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Guide

How to get used to varifocal glasses

Almost everyone gets used to varifocals: at Ópticas del Sur, 99% of our customers do so without any problems. Even so, the first few days feel different from ordinary glasses. Here's what you need to know.

By Ópticas del Sur · Published on

Why you need time to adapt

A varifocal lens has three zones: at the top, for distance; in the middle, for intermediate distance; and at the bottom, for close up. There are no lines between them, but vision is slightly less sharp at the side edges. This is true of all varifocal lenses; it isn't a defect.

Your brain has to learn to use each zone without thinking about it, and that takes a few days.

What's normal in the first few days

  • The floor looks a little closer or slightly tilted, especially when going down stairs.
  • A slight swaying sensation when you turn your head quickly.
  • Some blur when you look through the sides of the lens.

These are common sensations that usually fade as you get used to them.

Tips to adapt faster

  1. Wear them all day from the start. The more you wear them, the sooner you'll get used to them. If you switch back and forth with your old glasses, it takes longer.
  2. Turn your head, not just your eyes. To look at something to the side, turn your head towards it and look through the centre of the lens.
  3. Find the zone for each distance. To read, lower your eyes, not your head. To see far away, look straight ahead through the top of the lens.
  4. Take care on stairs. For the first few days, tilt your head slightly when going down stairs so you see the steps through the top of the lens.
  5. Keep the frame well adjusted. If your glasses slide down your nose, the zones are no longer in the right place. Pop into the shop to have them adjusted.

When to come back to the optician's

If after a few days you still can't see well at some distance, you feel dizzy or something isn't comfortable, come to Ópticas del Sur, no appointment needed, and we'll check them. All our varifocal lenses have a 60-day adaptation guarantee.

What we do to help you adapt

Adapting starts before you put the glasses on: we talk about how you use your eyes every day, choose a frame with you that works well with varifocals and take precise measurements so each zone is in the right place. Find out more in varifocal glasses in Vecindario.