Varifocals have a slightly unfortunate reputation.
Mention them to somebody approaching their first pair and you’ll often hear one of three things:
“My friend couldn’t get on with them.”
“I don’t want to be moving my head around all the time.”
Or the classic:
“Aren’t they the ones that make the stairs go funny?”
Yes. Varifocals have acquired quite the mythology.
The reality is rather less dramatic.
A well-chosen, accurately measured and properly fitted modern varifocal can provide remarkably natural vision at different distances.
But there’s an important word in that sentence:
well-chosen.
Because not all varifocals are the same.
So if you’re looking for varifocals in Lindley, Huddersfield or the surrounding area, here’s what we’d want you to know before buying them.
What exactly is a varifocal lens?
Let’s start with the easy bit.
When we’re younger, the natural lens inside the eye can change focus relatively easily.
We look across the room.
Then at our phone.
Then back across the room.
Our eyes quietly get on with it.
As we get older, that ability to focus close-up gradually reduces. This age-related change is called presbyopia.
It’s why menus eventually start being printed in mysteriously tiny writing.
And why your arms apparently become too short.
A varifocal lens helps by providing different focusing powers within one lens.
Broadly speaking:
The upper portion is generally used for distance vision.
Move your gaze lower through the lens and you reach intermediate distances.
Further down is the area for closer tasks such as reading.
There isn’t a visible line separating them.
The power changes progressively through the lens.
Hence another name you may hear: progressive lenses.
Are all varifocals basically the same?
No.
And this is probably the single most important thing to understand.
“Varifocal” describes a category of lens.
It doesn’t describe one particular product.
It’s a little like saying “car”.
A small city car and a luxury grand tourer both have four wheels and get you from A to B.
That doesn’t mean they provide the same experience.
Varifocal lenses come in different designs and levels of sophistication.
The usable areas of vision can differ.
The way the lens deals with your prescription can differ.
The amount of personalisation can differ.
The measurements used to produce it can differ.
And, consequently, the experience of wearing one can differ.
So asking:
“How much are your varifocals?”
isn’t quite enough information to make a meaningful comparison.
A better question is:
“Which varifocal are you recommending for me, and why?”
Why do some people struggle with varifocals?
There can be several reasons.
Sometimes the lens simply isn’t the right design for the wearer.
Sometimes measurements or frame fitting can contribute.
Sometimes the prescription has changed significantly.
Sometimes the wearer hasn’t been shown how to use the lenses.
And sometimes expectations are unrealistic.
A varifocal cannot make every point from the end of your nose to the horizon perfectly clear simultaneously.
That’s not how the lens works.
There are different zones for different viewing distances.
A good dispensing process should explain this before you leave with them.
Knowing what to expect makes adapting considerably easier.
Will I have to move my head all the time?
You will naturally learn to point your nose a little more towards what you want to see, particularly for certain intermediate tasks.
But with a well-designed lens, it shouldn’t feel as though you’re operating your head manually.
Most experienced varifocal wearers aren’t consciously thinking:
“Distance zone. Intermediate zone. Reading zone.”
They simply look.
Your visual system becomes remarkably good at finding the part of the lens it needs.
What about the famous varifocal stairs problem?
This comes from looking down through the lower portion of the lens.
Remember, that area contains additional power for near vision.
If you’re looking at your feet or steps through it, things can initially appear different.
The trick is straightforward:
drop your head as well as your eyes when looking down.
For most people this quickly becomes automatic.
If you’re new to varifocals, take a little extra care on stairs while you’re adapting to them.
How long does it take to get used to varifocals?
There isn’t one universal answer.
Some people put them on and barely think about them again.
Others need a period of adaptation.
If you’ve never worn varifocals before, your brain is learning a new way of accessing different areas of vision through the lens.
Wearing them consistently usually helps.
Putting them on for an hour, taking them off, returning to your old glasses and trying again three days later isn’t necessarily the easiest way to adapt.
But equally, you shouldn’t spend weeks battling with glasses that feel fundamentally wrong.
If something isn’t working, go back to your optician.
We’d much rather know.
Why do measurements matter so much?
Because a sophisticated lens is only useful if it’s positioned correctly in front of your eyes.
We need to know where your eyes sit within the frame.
The frame needs to be fitted correctly.
The relationship between your eyes, lenses and chosen frame matters.
With more personalised lens designs, additional measurements can be used to tailor the lens more specifically to the way the frame sits and how you’ll wear it.
This is one reason we don’t particularly like treating the frame and lenses as two completely separate decisions.
They have to work together.
Does the frame I choose matter with varifocals?
Yes.
That doesn’t mean you’re restricted to enormous glasses.
Modern varifocal lenses can work with many different frame shapes and sizes.
But the frame still needs to fit appropriately and provide enough usable space for the lens design being considered.
If you’ve fallen in love with a particular frame, part of our job is to determine whether it will work properly with your prescription and chosen lenses.
Beautiful is good.
Beautiful and functional is considerably better.
Why can one pair of varifocals cost much more than another?
This is where things can become confusing.
You may see varifocals advertised very cheaply and encounter others costing many hundreds of pounds.
There can be genuine differences behind those prices.
More sophisticated lens designs may provide greater personalisation and aim to optimise the useful areas of vision for the individual wearer.
Lens material matters.
Coatings matter.
Prescription can matter.
Measurements and fitting matter.
And the service around the product matters too.
But we’d never suggest simply buying the most expensive varifocal available.
The right question isn’t:
“What’s your best lens?”
It’s:
“What’s the best lens for me?”
Those aren’t necessarily the same thing.
What are personalised varifocals?
This is where modern lens technology gets particularly interesting.
Traditional lenses are produced around a more generalised set of assumptions.
