Are bifocals cheaper than Varifocals?

The choice between bifocals and varifocals can be difficult sometimes. I know everyone can’t relate to this as it’s a more common question for people above the age of 40 who suffer from presbyopia or someone who needs simultaneous vision correction for near and far distances. There are some obvious positives and negatives of both when you compare but if you don’t have budget constraints and you need the best possible solution, varifocals come out as a better option for most people. However, the main debate remains around the price. Let’s take a deeper dive to understand why are bifocals cheaper than varifocals and which one should you go with.

What is the difference between bifocals and varifocals?

The difference in the price of bifocals and varifocals depends mostly on the technology of their lenses. Both of them have a very unique design and that obviously makes an impact on the way they function.

On one hand, the bifocals have two separate zones for distance and near vision, it is easy to locate and spot both parts with a clear visible distinguishing line. The upper part of the bifocal lens is for distant vision and the lower portion is for near vision. However, the main problem with bifocal is its inability to offer a smooth transition. You’ll never be able to go from far to near vision shift without getting disturbed by the presence of its differentiating line. With bifocal glasses, you don’t get vision correction for doing arm-length work like computer or laptop work. Visually, bifocal glasses have a visible line separating two viewing distances which makes you look older than your age.

Whereas, varifocals do not display any such visible line on the surface of the lens. Moreover, the varifocals are divided into three parts for correcting near, distance and intermediate vision problems. The upper part of the varifocal lenses offers vision correction for looking at distant objects, the middle part offers intermediate vision correction like working on a computer or reading. And, the bottom part offers correction for near-vision tasks. One major difference with varifocals is that you get a seamless transition from one viewing zone to another.

Varifocal lenses are a complete package as they offer all sorts of vision correction you might need daily, which involves getting a comfortable vision for reading, surfing the web or just looking at the sky and enjoying nature. They don’t have any dividing lines so they look similar to any other single-vision glasses.

But the question that boggles the mind of the user is which of them is a more affordable option for people with limited budgets. The second concern is around the value that they offer for the prices. Let us do a small study and mathematics here to find out which is a better alternative among varifocal and bifocal glasses, cost-wise.

Cost of bifocals and varifocals in the market

The cost of a bifocal may range from £40-£55 in the UK market. A high-end seller could charge even higher than this amount. The varifocals give a progressive vision feature whereby the focus of the eyes shifts from one zone to another very smoothly. Hence, considering this factor and the advanced technology of varifocals, the prices of varifocals are a little higher than the bifocals. You can see a wide range of varifocal lenses in the market starting from £50 and it can go even close to £500 for advanced varifocals. Usually, varifocal lenses at £50 are based on basic freeform technology and don’t come with advanced features that you need for a modern lifestyle. When it comes to advanced varifocals, you need to pay a little extra around £100 to get them. It can further go higher if you add coatings like blue light filters to your lenses. Also, premium varifocals can cost you even higher.

The complex pricing of varifocal lenses is one of the prime reasons that an average individual wants to stick to bifocals. Premium varifocals still remain out of the reach of the common man. However, sticking to our promise of quality eyecare and eyewear for everyone at the best possible transparent pricing, we bring advanced varifocal lenses at £84. Even our base varifocal lens is based on Digital Raypath Technology which takes into account your individual field of vision to give you a smooth viewing experience.

What are the best Varifocal glasses at competitive prices?

As mentioned in the previous section, we bring the premium varifocal expense at an affordable and transparent pricing. You don’t see any complex pricing structure where you are charged for unnecessary upgrades. You pay £84 to get our Innovator 4D which is an advanced varifocal lens perfect for everyday life and people with a digital lifestyle. It also features free anti-glare, anti-UV, anti-scratch, impact-resistant, and hydrophobic coatings on the lenses. Since the glasses are customised for your individual vision needs, you get an even better viewing experience.

You can even upgrade to our newest generation Innovator UHD lenses which combines Digital Raypath 2.0 technology with multiple other enhancements to ensure the best possible vision at all distances. It’s the perfect choice for people with active lifestyles and who want good varifocals at the best possible prices. You can get our varifocal lenses with thousands of premium and fashion-forward frames available at 70% lower prices than the high street opticians.