Varifocal Lenses in Manchester
Varifocal Lenses in Manchester
We fit varifocal lenses for patients across Greater Manchester every week — both varifocal spectacle lenses and varifocal contact lenses — from three practices in Cheadle, Middleton, and Heald Green.
A significant number of those patients come to us after being told by another optician that contact lenses are not an option for them. High prescription. Irregular cornea. Dry eyes. Failed fittings elsewhere. In most cases, we find a solution — because we measure more carefully, carry a wider range of lens options than most practices, and take the time that complex fitting actually requires.
If you are struggling with presbyopia — the near vision loss that affects virtually everyone from their mid-40s — and you are not sure what your options are, this is where to start.
What is presbyopia — and why your options are wider than you think
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on near objects. The natural lens inside the eye loses its flexibility over time, and from around 45 it can no longer shift shape quickly enough to bring reading material into sharp focus. It is not a disease. It is not a sign that your eyes are failing. It is simply biology — and it happens to almost everyone.
The standard response is reading glasses, or varifocal glasses if you already wear distance correction. Both work. But they are not the only options, and for many patients they are not the best combination for how they actually live.
Varifocal contact lenses — soft multifocal lenses, or rigid gas permeable varifocal lenses for more complex prescriptions — correct near, intermediate, and distance vision without anything on your face. Many of our Manchester patients wear both: contact lenses for work, driving, exercise, or social occasions; glasses at home or in the evening. The two complement each other, and the right balance depends entirely on how you use your eyes across a typical day.
We help patients across Greater Manchester find that balance. The conversation starts with understanding your life, not just your prescription.
Varifocal spectacle lenses — what we offer in Manchester
Modern varifocal spectacle lenses are significantly better than they were even a decade ago. Wider reading zones, less peripheral distortion, faster adaptation, and optical technology that accounts for the natural difference in how your two eyes work together.
Standard varifocal — from £229
Suitable for straightforward prescriptions and patients new to varifocal lenses.
Premium varifocal — from £329
Hoya lenses with broader usable zones and reduced swim effect. Recommended for patients who spend extended time on screens or have found standard varifocals difficult to adapt to.
Advanced varifocal — from £429
Hoya lenses using Integrated Dual Surface and Binocular Harmonisation Technology, designed to work with how your two eyes naturally function together rather than treating each eye independently. The widest reading and distance zones available. For patients with more complex prescriptions or high visual demands.
Many patients who have tried varifocal glasses elsewhere and struggled were wearing a standard varifocal lens that was not suited to their prescription or their visual habits. A premium or advanced lens, fitted with the right measurements, is a substantially different experience.
Varifocal contact lenses — the options available to Manchester patients
Soft multifocal lenses — fitting fee £75
A varifocal soft contact lens contains different optical zones within a single lens — correcting near, intermediate, and distance vision simultaneously. Most patients adapt within one to two weeks.
We work primarily with Bausch and Lomb as our preferred contact lens partner. Their Ultra Multifocal and Total30 Multifocal consistently deliver the clinical results we look for, and we have direct access to their full trial lens range and clinical support team. The Total30 Multifocal is particularly effective for patients with dry eye, using a water gradient material designed to maintain comfort through a full working day.
Rigid gas permeable varifocal lenses — fitting fee £150
For patients with higher prescriptions, astigmatism, irregular corneas, or a history of unsuccessful soft lens fittings, we offer rigid gas permeable varifocal lenses — RGPs.
An RGP lens is a firm, custom-made disc that sits on the corneal surface and holds its precise optical shape regardless of what the cornea does underneath it. Unlike a soft lens, which distorts with every blink and every variation in tear film, an RGP delivers consistent, high-precision optics. For varifocal correction this means sharper vision, particularly at the edges of what soft multifocals can achieve.
RGP lenses are replaced annually and custom made to a precise specification for each eye.
How we fit varifocal contact lenses — what makes our approach different
The spectacle prescription is where we begin — but it is only the beginning.
When a lens moves from the spectacle plane to sitting directly on the corneal surface, the effective optical power changes. For modest prescriptions the adjustment is small. For higher prescriptions it is significant. We calculate the true contact lens power for each eye individually.
Beyond the prescription, we take several measurements that directly determine which lens we select:
Pupil diameter
The optical zones in a multifocal contact lens are concentric rings. Your pupil size — which varies between patients and between lighting conditions — determines how much of each zone your eye actually uses. A patient whose pupil is naturally large in dim light may find it extends beyond the distance zone at night, causing halos around lights. We measure pupil diameter in different conditions and choose a lens whose zone geometry matches your specific pupil behaviour — not the population average. This measurement is absent from the majority of contact lens fitting appointments.