More advanced varifocal designs can incorporate individual wearer information to optimise the lens.
At Bottomleys, we predominantly work with ZEISS lenses, including sophisticated varifocal designs that allow us to select different levels of personalisation depending on the wearer.
This becomes particularly relevant when your visual life is demanding.
Perhaps you move constantly between different distances.
Perhaps you spend a lot of time driving.
Perhaps you’re using digital devices throughout the day.
Perhaps your prescription itself presents particular challenges.
The more we know about how you use your eyes, the better the conversation we can have about which lens makes sense.
I’m on a computer all day. Should I use my varifocals?
You certainly can use varifocals for computer work.
But that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the ideal tool for spending eight hours at a desk.
Think about where your computer screen is.
It’s usually neither very close nor far away.
It’s sitting at an intermediate distance.
On an everyday varifocal, the portion designed for that distance is only one part of the lens.
That can sometimes result in people adjusting their posture to find the clearest area.
Chin up.
Head slightly back.
Shoulders complaining by 4pm.
This is where office lenses can be brilliant.
What’s the difference between varifocals and office lenses?
An everyday varifocal is designed to cover a broad range of vision, including distance.
An office lens can sacrifice the need to see far into the distance in order to give more useful lens space to the distances you’re actually using around a desk or room.
Laptop.
Desktop monitor.
Paperwork.
Phone.
Colleagues across the office.
Different office lens designs can be configured for different working distances.
We sometimes describe them as having the right tool for the job.
You could play an entire round of golf using one club.
But given the choice, you probably wouldn’t.
Your everyday varifocals and office glasses can complement each other in exactly that way.
Can I drive in varifocals?
For many people, varifocals are an excellent everyday solution for driving because driving involves far more than looking through the windscreen.
There’s distance vision.
Mirrors.
Dashboard.
Speedometer.
Navigation.
Controls.
You continually move between visual distances.
The correct prescription and an appropriate lens design are important, and your optometrist can advise you about your individual vision and driving requirements.
I’ve tried varifocals before and hated them. Does that mean I can’t wear them?
Not necessarily.
This is something we hear surprisingly often.
If you previously struggled with varifocals, we’d want to know more.
What exactly didn’t you like?
Was distance vision poor?
Reading difficult?
Was the computer problematic?
Did you feel disorientated?
Did the glasses constantly slip?
How long did you try them?
What lens were you wearing?
Understanding why they didn’t work is much more useful than simply concluding:
“I can’t wear varifocals.”
Lens technology has also developed considerably over the years.
A previous bad experience doesn’t automatically predict the next one.
Should I buy varifocals online?
You can buy many things online.
Whether you should depends on the product.
With varifocals, we’re combining a prescription, a lens design, measurements and a physical frame that needs to sit correctly on your face.
Then there’s fitting and aftercare.
For us, the human bit still matters.
If your new glasses aren’t quite right, being able to sit down with the person who measured, fitted and recommended them is rather useful.
How often should I replace my varifocals?
There isn’t an automatic expiry date.
If your prescription remains suitable, the lenses are in good condition and you’re seeing comfortably, there isn’t a rule saying you must replace them after a particular period.
Regular eye examinations are important because your prescription and eye health can change.
Your visual needs can change too.
Perhaps you now spend far more time working from a laptop.
Perhaps you’re driving more.
Perhaps the prescription hasn’t changed much but your current glasses simply aren’t doing everything you need them to do.
That’s worth discussing.
Frequently asked questions about varifocals in Lindley and Huddersfield
Where can I get varifocal glasses near Huddersfield?
Bottomley Opticians in Lindley provides private eye examinations, eyewear styling and varifocal dispensing for clients from Lindley, Huddersfield and surrounding areas.
Does Bottomleys supply ZEISS varifocal lenses?
Yes. ZEISS is our principal lens partner, and we offer a range of ZEISS lens designs depending on your prescription, visual requirements and individual circumstances.
What are the best varifocal lenses?
There isn’t one varifocal that’s best for everybody. Prescription, lifestyle, frame choice, previous experience and the distances you use most all influence which lens may be most appropriate.
Are expensive varifocals worth it?
More sophisticated varifocal designs can offer advantages, particularly through greater personalisation and optimisation. However, the most expensive lens isn’t automatically the correct one for every person.
Can you help if I haven’t got on with varifocals before?
Yes. Previous difficulties are useful information. We can discuss what you experienced and consider your prescription, frame, lens design and visual requirements before recommending what to do next.
Do I need separate computer glasses if I wear varifocals?
Not everyone does. However, people who spend long periods working at a desk may benefit from dedicated office lenses designed specifically around intermediate and near working distances.
Can first-time varifocal wearers adapt successfully?
Many do. Appropriate lens selection, accurate measurements, frame fitting, realistic expectations and wearing the glasses consistently can all help with adaptation.
Can I have an eye examination at Bottomleys Lindley?
Yes. Comprehensive private eye examinations are available at our Lindley practice by appointment.
The bit we’d really like you to remember
If you remember nothing else from this rather long article, remember this:
A varifocal isn’t just a varifocal.
There are different designs.
Different levels of personalisation.
Different materials.
Different measurements.
And different people with completely different visual lives.
So don’t simply ask an optician:
“How much are your varifocals?”
Ask:
“Which varifocal would you recommend for me, and why?”
That’s a much better conversation.
And if the answer makes sense to you, you’re probably in good hands.
If you’d like to have that conversation with us, you’ll find Bottomleys on Lidget Street in Lindley.
Coffee is considerably easier to understand than varifocal technology.
We’ll provide that too.
Bottomley Opticians Lindley
Lidget Street
Lindley, Huddersfield
Telephone: 01484 643692
Private eye examinations, eyewear styling and varifocal consultations are available by appointment.
