Online Opticians UK only offers the very best types of varifocal glasses supplied from the world's leading lens brands & manufacturers.
You'll know how frustrating it can be, if you have different prescriptions & single vision lenses, swapping your glasses.
Varifocal glasses can do what ordinary single vision lenses cant, which is to give you, the wearer, multiple focal points in just one lens.
Having a pair means no more changing your frames for reading, driving or shopping - no matter what you're doing, you’ll have perfect vision, every time.
To order varifocal glasses online, you will need to understand how they work & the different options & types of varifocals available.
How Do Varifocals Work?
Varifocal glasses, also known as varifocals, varifocal lens, PAL,s or progressive lenses, have a gradual change in strength from the top of the lens to the bottom with multiple focal points in between. This allows you to see all distances and focus points through just one lens. They are typically used when you have two prescriptions, one for distance and one for reading.
This benefits the wearer as they don't need to buy and care for 2 separate pairs of glasses or need to switch between frames for different vision needs.
Unlike bifocals, they do not contain a reading segment or dividing line within the lens which makes them more cosmetically pleasing and can also disguise presbyopia, the need for reading glasses, which can often be associated with age as it typically occurs from the age of 40 plus.
Below are the basic 3 regions of a varifocal lens:
Distance Zone: The ‘upper’ portion of the varifocal lens provides the ‘distance’ viewing area.
Intermediate Zone: The distance and reading areas are connected via a ‘corridor’ of intermediate powers and viewing for ‘mid-range’ vision.
Near/Reading Zone: The ‘bottom/lower’ portion of the lens provides the ‘close up/reading’ area
This image shows the focal points of a varifocal lens:
Types of Varifocal Lenses:
There are many different types of varifocals on the market offering numerous benefits and features dependent upon your lifestyle, needs and requirements.
Standard varifocal lens:
Standard Varifocal lenses are the ‘entry-level’ varifocal options and are chosen as an enhanced alternative to bifocals. They have clear vision and fairly wide focal areas for distance, reading and ‘in-between’.
There will be some ‘peripheral distortion’ around the edge of the lens but this will be minimal and most customers will adapt to them very quickly.
Premium varifocal lens:
Premium varifocal lenses offer much clearer vision at all points and are a significant step up from a standard varifocal lens in terms of vision, clarity, focus and ease of adapting to them.
Sometimes referred to as ‘free-form varifocals’ or ‘back-surfaced digital varifocal lenses’, premium varifocal lenses are created using the latest computer-driven equipment and have a wider field of vision at the distance, intermediate/in-between and reading focal points.
This is because the lens is a customised varifocal lens and made to fit within the frame you have purchased. It is unique to your prescription and the lens shape of the frame you have chosen and therefore offers the fullest and widest vision possible with a smooth transition between the focal ranges. They have minimal peripheral distortion and are easier to adapt to.
This image shows the difference in the viewing field and distortion between a standard and a premium varifocal lens. The premium varifocal lens clearly having a wider field of vision and less peripheral distortion.
Elite varifocal lens:
Elite varifocal lenses have the widest field of vision at all focal points and are tailor-made to your exact vision and customised to fit within your frame. With the least distortion around the edges, they are very easy to adapt to and will give you the clearest levels of vision available.
Occupational varifocal lens:
Occupational varifocal lenses are specific to different lifestyles, hobbies or occupation vision needs. If you frequently perform tasks at a particular distance for long periods of time then you'd appreciate a broader, more comfortable zone of vision.
They are made/named for specific vision distances such as 'close', 'screen' or 'room' depending on your vision requirements.
The main differences & features of higher quality varifocal lenses are:
Typically referred to as standard, premium, free form, occupational, lifestyle and elite lenses.
Simply put, the more advanced varifocals have a wider field of vision with less peripheral distortion. They are often much easier to adapt to because of this.
Which Varifocal Lenses Do We Offer?
We offer 4 varifocal lens types; standard, premium, premium plus & elite and these have been carefully selected from the many different options & manufacturers to offer you the best vision and value for money in their respective category. The correct choice for you really depends on your budget and your vision needs.
Standard Varifocal -
Unbranded Varifocal - £49.00
This standard varifocal lens option has been selected for its wide viewing areas, minimal distortion, the ease at which wearers adapt to it and its low price of £49.00. Standard Varifocal lenses are the ‘entry level’ varifocal options and are chosen as an enhanced alternative to bifocals. It has clear vision and wide focal areas for distance, reading and ‘in-between’. There will be some ‘peripheral distortion’ around the edge of the lens but this will be minimal and customers will adapt to them very quickly.
Premium Varifocal -
We have 2 Hoya lenses in this category –
Hoya Amplitude Plus - £99.00
Hoya Balansis - £150.00
Premium varifocal lenses, sometimes referred to as ‘free-form varifocals’ or ‘back-surfaced digital varifocal lenses’ are created using the latest computer driven equipment and have a wider field of vision at the ‘distance’ and ‘intermediate/in-between’ and ‘reading’ focal points.
They have less peripheral distortion and are much easier to adapt to. Premium varifocal lenses offer much clearer vision at all points and are a significant step up from a standard varifocal lens in terms of clarity, focus and ease of adapting to them.