Corneal curvature and topography
The back surface of the lens must be matched to the curvature of your cornea for the lens to centre correctly and move correctly with each blink. For soft lenses we use keratometry. For RGP lenses we take a full corneal topography — a detailed digital map of the corneal surface — which determines the precise geometry of the custom lens we order.
Tear film
A contact lens sits in the tear film. If the tear film is insufficient, the lens will not perform and will cause discomfort within hours. We assess tear film before every fitting and, where dry eye is a factor, address it through our specialist dry eye clinic before proceeding to lenses.
Ocular dominance
Most people have a dominant eye. For certain multifocal designs this influences the prescription balance across both eyes. We assess dominance as part of every multifocal fitting.
Working with Bausch and Lomb
We work with Bausch and Lomb as our preferred contact lens partner — with direct access to their clinical support team, their full trial lens portfolio across all parameters, and their fitting guides for complex prescription ranges. When a case falls outside standard parameters, we have a clinical resource to draw on that a practice ordering from a catalogue does not.
Patients who have been told no
We see patients regularly who have visited one, two, or sometimes three other Manchester opticians and been told that contact lenses are not possible for their prescription or their eyes.
In the majority of cases, that assessment was based on what soft lenses at that practice could achieve — not on what is possible. RGP lenses, which most practices do not offer, handle prescriptions and corneal profiles that soft lenses cannot. Patients with keratoconus, post-refractive surgery corneas, and high myopia or hyperopia are among those we fit regularly.
We are honest when something is genuinely not achievable. But we will not say that before we have properly assessed you.
What our Manchester patients say
“I had tried varifocal contact lenses twice with two different Manchester opticians and given up both times. The RGP lenses fitted at Abra & Co are sharper than my glasses. I wish I’d found them sooner.”
“I didn’t know there was a difference between a standard varifocal and a premium varifocal. My previous glasses were fine but these are completely different — no distortion at the sides, much faster to adapt to.”
“They measured things no other optician had ever measured. Pupil size. Dominant eye. Tear film. I felt like my eyes were being properly understood for the first time.”
“I wear contact lenses for work and glasses at home now. I hadn’t realised you could do both. It was Abra & Co who suggested it.”
“I was told my prescription was too high for contact lenses. After a proper assessment and four appointments I was fitted with RGP varifocals. I’ve worn them every day since.”
Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard contact lens fitting | £75 |
| Complex and RGP fitting | £150 |
| Soft multifocal — monthly supply | from £29/month |
| RGP varifocal lenses — replaced annually | from £180/pair |
| Standard varifocal spectacle lenses | from £229 |
| Premium varifocal spectacle lenses | from £329 |
| Advanced varifocal spectacle lenses | from £429 |
The contact lens fitting fee covers your full assessment and all review appointments until the fitting is complete.
Our Manchester practices
Cheadle — 161 428 3717
Serving Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Heaton Mersey, Bramhall, Stockport, Hazel Grove, Poynton, Wilmslow, Handforth, and surrounding areas.
Middleton — 161 653 0771
Serving Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham, Moston, Collyhurst, Failsworth, Chadderton, and surrounding areas.
Heald Green — 161 437 3400
Serving Heald Green, Gatley, Didsbury, Withington, Wythenshawe, Northenden, Sale, Altrincham, and surrounding areas.
All three practices offer the full varifocal fitting service — spectacle lenses and contact lenses, including RGP.
Frequently asked questions
No. Many of our patients wear both — contact lenses for specific situations and glasses the rest of the time. We design the fitting around how you actually use your eyes, not a binary choice.
That assessment may have been based on what soft lenses at that practice could accommodate. RGP lenses handle prescriptions and corneal profiles well outside the range of standard soft lenses. We assess you properly before drawing any conclusion.
For straightforward soft multifocal fitting — three appointments over four to six weeks. For complex prescriptions or RGP fitting — more. We give you an honest estimate at your assessment.
We run a specialist dry eye clinic at all three Manchester practices. Many patients with dry eye wear contact lenses successfully once the condition is properly managed. We assess this at your first appointment and, where needed, treat the dry eye before fitting lenses.
Yes. You trial lenses before we discuss any supply arrangement. We do not ask you to commit to anything until the fitting is complete and you are confident the lenses are right for you.
The usable zone width, peripheral distortion, and adaptation time all improve significantly between standard and premium. Patients who have struggled with varifocal glasses before have often been wearing a standard lens. We explain the differences at your consultation and make a recommendation based on your prescription and visual demands.
No. We regularly fit first-time contact lens wearers in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. At your assessment appointment we spend time on insertion and removal technique. Most patients are confident within two or three sessions.
Contact lens fitting — £75 standard | £150 complex and RGP
Spectacle lens consultation — complimentary
Cheadle · Middleton · Heald Green