Multifocals take a little getting used to, and that is normal. Your brain needs time to learn where each zone of the lens is. For most people it gets easier over a few weeks of wear, and a few simple habits help.
What it feels like at first
A multifocal (also called a progressive lens) corrects far away, arm's length and close up in one lens, with no visible lines. The power changes gradually from the top of the lens to the bottom: distance at the top, the screen and the dashboard in the middle, reading at the bottom. At first you may notice a softer area at the sides of the lens, and the clear zones may feel smaller than you expected, especially if your reading power has gone up. That fades as your brain adapts.
What helps
- Make sure they fit well. Your frame needs to sit so that you look through the right part of the lens for each distance. If your glasses slip down or sit crooked, pop in for a free adjustment.
- Look through the right part of the lens. Look up to see across the room, look straight ahead for the screen, and look down to read: here, there and over there.
- Turn your head, not just your eyes. Point your nose at what you want to look at, especially when you look to the side.
- Practise at different distances. Look at your phone, then at the television, then at a magazine, then across the room.
- Wear them regularly. The more you wear your new multifocals, the sooner they feel natural.
If you are still not comfortable
Come back and see us. Our 30-day satisfaction guarantee covers it: if, within 30 days of collecting your eyewear, you are not seeing comfortably through your new lenses, or your spectacles do not fit or feel right, return to the branch where you bought them. We will assess your eyewear and, at no charge to you, re-check your prescription and remake your lenses if there is any error or if you are unable to adapt to them, adjust, refit or repair your spectacles, or, where the problem cannot be resolved in any other way, replace them. This guarantee covers how your eyewear performs: your vision, your comfort and the fit. It does not cover a change of mind about the appearance or style of the frame you selected. Read the full service guarantee.
One pair for everything?
An everyday multifocal is a balance: making one zone bigger makes another smaller. For long hours at a screen or a lot of driving, a second pair made for that part of your day is often the more comfortable answer. Read more about our lenses, or book an eye test and your optometrist will talk you through the options.