Oh dear…

Thank you for all your comments, Grans - they are much appreciated.
I think I will pop back to Boots in a week or so to have a chat.

PS My daughter doesn’t like them!

Definitely go back to the optician Secondwind. I made a huge mistake last year, before choosing my current pair, and there was no problem at all changing them. I also have varifocals and a separate pair of sunglasses. Hated the transition lenses.

My transition lenses are really cool. I suppose it depends on the use and effect you are after.

When I had transition lenses, some years ago, I disliked them because they never seemed to clear completely and I looked gloomy. Maybe the newer lenses are an improvement, but I have chosen to have separate prescription sunglasses.

Marydoll

Mizuna

My transition specs clear completely indoors and also go as dark as sunglasses in the summer. I can't tell when they are dark unless I look in a mirror or shop window. Very clever.

Same for me. I have had transitions for years and love them.

Mine are the same, only go dark outside in the sun. They are recommended as they protect the eyes from sun damage.
I have been told that if they eventually become slower to react, that putting them in the fridge for a couple of hours resets the transition. Who knows, with a try.

Another one with transition lens, which I have had for years, I would not consider any other kind of lens. I have never noticed any difference in colour in the lens when in non-colour view.

However, after cataract ops on both eyes, I only need glasses for distance viewing: driving, in shops, cinema etc. I also have really dark prescription sunglasses for very sunny weather.

I always have frameless glasses and separate prescription sunglasses as I think that's the least ageing look.

Mizuna

My transition specs clear completely indoors and also go as dark as sunglasses in the summer. I can't tell when they are dark unless I look in a mirror or shop window. Very clever.

Same for me. I have had transitions for years and love them.

I had reactolite lenses put in some favourite frames I had already and find they don't change as quickly as they used to.
The other pair I have, not reactolite, are in a new, light, metal frame which are most uncomfortable.
An expensive mistake to make!

My husband likes his transitions sunglasses and has had these lenses for years.
I tried them once and didn't like them: they seemed permanently gloomy and I found it depressing.

My optician explained to me that if you're short sighted, like my husband is, your lenses are thinner in the middle.
If you're long sighted, like I am, your lenses are thicker in the middle. That's why mine never seemed to clear.

So ever since I have just had a pair of plain varifocals and a pair of tinted varifocals. Much better!

Same Mizuna, very happy with them.

My transition specs clear completely indoors and also go as dark as sunglasses in the summer. I can't tell when they are dark unless I look in a mirror or shop window. Very clever.

My husband made a bad choice with Boots opticians a decade or so ago. They changed his glasses, at no extra cost. We have recommended them to countless friends, relatives and acquaintances since then and obviously gone back ourselves. Maybe not next time but only because their shop is in a pedestrian zone in our city with no parking, even disabled, that is close enough for my husband to use.

I have a pair and (whisper) found the look very ageing!
Plus, going into a shop or a pub, they took so long to clear I had to take them off, rendering me as blind as a bat!🦇

I’ve got used to mine.

I got transition lenses last time, and I won't do it again. Mine tend to get really dark, even on a cloudy day, and take quite a while to lighten up when I go inside.

And you are right, they tend to have a bit of tint on them all the time, a bit grey looking, Luckily I bought mine cheaply online, so can replace them, and I still have my older glasses in good shape and the same prescription.

It might not be an irreparable mistake. Many options will change lenses if you don’t like them. Specsavers and Glasses Direct (online) will both change within 30 days, I think. It’s worth checking.

Secondwind - yes, transition lenses are never clear and
never get dark enough for the summer sun. So now I have separate prescription sunglasses, and varifocals for my normal spectacles.