Varifocals ot two pairs of glasses?

My varifocals cost £550. They’re not cheap!

*’Lens’ !!

Nansypansy, most of my glasses are of the £1 off the shelf variety. They are everywhere in the house, bags and in the car and are fine for what they are.
Just try them out on a piece of print. If it’s hard to read go up.
They start from 1.5 and go up to about 3.5
I am on 3 now but can still see out of my 2s easily too.

I tried varifocals as did my OH. Didn’t find that our sight was crisp and clean at all at any distance and suffered from some vertigo. Managed for a year or so and then had bilateral leans replacements (multi focal, which is very different to varifocal). Life- changing and life- enhancing. Cannot recommend highly enough.

I have varifocals with reaction lenses. Cost around £250
Now need new prescription. Quote for new glasses £350!!!!
Does anyone else find the cost of glasses very expensive?

I was in the same position as you exactly 2 years ago! My reading glasses were permanently on my head or round my neck. At my eye check I was told I needed glasses for long sight (driving) too.
I chose to have varifocals and I had no problems at all! I just put them on and that was it!
It’s wonderful not to keep putting glasses on and off all the time.
Good luck.

Interesting subject. I’ve worn varifocals from my forties for long distance and driving etc. however I’ve noticed in very recent years that my close vision isn’t what it used to be so I’m wondering whether to get some off the shelf reading glasses BUT how do I find out which strength I need just for the reading??🤷‍♀️

I suffer with vertigo triggered by my vision so when I first tried varifocals 20 years ago, I couldn't get on with them. I tried again recently but found that although they didn't trigger the vertigo, the middle distance wasn't right. I opted for bi-focals but found them disorientating when I was driving so I purchased 2 pairs of glasses. However when I have my distance glasses on, I can't read the dashboard so I am going to try a pair of varifocals which are supposed to address the middle distance problems. Fingers crossed.
If you buy from Specsavers or Vision Express, they will allow you to try your glasses for up to 100 days. After the first 3 weeks, they will either try other lenses or give you a full refund. That way you can see what works.

I still have bifocals. tried varifocals once,but couldn't get used to them at all, I kept tripping. my bifocals turn dark in the sunlight.

i have worn varifocals since my mid-40s (now 78) with no problems. they also react to sunlight so i have no need for sunglasses.
i have had glasses since i was 11 so i'm used to wearing glasses.
when i read at night i don't wear my glasses as i lie on my side with the book not far from my eyes.

I tried varifocals but kept finding I'd missed the edge of the pavement etc. I'm happy with bifocals.

Lots of people are fine with varifocals, give them a try but bifocals are great too especially if you ask for the reading part to be sightly curved so it's not so noticeable (a bit pricier).

I can't understand why people ( women in particular) don't want to wear specs all the time. I wear my varifocals all day and every day and I have been wearing glasses for 80 years (I'm 85). It drives me nuts when people on TV have to say " I'll have to put my glasses on for this". Just do it. It's no big deal.

I have worn varifocals for years - the cheapest variety of lens. Opticians always try to sell you the more expensive ones.
I didn’t want to wear glasses all the time either, but got fed up with having to swap between two pairs.
The disadvantages are that they don’t really suit computer work, you end up looking through the distance part when you need the close up for the screen. I solved this by buying cheap readers. The other risk is that you can’t see the ground or steps near to your feet unless you bend your head down. I learnt this by tripping over a ridge and falling flat. Once you are aware of this looking down becomes a habit.
I wouldn’t go back to separate pairs of glasses for anything.

Bifocals for me… couldn’t get on with varifocals. I do have reading glasses, only because they’re a bit more easy to read with when reading in bed.
I had excellent sight until my 40’s, so was very picky about specs…;-)

I love my varifocals. As soon as I put them on it was a "come to Mama!" moment. I have them in my sunglasses too. Wouldn't be without them!

Couldn’t get on with varifocals, made me feel dizzy. Had mine made back into normal glasses. Just had to buy another pair of distance.

I have varifocals but also have reading glasses. I use the reading glasses at home when I’m doing a lot of reading or using my iPad/phone, as the varifocals make the page or screen look slightly domed in the middle. But I like the varifocals rather than distance glasses when I’m out, as it means I can easily do any reading or close work I need to when I’m out - like reading labels in the supermarket.

I have varifocals and have had them for many years. Takes a few days to get used to them then it's so much easier than 2 pairs of glasses

GoodAfternoonTea I chose a frame once that was too small, so the reading zone wasn't large enough to be any use.
We live and learn!

Definitely varifocals but be aware of the size of the frame. I had a large frame once and had a lot of problems focussing. An average squarish frame that you can see at Specsavers was the one that suited me best.

I have worn glasses occasionally since I was at school and couldn't read the blackboard, and obviously wear them for driving, cinema etc. I don't wear them anywhere else.
For last ten or fifteen years, I've needed glasses for reading, craft etc.
I have pairs of reading glasses next to my bed, in my craft bag, in the living room. My newest distance glasses are in the car, with the yellow tinted ones for driving at night. I've reactor light sunglasses, and ordinary prescription sunglasses.
I looked at varifocals but because my prescription changes very slightly every 2 years or so, was advised not to.

Twinsgranny have you thought about contact lenses plus readers for occasional use? It’s the perfect solution for me.

I don’t need wear the lenses every day, it depends on what I’m doing.

Twinsgranny , I am in exactly the sane situation as you and not sure about going down the varifocal route. I have prescription distance glasses for driving, theatre and tv. Also prescription reading glasses but I also buy ready readers online.
I asked my optician about this and she told me ready readers will not damage my eyes. I do get a bit fed up messing about with two pairs! but like you I dont want to have glasses on all the time. I am also in my mid 70s . Its a dilemma!!

I wore varifocals all day everyday for decades and loved them. Post cataracts surgery I no longer wear glasses , except for a cheap pair of readers for screen and books.

If you go for varifocals you need to have them precribed and fitted by a really good optometrist. It's vitally important that your face holds your spec frames in the right place so that your eye is looking through the right part of the varifocal lens.
Some lens depths won't accommodate vf prescription.

So the optometrist needs to tell you which frames will and wont work for the lens you need. Then having chosen the right frame. they need to put it on your face and mark the lens to show the lens maker where your pupil sits.

None of the above can be DIY'd by you buying specs online. And as far as I can see from friends unsatisfactory varifocals Specsavers customers don't get that level of service.

I used to go for the thinnest swiss lenses I could afford. Expensive but so worth it.

One more follow up
Still dithering even after reading all your helpful comments. I think might be worth my while trying varifocals as I need my reading glasses for quite a lot indoors particularly eg iPad , peeling veg , any reading etc and then I need long distance for driving and tv but I wondered if I didn’t wear them all the time eg I don’t really need for gardening, walking the dog, generally socialising, can you leave them off or does your brain just get addled? Or, if you wear constantly till you get used to them does your brain then just readjust according to whether glasses on or off? Think I am just a bit resistant to the idea of wearing glasses all the time. As am in mid seventies a bit silly, but thats me. Thank you!