More people have a bad varifocal experience than should. Usually it is not because varifocals are inherently difficult — it is because they were sold the wrong lens, measured poorly or not given proper guidance on how to adapt.
Here is what you should actually know before buying varifocals.
A varifocal lens (also called a progressive lens) provides three zones of vision in a single lens: distance at the top, intermediate (arm’s length / computer distance) in the middle, and near (reading) at the bottom. There is no visible line.
What varifocals cannot do is provide as wide a field of clear vision as a single-vision lens in any one zone. There will always be some blur in the lower periphery of the lens — this is unavoidable physics. The better the lens, the smaller and less intrusive that blurry zone is.
Most people adapt to varifocals comfortably and would not go back. A minority find they cannot, and are better served by different options. An honest discussion with a skilled dispensing optician before you buy will usually identify which camp you are likely to fall into.
This is the question almost no optician fully answers — because the honest answer makes cheap lenses look bad.
The fundamental difference between a £99 varifocal lens and a £300 varifocal lens is the width and quality of the clear zones. Entry-level lenses use a basic design that produces a relatively narrow corridor of clear vision, with noticeable peripheral distortion either side. Premium digital (freeform) lenses use your specific prescription and facial measurements to produce the widest possible clear zones for your eyes specifically, with dramatically less distortion.
In practical terms:
The reading zone in a premium lens is typically 20–30% wider than in an entry-level lens
The adaptation period for premium lenses is shorter
Peripheral “swim” — the movement sensation when you move your head — is significantly reduced
Vision through the intermediate zone (computer distance) is much better, which matters enormously for anyone working at a screen all day
If you spend six to ten hours a day in your glasses, the difference in comfort between entry-level and premium varifocals is substantial. If you wear glasses primarily for reading in the evenings, the difference is less significant.
Even the most expensive varifocal lens performs poorly if it is not fitted correctly. The lens must be positioned so that its optical centre sits precisely in front of your pupil when you look straight ahead. Getting this right requires:
An accurate measurement of the position of each pupil (interpupillary distance and monocular PD)
A frame that fits your face properly before the lenses are ordered
Measurement of the fitting height — where in the frame the optical centre should sit
Adjustment of the pantoscopic tilt and wrap of the frame after fitting
Digital centration tools improve accuracy significantly. At Abra & Co we use centration technology to measure these parameters precisely, rather than estimating.
A lens that is 2mm out of its correct position will not give you the performance you paid for. Many people who “cannot get on with varifocals” have been given lenses that were simply not measured properly. In the majority of cases, a remake with correct measurements resolves the problem entirely.
Most people adapt within one to two weeks if they follow a few simple principles:
Wear them full-time. Swapping between old and new glasses resets your adaptation every time. Put them on in the morning and leave them on all day.
Move your head, not just your eyes. To find the clear zone for distance, point your nose at what you want to see rather than looking sideways. This is different from single vision lenses and takes some conscious practice at first.
Tip your chin down slightly to read. The reading zone is in the lower portion of the lens. Tilting your chin fractionally downwards puts your reading distance through the right part of the lens.
Be patient on stairs. Looking down through the reading zone while walking downstairs can briefly disorient some people. Take your time and hold the rail until you are fully adapted. This usually resolves within a week.
Give it two weeks minimum. The brain is adapting as much as the eyes. Two weeks of consistent wear is the minimum for a fair assessment.
This is very common. Before giving up entirely, it is worth trying:
A re-check of the centration measurements — poor fitting is the most common cause of failure
A premium lens design if you were given entry-level lenses
A different brand — different lens designs suit different prescriptions and face shapes
An assessment for binocular vision problems that might make adaptation harder
If all of this has been properly explored and varifocals genuinely do not work, there are good alternatives: separate distance and reading glasses (for many people the most practical option), occupational lenses for specific tasks, or multifocal contact lenses.
Yes — and they are significantly better now than they were even five years ago. Multifocal daily contact lenses from Alcon (Precision1 Multifocal), CooperVision (Biofinity Multifocal) and Bausch & Lomb provide distance and near correction without glasses. They work for many people, particularly those who want glasses-free options for sport, socialising or specific activities. They work less well for very high prescriptions or significant astigmatism. We offer multifocal contact lens trials and can give you an honest assessment of whether they are likely to work for your prescription.
Are you living in Heckmondwike and searching for reliable opticians in Dewsbury? Look no further! At Armitage Opticians, we’re dedicated
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