested every year. I wear contact lenses and also have a contact lense check every year. I wear my lenses when I go out, my ordinary glasses at home and my pound shop readers when I occasionally need them. I have told my optician and he said that's fine.

I recently brought home a new pair of reading glasses from S....s....s (which I had not been asked to try out when I collected them) and found I could not read a thing with them, everything was blurry. I phoned up and was asked to come in. There they took my details and on checking noticed that a pair of “distance” glasses had been ordered by the assistant with whom I had placed the order! I was informed the previous assistant must have “just ticked he wrong box” . I do not require distance glasses and have never done. My guess is that if the previous assistant had not been so focussed on trying to sell me various coatings for my glasses, all of which I politely declined, she would have been more in tune with what my actual order was. As a result, a new pair of lenses was ordered immediately and my reading glasses were available in store the next day.

I have used S..... S for years, have worn varifocals for over 20 years and never had any problems however could never get a 2nd free pair (always had to pay extra) because of my prescription. Earlier this year I was desperate for new glasses but decided to go to Asda, so pleased that I did, 2 pairs slimline varifocals, 1 pair as sunglasses. Eye test was excellent and optician told me I have macular degeneration, explained about it etc and told me it will be monitored at each test. Merseybelle2 if you can't read, at normal reading distance with your new glasses you definitely need to go back with them. As far as the computer is concerned you will need a different strength at this is an 'intermediate' distance.

Me too ... NotSpaghetti... had two eye ops in 18 months and have done without glasses till everything settled down , and now have new specs. Brilliant , top half for distance and a much bigger lower half for reading. Now I can read my books again...but good thing was I discovered ‘Audible’... how marvellous to be read to again. Wonderful discovery.

Thanks coast35 never thought of Asda, and I can afford those !

Like others I buy cheap ones. At the moment I need 250 magnifying for reading. Books or screen.
Husband bought some online about £12 for 10 pairs. He even uses them now, in the past being convinced by an optician that he had some very rare visual deformity. And paying a fortune for his specs.
I know there are some people who need a specialised prescription, but I think a lot of it is a bit of a con.
I was waiting for a bus this pm, the bus stop is next to an optician. I saw 2 women with young families, 3 or4 children, going in there for specs. Why do they want them at that age?
Anyone looking for a lucrative profession, train to be an Optician. Or Opthalmologist.

I was told by 'you should have gone to...', when I complained I couldn't read with my new varifocals that 'You didn't say you wanted glasses for reading!' I now go to an independent optician and very good they are.

This is pertinent for me. Collected new varifocals from SS yesterday, distance fine but close blurred. Have been sent away to try them for a few days. My current varis came from Glasses Direct and never had any problem with them. This thread has given me the confidence not to be fobbed off especially as there is another pair outstanding.

I wear contacts but need reading glasses on top now for close work and only ever buy off the shelf reading glasses - on the advice of two opticians.

But I find I need different strengths for using the laptop or computer and for reading a book, presumably because the book is nearer to my eyes. So I just have a weaker strength pair for the computer. I also have a super strength pair for sewing. So three different strengths in all. There are plenty of cheap reading glasses around.

The only snag being that the frames are probably not as stylish or varied as those from an optician.

Re Specsavers, we both use for contact lens/glasses and for hearing aids and we’ve been very happy with the service.

I worked in computing and always has a different pair of specs for screen work, as my screen would be further away that I would hold a book. Luckily my employer paid for these. Since retiring I buy a decent, over the counter pair of readers with a slightly lower power than my prescription ones. Make sure that all of your screen is approx the same distance from your eyes, even if it means you have to prop it up.

I get my eyes tested at Vision Express then go to Asda for the glasses. Everything is included in the price. Mostly £80 for one £120 for two pairs.

Never go to......... They are rubbish.

They told me I had 'old eyes' when I couldn't see through the spectacles they tried to sell me. I hadn't, I needed several eye operations, including a retina peel, after being referred to the hospital by my lovely local independent optician, who knew what the problem was straight away!.

Our big ASDA has an opticians. There is a massive notice up on the wall which says ordinary glasses £40, designer ones £80. All inclusive of everything except reactalite. I finished up paying £120 for two pairs of all singing and dancing varifocals. Never spent less than £300 before! I’ll go back to them. The part I liked was the big notice. It tells you what it will cost before you start! It’s all so upfront and definitely cheaper. Glasses are lovely, well as lovely as glasses can be!

I cannot use my reading glasses for the computer, but they work well for reading books, newspapers etc and for sewing.

OP, you say you cannot use this pair at all, so obviously, you need to go back to the optician, explain the problem and demand that they check that the reading glasses they have provided you with are the right strength and that the lenses correct astigmatisms if you have any. My experience has been that opticians often forget to correct these when supplying reading glasses.

If going to the original optician does no good, take the glasses and yourself to a competitive firm, explain the dilemma and state you want to know whether you should be able to read with these glasses or not.

Even better go to an eye specialist and get his opinion. Why pay for something that doesn't work?

The original optician should either make you a pair of glasses free of charge that you can read, sew and knit with, or refund your money, so you can go to an optician who can make what you need.

I have used verifocals for years. They have three zones reading, computer (essential for my work) and distance. I also have Photochromic saves having sun glasses and anti scratch. May seem excessive, but I never need another pair at hand whatever I'm doing so I never loose them.

I had to go back several times to Specsavers before they got my glasses right. A few years back now. They got them right in the end, but I go elsewhere now.