Getting My First Pair of Progressive Bifocals (Presbyopia) and It Wasn't a Bargain!

loginid on 28/08/2025 - 12:12
Last edited 28/08/2025 - 12:26 by 1 other user

Yesterday I finally ordered my very first pair of glasses — after about a year of putting it off. They’re progressive multifocals for a presbyopia script (ADD +0.75). My distance vision is still “near perfect” (optometrist’s words, not mine 🤩), but up close things have started to get… well, blurry. Typing this on my phone right now is a struggle 😭.

I’d been resisting for a while because getting glasses felt like admitting I’m getting older — but here we are. I went with progressives (about $200, got 30% off at EyeBuyDirect), and now I’m wondering what to expect.

Does anyone else have progressive bifocals around this prescription?

How long did it take you to get used to them?

Do you wear them all the time, or just for reading/phone/computer work?

I’m really hoping they don’t just end up sitting on my bedside table unused. Any advice, tips, or personal experiences would be super helpful for a first-time glasses wearer.

Thanks in advance for your insight! 🤓

Health & Beauty Reading Glasses

Comments

  • Downvoter on 28/08/2025 - 12:53
    -1

    Dear diary…

    • djones145 on 28/08/2025 - 13:50
      -1

      cant see, need my glasses

  • geekcohen on 28/08/2025 - 12:59
    +1

    As someone who has been wearing glasses for almost 15 years now, I wear mine daily and mainly need them for long distance. I don't have bifocals (but my sister does). However, in the last few years, my short sight has become worse, and I now have a pair of computer glasses that I use. I could have gotten bifocals, mainly because of the cost, so I didn't bother and just use a separate pair for computer work. Some days are worse than others, like today, I need them, but some other days I am okay with my normal pair.

    As for tips/advance for a first-time experience, expect headaches and that your eyes may hurt for a few days as they adjust.

    I am surprised they didn't just issue you a "reading" pair of glasses. I guess mainly the elderly have a "reading" pair that they use for computer work, reading etc.

    Just my 2 cents.

  • Jolakot on 28/08/2025 - 13:11
    -1

    You can sign up to top-tier private health extras for a few days, get them to pay for your glasses (and massage, dentist, physio, etc), then cancel it and get reimbursed for the remaining time. Just make sure they waive 2&6 month extras for new sign ups. Holding extras coverage is a scam unless you need major dental work done.

  • MS Paint on 28/08/2025 - 13:36
    +1

    Why didn't you just get reading glasses from the chemist for $10?

    • loginid on 28/08/2025 - 16:10
      -1

      Because I didn't want to have to carry them around all the time, was hoping that progressive bifocals could be a good 'all rounder solution'

      • MS Paint on 28/08/2025 - 16:43
        -1

        You either carry them on your nose/ears or in your man bag. Up to you.

        • LFO on 29/08/2025 - 10:32
          -1

          Or in your pocket …

  • brendanm on 28/08/2025 - 17:41

    You made this post to tell people you have purchased glasses?

  • ocular on 28/08/2025 - 21:11

    See my nick, Do the optics - you have perfect distance vision. You need an add of +0.75 - you are an OZB groupie and have been had coz vanity and expectations got in the way. 10$ +1.00 reading specs stuck on the end of your nose is your future. BTW +0.75 is just the beginning, You have a long way to go and then you will be really blind for near without specs.

  • Trekky on 29/08/2025 - 09:07
    +1

    I've been using glasses for nearly 40 years. I have 2 sets - one for distance that I wear the majority of the time and another pair for the computer (this has only been in the last 5 or 6 years). I tried bifocals but hated them, so went with separate specs. I also have a pair of sunglasses for distance in my script.

    I wouldn't want to wear specs when I didn't have to………

  • mattmel96 on 29/08/2025 - 09:23
    +2

    I had reading glasses for a while, mainly for computer and phone however noticed that some of the smaller icons or messages in car dash were becoming fuzzy.
    On optometrists advice went for 2 pairs of multi-focal, one specifically for computer work.
    Ended up returning the computer specific pair and changing them for normal single vision. They were acceptable if I only used a laptop screen but useless when using with multiple screens as the focus window was too small so you couldn't look at the whole screen are once.
    So now I have multi-focal for everyday wear and single vision for computer work.
    As others have said, start of in short bursts to reduce headaches and be particularly careful going up and down stairs as the stairs will be out of focus unless you tilt your head down.

  • LFO on 29/08/2025 - 10:30
    -1

    Do you wear them all the time, or just for reading/phone/computer work?

    The more you use them the least "work" your eyes (cornea lens) will do, hence becoming more lazy (muscles) and hardened (lens).
    Of course don't expect an optometrist, that sells glasses to you acknowledge that fact.

    As a matter of fact you don't need 20/20 perfect vision ALL the time. Yes when it is needed but not always.

    IMHO you'll be better off using standard reading glasses (usually no more than loupes for your healthy eyes) when needed, and then taken them off.

    Once you have them permanently you'll need stronger and stronger glasses. Year after year.
    The optometrist industry will be happy to sell you more and more … every time …

  • BronzingStubble on 29/08/2025 - 10:46
    +1

    Is there such a thing as progressive bifocals? I always thought it's one or the other. You either have progressives or you have bifocals. I have both for different purposes. For reading, I just buy a $5 pair of glasses from Red Dot or something like that. They've got the added advantage that you can move around in bed and not worry about bending the frame or anything because it's only $5 to replace them.

  • tulip99 on 29/08/2025 - 10:53
    +1

    Multi focals were suggested to me years ago when I thought I needed glasses, for reading. I could read better without them! They cost $400 and I managed to get a refund after getting my eyes tested by someone else who agreed with the first optician, then by someone else there who said my eyesight was variable and I only needed reading glasses.

    I went to Specsavers, got my eyes tested again, got the cheap $39 frames with the smudge proof coating, and they were perfect.

    A few years later I had to get computer glasses as well, so went to the same optician at Specsavers, $39 frames again. Sometimes I don't need them for the computer but I always need them for reading a book, otherwise the print is fuzzy/blurry, but I can read letters okay and write shopping lists without them.

  • loginid on 30/08/2025 - 08:18

    Thanks everyone for the really thoughtful replies, I learnt a lot. I guess it will boil down to using them and I guess if I turn out not needing them I can return them in the two week window. Thanks again 😃

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