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Post by cavocado on Feb 15, 2024 16:47:29 GMT
Just wondered if anyone here has varifocals and how you find them for watching theatre, especially if you happen to be sitting high up? I've always had normal distance glasses, more recently needed reading glasses too. It would be more convenient to combine them into one pair of varifocals, but not sure if I'd be able to look through the right part of the lens if I'm looking down at the stage. Has anyone found this a problem?
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Post by threeletteracronym on Feb 15, 2024 17:28:06 GMT
Yes!
I think it may depend on the actual 'boundaries' of your varifocals. With my old pair, I always kicked myself if I'd forgotten to take my pair of single vision glasses with me. With my current pair, I have less of a problem. (Which is just as well, as I cant find my single vision specs!)
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Post by Jan on Feb 15, 2024 17:49:06 GMT
Never had a problem - after wearing them for a while you autocorrect your head position as necessary. Might not work in the Haymarket cheap seats though.
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Post by cavocado on Feb 15, 2024 18:01:28 GMT
Thanks Jan and threeletteracronym. Sounds like they might be fine once I get used to them, but I can take my old single vision pair with me for a while, or at least if I'm sitting up high. |
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 15, 2024 18:10:37 GMT
Never had a problem - after wearing them for a while you autocorrect your head position as necessary. Might not work in the Haymarket cheap seats though.
Agreed. You adjust without being aware.
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Post by jek on Feb 15, 2024 18:25:28 GMT
I got new varifocals a couple of weeks back (developing cataracts at 60 means I need a much stronger prescription). I struggled a bit in the first week adjusting to these new ones - quite dizzy - but am finding them absolutely fine now. In about a decade of wearing varifocals this is the first time I have had any issues. I've certainly never noticed a problem at the theatre - wherever I was sitting. I'd definitely say go for it.
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Post by cavocado on Feb 15, 2024 18:35:29 GMT
Thanks everyone. This is very encouraging. I'd pretty much decided to get them anyway, because I'm fed up with switching between distance and reading pairs in my non-theatregoing life, but nice to know they are likely to work for theatre too.
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 15, 2024 19:05:38 GMT
I've had varifocals for a few years now, with no problems going around and about. However, I usually sit in the stalls at the theatre, but recently had seats in the Dress Circle. I suddenly realised I was looking through the reading section of my specs and couldn't see the stage, so ended up with them on the end of my nose in order to look through the distance bit! If I sit in the front stalls I find I can manage without them anyway.
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Post by theatremiss on Feb 15, 2024 19:33:30 GMT
I have varifocals too. Been wearing them for years. Yes you have to adjust your head. One thing I do struggle with is going down stairs
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Post by Jan on Feb 16, 2024 7:27:36 GMT
I have varifocals too. Been wearing them for years. Yes you have to adjust your head. One thing I do struggle with is going down stairs During the war the Windmill theatre stayed open with its famous strip show. One patron used to regularly sit in the cheap seats far away and he had the idea of making a special pair of glasses with very thick magnifying lenses so he could see in close up. So he had these things made and the first time he went into the auditorium wearing them he fell down the steps and broke his leg. That anecdote from Alfred Marks who was frequently cast in the show playing the Grand Vizier or some such which simply involved him sitting on a throne upstage looking at the girls. |
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Post by jaqs on Feb 16, 2024 15:41:22 GMT
I have varifocals, have been fine in the theatre. Not so good for reading for me though, hoping to get new ones soon.
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Post by danb on Feb 16, 2024 19:42:21 GMT
I used to forget I had varifocals, then I’d be surprised when I looked up through the top of them and could see the stage perfectly.
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Post by showgirl on Feb 17, 2024 3:56:50 GMT
I've never used varifocals for any distance activity; I have 2 pairs of distance glasses (same prescription), 1 of which lives permanently in my car for driving and the other in my bag for theatre and cinema. For work and screen use at home I have 2 pairs of glasses with "blended varifocal" (or "occupational") lenses, which would be unsuitable for use more than a short distance away. This solution works best for me as when I did try varifocals with 3 zones, including distance, they drove me mad as I could never work out which of the 3 layers of the lenses I was meant to be looking through and as I could also see below and above the frame, I was potentially trying to choose from 5 different options.
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 17, 2024 11:49:10 GMT
I got new varifocals a couple of weeks back (developing cataracts at 60 means I need a much stronger prescription). I struggled a bit in the first week adjusting to these new ones - quite dizzy - but am finding them absolutely fine now. In about a decade of wearing varifocals this is the first time I have had any issues. I've certainly never noticed a problem at the theatre - wherever I was sitting. I'd definitely say go for it. Are they not removing your cataracts? I had cataracts removed from both eyes in my early forties, and from glasses all the time I now only need them for reading, other up close work, and working on my laptop. |
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Post by jek on Feb 17, 2024 14:11:57 GMT
hannechalk My optician referred me to Moorfields (my local eye hospital) who deemed that it was too soon for surgery. I presume they are filling their schedules with people whose need is greater than mine at this stage. When I did some research it seems that this is a common experience - I saw figures suggesting that 40% of those referred for surgery are told to come back at some later stage. So glad to hear yet another positive experience of surgery - I'm sure my time will come.
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 17, 2024 21:46:27 GMT
hannechalk My optician referred me to Moorfields (my local eye hospital) who deemed that it was too soon for surgery. I presume they are filling their schedules with people whose need is greater than mine at this stage. When I did some research it seems that this is a common experience - I saw figures suggesting that 40% of those referred for surgery are told to come back at some later stage. So glad to hear yet another positive experience of surgery - I'm sure my time will come. After my operations, my partner called me 'Forrest Gump', because I'd be stood there amazed, staring at concrete, marvelling at all the different colours in it I hadn't noticed before. It went from a view through a smeared window to screaming 4k technicolour. |
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Post by cartoonman on Feb 18, 2024 11:42:00 GMT
I found Varifocal type lens OK for the theatre but when driving and at a junction I often seemed to be looking through the wrong bit. These were Zeiss lens, if I remember, and I understand may be different from Varifocal brand. I have gone over to ordinary lens, they are a lot cheaper £25 against £200? and I get on fine with them apart from having to have a cheap pair of Lidls reading glasses handy. I was told I had the start of cataracts about ten years ago. The last time I went to my opticians, the Institute of Optometry opposite the Southwark Playhouse, they said that it usually takes ten years before surgery needed but I was OK for a while yet.
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Post by maggiem on Feb 22, 2024 16:41:10 GMT
I got new varifocals a couple of weeks back (developing cataracts at 60 means I need a much stronger prescription). I struggled a bit in the first week adjusting to these new ones - quite dizzy - but am finding them absolutely fine now. In about a decade of wearing varifocals this is the first time I have had any issues. I've certainly never noticed a problem at the theatre - wherever I was sitting. I'd definitely say go for it. Interesting! I developed cataracts about 18 months ago, and after having them removed I now have internal lenses for my distance vision and glasses for reading and using the computer at work. I don't need to use glasses to watch a show and I usually sit at the front of the upper circle to save money on the tickets. |
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Post by jek on Feb 22, 2024 16:53:21 GMT
maggiem As I posted above Mooorfields have said that I am not a candidate for surgery at the moment. I guess they have to manage their waiting lists. I am sure that at some point I shall enjoy all the advantages that cataract removal can bring. I hear so many good reports. The man who repairs my sewing machine (and so does detailed, close work) can wax lyrical at length about the bliss of being glasses free for so many activities. It is so wonderful that such surgery has become so straightforward and routine.
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