Varifocals online or in store?

On the back of a couple of recent glasses threads. Looking at reglazing varifocals due to a prescription change.
Any pro / con ref. using online like reglaze-glasses. They ask for a digital photo and existing pair of glasses if poss. Also apps to measure pupillary distance are available.
Or would the masses still go instore? Just trying to save a few pennies but aware buy cheap buy twice aswell.

There’s no way I’d get varifocals online. If your eyes are deteriorating the extent you need varifocals then the PD and other measurements are incredibly important to get right.

I went through this 4 years ago – the first pair made me sick and dizzy because the PD was off and the 2nd pair I just couldn’t adapt to. In the end I had single vision and reading glasses. Going to an optician meant that all those changes didn’t incur any additional costs.

I’ve had the same problem with my most recent pair of single vision – the PD was measured instore using an app, but it wasn’t accurate. I’ve just been re-measured and am having the glasses remade again at no extra cost.

My eyes might be overly sensitive, but the potential for messing things up outweighs any potential cost saving for me.

EDIT: prior to needing varifocals I’d been buying glasses online for years.

That would be my view as well. I went from a mainstream optician to a more ‘budget friendly’ option last time I changed – not based on price, but because they had specific frames I liked – the difference in quality for varifocals was noticeable. I think it was down to fewer questions asked, options available and measurements taken during the process. So while I might be tempted to go online for single vision, not for Varifocals, for me.

As an aside, i use single vision glasses for cycling with stick-on bifocal lenses – at my relatively low prescription, this works really well – the curve and depth of wraparound specs makes them less suitable for variocal glazing. The bifocals have remained in place for a couple of years.

Similar experiences here last two times I had varifocals after prescription changes. Optician took several goes at getting them right. Disappointing as my first pair were pretty much ‘fit and forget’ and was able to use them for everything (driving, out and about, TV, screen work) or maybe I just got lucky.

I’m convinced that working exclusively from home during the pandemic, including long hours and intensive use of laptop, etc resulted has led to deterioration. Now have reading varifocals for screen work, and other varifocals for everything else, on the recommendation of the optician. Did try Glasses Direct but they were way off…

I’m a recent varifocals user. First pair in boots paid a fortune for push lenses and Flynn’s them great, wanted some more pairs, went online to spex4less. They sent out the frames (with a marker sticker on a lense) you photo yourself wearing them, return. Went for cheaper lenses and 2 pairs. I can see the extra distortion in the cheaper lenses but overall very pleased. I’ll caveat though, longest I’ve had them on her been a couple of hours. It’s use them again, but would always be prepared to consider them as spare pairs if needed.

Asda opticians don’t charge extra for varifocals, from £45 and seen in person.

I paid around £450 just for varifocal zeiss lenses at Boots opticians 2 years ago.

This time round I paid £310 including Oakley frames and Oakley clear varifocal lenses from an online optician.

The Oakley lenses are as good as the zeiss ones from Boots and less than half the price given the cost of the frames – I just have my PD distance and the standard prescription and it was all spot on. Same for varifocal Oakley iridium lenses.

I wear variofocals – I have enough trouble using an optician to get them right – and during covid when they had a distancing policy , they mis measured for two sets of glasses for me , so their problem.
I can’t see how it would work on-line ..

I’m new to varifocals – went to Boors and the guy spent a good 30 mind measuring everything up and they’re perfect. I thought I’d take time to adjust but within a day I could see anything at any distance.

Not the cheapest however I’m on their contact lens scheme so they were half price so £250 is for nice frames, nice lenses, reactions coating etc.

I wear my glasses all day most days and occasionally contacts. They have to be right and I don’t mind paying a bit for piece of mind.

An online pair may have been as good but I would not chance it for something as important as being able to see.

A pair usually lasts me 3-4 years so when I calculate the daily cost it’s one of my lesser expenditures.

I went to to Specsavers for mine for the convenience of being able to walk in thee is there is an issue. So far I have had two of the rubber nose bits replace for free while I waited. I think the offer was 2 for 1 at £120. There spent ages in the eye test and when I first chose the frames with the fitting and positioning of them.

I then had ne pair knocked off my face, lenses scratched and frame bent by a falling sheet of glass and got the same 2 for 1 deal but the second pair were Computer Glasses which are basically reading glasses but with the focus point further away for looking at computer screens. These are excellent and just live next to the computer. Trying to type now in variofocals if strange as I have to adjust my head to focus on keyboard or screen instead of both being in focus all the time. Thankfully the delivery guy who dropped the glass on me paid for these.

Not sure how much of the £60 I paid per pair I would need to save top make the instant and personal service worth giving up to get something from someone, somewhere sending me some.

I got my first varifocals from RX Sports. Oakley frames with their own lenses. Oakley don’t do my prescription.

Upload a photo so they can measure pd. They then sent me a cheap pair of frames and told me to take a photo wearing them and upload that so they could do other measurements.

Glasses are great an were cheaper than specsavers. £280 ish I think.

I had a fitting at a local optician (family business) who spent a lot of time getting the measurements right, and I also bought my normal everyday varifocals from them. I’ve since purchased additional varifocals for riding from RxSports using a combination of my opticians measurements and the photo in cheap frames that ads678 described and they’ve been great – perfect for riding and good enough to wear all day without any issues. I’ve also used these as spares when my normal glasses have been broken, again without any issues.

I paid around £450 just for varifocal zeiss lenses at Boots opticians 2 years ago.

This time round I paid £310 including Oakley frames and Oakley clear varifocal lenses from an online optician.

I’d love to know how much better they are compared to my £80 Asdas?
No way would I go online for varifocals. I took my Rudy Project inserts to Asda to be redone as my prescription had changed a fair bit. 1st go they were miles out, but I sat in front of the guy who did some more measurements & 2nd time they’re spot on.

I got my first varifocals from RX too. First pair one lens was not right, the centre was too high up in the frame.
Another round of photos, sent them back and they replaced the lens and they’ve been spot on.

I do have a set of glasses for computer work, but I just wear the varifocals full time now.

I went online after having terrible experiences at high street opticians