The amplitude plus is Hoya’s entry level varifocal and offers excellent vision with less distortion and wider viewing areas whilst the Hoya balansis is a step up on this as it is tailor made and fully bespoke to the frame you have and therefore offers a higher level of vision with much less distortion and therefore offers a full & smooth transition between the focal ranges.
At only £99.00 or £150.00, they are quite simply the best quality & value varifocal lenses available today and are heavily discounted so you can expect to pay twice as much or more in a high street optician for these 2 lenses. Our Hoya varifocal options include a free ‘anti reflection and scratch resistant coating’ worth over £25.00 to further improve the clarity, focus, condition of the surfaces and ultimately your vision. It is also worth pointing out that such is the clarity of this lens and its vision, it has a 100% success rate and we have never had a customer request a refund for either ‘premium varifocal lens’ options.
Elite Varifocal -
Varilux - XR Series Varifocal - £299.00
Varilux X Series varifocal lenses are the most advanced progressive lenses available in the market today and are for customers who want the latest technologies and premium products with the highest level of vision. Varilux X Series lenses provide all the benefits of other Varilux lens designs, while eliminating the “off-balance” feeling sometimes experienced when wearing other progressive lenses whilst offering superior clarity and a wide filed of view. Whatever the distance, whatever the situation, you will see the difference immediately. This is our elite varifocal choice and has been carefully selected to offer unrivalled clarity, the widest viewing area possible at all focal points including distance, intermediate and reading areas with almost no distortion around the edges. At £299.00, it is fantastic value and many £100.00’s cheaper than the same lens will costs on the high st and other online retailers. Our X Series varifocal option also includes a free ‘anti reflection and scratch resistant coating’ worth over £25.00 to further improve the clarity, focus, condition of the surfaces and ultimately your vision.
Who Makes the Best Varifocals in 2023?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are many, many different manufacturers who make all types of varifocal lenses to suit all needs and budgets.
Here are some of the more popular brands and varifocals in 2023:
How Do I Choose The Correct Frames?
We advise selecting a frame with a large eye size - the bigger eye, the bigger the vision as you will have a wider field of view and fully benefit from the lens area - although all of our frames, small & large, are suitable to be bought with varifocal lenses. Varifocal lenses and glasses are priced from £49.95. Typically, the more you pay, the higher the specification of lens & coatings you get with much improved vision.
How Do I Use Varifocal Glasses?
Varifocals are very easy to use and you will adapt to them very quickly and find getting used to varifocals quite simple.
The frame is positioned so that as you look through the top of the lens you will be viewing into the distance and in focus. To read, the gaze is simply lowered so that your eyes will now be looking through the lower portion of the lens, the reading part.
Varifocal lenses also have an additional benefit in that they have an intermediate power range which is useful for ‘in between’ distances such as looking at shelves in a supermarket or the dashboard of your car and you simply lower or raise your head slightly until the view comes into focus. You will very quickly learn how to look through varifocals.
How Long Does It Take to Adapt?
Although you will need time to adapt to them, the significant majority of wearers get used to varifocal glasses within hours and overall success rate is over 98%. The latest designs with wider fields of vision and less edge/peripheral distortion are the easiest to adapt to and you will get used to them very quickly.
How Do I Buy Varifocal Glasses Online?
Buying varifocal glasses is as simple as selecting it as an option when choosing your lenses.
It is quicker, more efficient and cheaper than visiting the high street.
Please don't hesitate to contact us should you require any further information and one of our advisers will be happy to assist you in selecting the correct varifocals & lens options for your prescription, lifestyle and budget.
Quite simply - with the low prices we offer and the latest varifocal lens designs combined with our full money-back guarantee - Online Opticians UK is the best place to buy varifocal lenses.
But remember, for total peace for mind, we offer our “no quibble 30 day, 100% money-back guarantee” on all purchases.
Bifocal and Varifocal lenses are corrective lenses used in spectacles to correct 'presbyopia' - a reduced ability to focus on near objects, caused by natural ageing, which is usually noticed between the ages of 40-50 - and other similar disorders.
They are characterised by a gradual increase of lens power, usually between 15 and 20 mm with a final addition power between 1.00 to 2.50, which is added on to the wearers other sight corrections. The levels starts at a minimum - or no additional power at the top of the lens - and reaches a maximum additional power of magnification, at the bottom of the lens.
This is a difficult question to answer as there are many, many different manufacturers who make all types of varifocal lenses to suit all needs and budgets.
Here are some of the more popular brands and varifocals in 2023:
Although you will need time to adapt to them, the significant majority of wearers get used to varifocal glasses within hours and overall success rate is over 98%. The latest designs with wider fields of vision and less edge/peripheral distortion are the easiest to adapt to and you will get used to them very quickly.
Varifocal glasses, also known as varifocals, varifocal lens, PAL,s or progressive lenses, have a gradual change in strength from the top of the lens to the bottom with multiple focal points in between. This allows you to see all distances and focus points through just one lens. They are typically used when you have two prescriptions, one for distance and one for reading.
This benefits the wearer as they don't need to buy and care for 2 separate pairs of glasses or need to switch between frames for different vision needs.
Unlike bifocals, they do not contain a reading segment or dividing line within the lens which makes them more cosmetically pleasing and can also disguise presbyopia, the need for reading glasses, which can often be associated with age as it typically occurs from the age of 40 plus.
