Ow my eyes!

[Halo Jones]

We had a similar issue BGG had a MS relapse & his eyes went squiffy so off to the opticiants (D&A) who promptley said he needed vari-focals, well after much delay & return visits the glasses were still not in so I threw the teddies out of the pram & demanded a refund dispite the 50% discount the manager offered.

So off to boots we went: new test & the optician explained that the MS was playing silly buggers with his eyes & it is not worth new glasses until the MS settles & we know if any damage is permanent.

So the moral is D&A were taking the mick & not to trust any of them

[TimberWolf]

WTF is one of those?

The optical centre of the lens. When you have a complex (or high) prescription it becomes increasingly important that the pupils line up with it for best vision.

[Nicely Nicely]

The optical centre of the lens. When you have a complex (or high) prescription it becomes increasingly important that the pupils line up with it for best vision.

Surely the lens has the same refractive index across its surface?

[TimberWolf]

Surely the lens has the same refractive index across its surface?

Nope, especially not with complex prescriptions (e.g. astigmatism, where there's a cylinder as well as spherical refraction). Even if the prescription were small and simple, they'd still be a best focal point.

[ASB]

Nope, especially not with complex prescriptions (e.g. astigmatism, where there's a cylinder as well as spherical refraction). Even if the prescription were small and simple, they'd still be a best focal point.

The issue as well is that that point moves with gaze. Whilst single use lenses are more often than not used in a straight ahead gaze this is not the case with, say, varifocals or bifocals. The whole point being that one is for example in a downward gaze.

[NotAllThere]

At my last eye test, I was told my short-sightedness had improved, but I'd need reading glasses/bifocals/varifocals in a few years. I've already decided to take the first option. Reading glasses may not be as convenient, but they're a heck of a lot cheaper.

[TimberWolf]

The issue as well is that that point moves with gaze. Whilst single use lenses are more often than not used in a straight ahead gaze this is not the case with, say, varifocals or bifocals. The whole point being that one is for example in a downward gaze.

Which is why I'd consider a dedicated solution for computer use. With perhaps another pair of specs dedicated to reading, and good verifocals for jack of all stuff. It could be annoying to switch glasses when looking from the screen to manual though, so some consideration has to be put in.

Fortunately I am slightly myopic and have no higher order refractive errors, so I can manage most things, near and far, without any artificial ocular assistance. When presbyopia sets in, I'll be protected from it for a bit, but will probably want reading glasses eventually, as will everyone.

[moorfield]

Where do you folks (the few who don't have 20:20 vision ) get your specs? Do you use varis for screen work?

Vision Express. Can't fault them.

And you get to sit in a darkened room with a fit optometrist inside your personal space.

[Paddy]

I'll be honest, I've been wearing glasses for 25 years and I didn't understand much of that! I don't think I've ever done a Hess test and I don't know what PD is. Which makes me feel a bit stupid. I've simply left it to my trusty optician to worry about that. Then he retired. I felt a bit stranded, hence trying SpecSavers.

I have some astigmatism in one eye which makes contacts difficult (you need some special lens type which can't rotate). I tried contacts once for a week and simply hated them. The astigmatism, so I've been told, also makes Laser surgery not an option. IIRC my prescription isn't strong, I think it's the astigmatism that's the real issue.

Thanks for all replies. I'm resolved to see (1) Boots, and (2) An independent, so I can compare and contrast, then get some new specs. Cost is not a factor when it comes to my eyes.

http://www.lexum.cz/index.php?p=en0301#as

[Lester]

FWIW, my advice would be to find an independent optician who you can trust. Eyesight isn't something I want hand over to the lowest cost provider.

Mrs Lester just paid £520 for new frames with varifocals. My most recent lenses (to cope with a -9.75 CYL astigmatism) cost me £335. And need replacing every 6/7 months .

Our optician loves us.