Are Varifocal Glasses Easy To Get Used To?

Varifocal glasses, also known as progressive lenses offer simultaneous vision correction across far, intermediate, and near distances. They offer a gradual shift in vision across the lens surface. While bifocal lenses also offer vision correction for distance and near vision, one of the major differences between them is the visible line that you see in bifocal lenses. Whereas, varifocal lenses offer seamless vision correction at all distances without any visible line separating different viewing zones.

However, you need some time initially to adapt to varifocal lenses. Your eyes and brain need to adjust to the new way of seeing through different parts of the lenses. For example, making head movements rather than just relying on your eyes can help you adjust to varifocal glasses. These lenses have different zones for distance, intermediate, and near vision, so learning to position your head to align your gaze with the correct zone is crucial. Let’s understand how easy or difficult it is to get used to varifocal glasses.

Looking at the right part of varifocal glasses

As mentioned above, different parts of varifocal glasses have vision correction for different distances. Here’s a look at the same:

• Top: The top part of the lens is designed for distance vision.
• Middle: The middle part of the lens caters to intermediate distances, usually between 2-6 feet. This is perfect for tasks that fall between near and far distances.
• Bottom: The bottom portion of the lens is optimised for near vision, making it ideal for tasks like reading, writing, or using a smartphone.

You should move your eyes to the upper part of the lens to look at something far away. Similarly, you can look in the middle part of the lens to look at something between 2 to 6 feet away and the bottom part of the lens for near vision tasks. Considering it’s the natural position of your eyes while looking at these distances, you get adjusted to it in a couple of days without many problems.

What’s normal in the first few days of using varifocal glasses?

Here are some of the common issues that you might face in the first few days of using varifocal glasses:

• In the initial stage, you might face some issues while switching between different viewing distances but it becomes natural with time.
• Losing focus results in dizziness and headaches. Since activities such as climbing stairs require both distance and near focus, the quick changes might give you a headache.
• Rolling your eyeballs from one zone to another may make the vision appear a bit distorted.
• There can be a slight alteration of peripheral vision around the edges of the frame. This may require more movement or tilting of the head and eye movement.
• Nausea is another common issue that several people face after switching to varifocal glasses.

However, most of the problems mentioned above are quite common for the first few days. You get adjusted to the new viewing style in less than a week. In some cases, it can take around two weeks but again you can easily get over this.

How Much Time Does It Take to Get Used to Varifocals?

It depends from person to person. While some people need a few days, others require two weeks to adjust to these new glasses. You need some time to automatically look through the right part of the lens for different tasks. Simultaneously, your brain’s visual centre needs time so that it can adapt to improved visual conditions. You should make sure to wear your varifocals regularly as it will minimise the adjustment time. However, if the problem continues even after two weeks, you can contact your optician.

Tips to Adjust Your Varifocal Glasses

If you want to become an expert user of the varifocal glasses, the following tips will be very helpful:

• Make sure to wear your varifocal glasses throughout the day. Don’t avoid or skip wearing them as it will only delay the adjustment time.
• Don’t switch between your new and old varifocal or single-vision glasses.
• Make frequent head movements instead of moving your eyes while focusing on different objects. For instance, while reading or viewing objects that are close by, move your chin up and view downward. At the time of climbing or walking, move the head towards downstairs and focus on the road or stairs till you get used to it.
• First-time users might need some time to get used to these varifocal glasses.

To sum it up

According to statistics, it is quite evident that nearly 98% of the individuals wearing varifocal glasses are able to adjust with ease. With advancements in lens technology, the adjustment time has become lower than ever. For example at Specscart, we customise your varifocal glasses based on your natural field of vision. It makes adjusting to the new glasses easier and gives you a comfortable vision afterwards. You can feel free to contact our friendly customer support team for any queries or help related to your varifocal glasses.