Spectacles.

I went to the optician yesterday. The dispensing chappie made me a mock-up of varifocals, which seemed fine, but he was concerned about my vertigo being dangerous. Anyway, I have ordered a pair of specs with the most expensive anti-swim lenses with the option of returning them if unsuitable. I then went to Specsavers and bought 2 pairs of cheapo distance glasses, one for driving and the other for the TV, which is my main problem.
I may only wear the varis for shopping and using a tablet whilst watching TV, as I am doing at the moment.

I tried varifocals last year for the first time and felt quite giddy and odd. They were on a fortnight's trial so they made me a pair of bifocals instead - and refunded the difference.

The bifocals are good for everyday wear, distance and for reading price labels, menus etc etc, but I have to use a pair of reading spectacles for reading, the computer and close work etc.

but if you had three different pairs it would work out the same ..

Love my varifocals but don't love the price !

Live my verify all but don't love the price !??

My first pair of varifocals gave me a screaming headache. After about three weeks I got fed up with it and went back to the optician, and it was the prescription that was wrong, so if you have problems at first don't just jump to the conclusion that it's because they're varifocal.

The problem I have with spex is finding frames, out of the scores on the opticians wall there are only usually two or three that are anywhere near a fit.

I think it's such an individual thing. I need to wear glasses for distances but for close reading my sight is really good.

I have had varifocal glasses (and contact lenses) but opticians can never get the balance exactly right - they're nice and sharp for distance but reading is not as clear as without glasses.

I've reverted to just having distance glasses. It is a nuisance because I have to take them on and off and am always putting them down somewhere and losing them.

My husband, on the other hand, gets on well with varifocals but his sight is the opposite way round to me.

I have been shortsighted for many years and had to wear my specs all the time. As I got older I switched to varifocals. Now I wear contact lenses most of the time with pound shop readers like scarfaceace .

I have a pair of reading glasses for close work, and a pair of distance glasses that I'm supposed to wear for driving, but as I seldom drive any distance these days I only wear them for fishing because without them I can't see where my b****y fly has landed! I was surprised when I went to the opticians last month that my prescription hasn't changed, when in fact I thought my eyes were getting worse (everything else is!).

I have several different types of glasses, serving different purposes, and all necessary.

2 pairs of varifocals.... I use these when shopping. To read labels, prices on front of shelves etc. Reading glasses are too specific for shopping I.e. ok for labels up close but blurry for next shelf up.
The reading area in my varifocals is not big enough for sustained reading but ok for shopping.

Reading glasses for sustained reading and close work, using tablet and phone..... these are often on the end of my nose when I try to do a crossword and watch tv at the same time.

A pair of prescription glasses for using the main desk top computer/monitor. The distance is a bit far for reading glasses and only a certain small area in the verifocals works which is no good for sustained use.

So I'm often wearing reading glasses on a beaded string around my neck and computer glasses on top of my head.

Then there are the cheapie ones that are in handbags, coat pockets, car, every room.

I love my varifocals! DH insists on keeping his distance and reading pairs, so he has never got the right ones for what he's doing. Drives me mad!

I tried bifocals first and they frightened me to death! Varifocals are great though.

Thank you for the replies. It looks like varifocals get the vote! At present I am another who has reading glasses in every bag and pocket, as well as round my neck, as I really can't read a thing without. I had thought of maybe having a couple of pairs of distance ones, one by the TV and the other in the car, but it would be a bit of a faff!

Perhaps I should get my eyes retested - I never even noticed Lucky's politician/optician mistake, I just read it as optician

I have been wearing contact lenses for distance for about 30 years, and have recently added a dozen pairs of pound shop type reading glasses for close up. A pair in every room/bag/coat!!!

I am long-sighted, I love varifocals for driving, because I am ok with far distances (they are just starting to go a bit) but I need to be able to see dials and satnav and varifocals are the only solution for me. Bifocals are too precise.

I have stronger varifocals for choir, so that I can read small print yet look up to watch the conductors without feeling sick.

Weak glasses for wandering around the shops so that I can read the prices, strong ones for knitting and reading and mending.

I must possess almost a dozen pairs, all with different purposes. It drives me mad at times, I have a problem with seeing shiny objects so haven't a hope in hell of ever finding a pair unless I am already wearing another pair. I can't always see weed seedlings when I am gardening, so need to have a pair dangling around my neck on a cord.

I hate wearing glasses but needs must.

I've worn "readers" for a few years now. In the last few months I have been prescribed another pair for TV and driving. At the moment I have to do that annoying peer over the top thing if I look up from close work to see the TV.
Whilst I can't forget to use my readers (useless without them) I often forget to wear the other pair. I did think about bifocals but as I don't need them all the time and don't like the idea of permanently wearing glasses, I don't think I'd benefit.

I took to varifocals like a duck to water. I now have my third pair and wouldn't wear anything else.

I tried variofocals but could not get out of the optician's door safely. I felt dizzy and sick. I have had a separate pair of reading glasses for many years and I cope well, mainly because I only need reading glasses for magazines, books etc and only if the light is not bright.

Another vote here for varifocals. No problems at all.

I'm another one who has worn varifocals for several years, probably about 20, without any problems at all. I didn't even have a "settling in" stage. I was a contact lens wearer for many years and changed to varifocals when I was told that I needed reading glasses as well as lenses. I couldn't be bothered with the faff of changing glasses, losing them, having to always carry two pairs around. Varifocals all the time for me

Oh blimey! - it was a late night last night!!

You clearly have "friends in high places" or an iPad with a mind of its own , luckygirl,

I just went back to the politicians and they made a small alteration for me

I've had varifocals for a few years now and have no particular problem with them. When they were changed a few months back the vertical lines on my garage door were interesting, but I soon got used to it. The brain adapts quite quickly and you soon learn where to look without thinking about it.