"DK1000" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3a1ed600-2ba3-46ea-b281-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I need help in choosing the best lens options for me. I'm going on 57
> y.o., and my current pair of lenses are Varilux progressives, I don't
> know what model of Varilux, if they're Comfort or Panoramic, etc., and
> optical centers I visited couldn't tell either.
>
> I know I have a fairly strong prescription, and have astigmatism, and
> also told my depth perception is not the greatest. I don't have an old
> prescription any more to give numbers.
>
> When I was in my 40's, I was told I needed bifocals, and my fist pair
> had the lines, I hated that. My next pair were progressives, and the
> one after that also progressives, but I didn't know the brand, but my
> "sweet spot" was tiny, and I took them back and asked if I could try
> Varilux (current). Much better. Again, I don't know what model of
> Varilux.
>
> Which brings me to now, several years of wearing, getting too
> scratched up for comfort. I narrowed my choices down to 2 places, and
> this is where I need help on which brand/type may be best for me,
> given I need that bigger "sweet spot". I want either "hi-def" or hi-
> index. But then I read hi-index may not be for everyone.
>
> One is Sam's Club. They said they had Varilux, don't know what model
> of Varilux, but they said they're not Panoramic, with or without the
> 360 designation ($414 with transitions and anti-glare). I asked them
> about the new "hi-def" lenses coming out, and they said they have
> something similar in Nikon "custom' brand ($435 with transitions and
> anti-glare), which they said is also hi-index, and comparable to the
> 360, but no hi-def in Varilux. They don't have poly in Varilux as a
> "lesser" option, only plastic.
>
> My other potential optician is Eyemasters. They said they have Varilux
> Panoramic, but not 360, and also Eagle Vision ev 4.0 hi-def. They told
> me that the Varilux is the Cadillac of lenses (which is what I always
> thought anyways). And, even though the EV hi-def gives you less wasted
> space on the lens surface, they think I'll be happier with the
> Varilux. That's where my dilemma comes in. I would guess that more
> lens that's not distorted would be better, offering more of a "sweet
> spot"? Actually the EV will be less expensive than the Varilux. They
> also have the Varilux Comfort ($452). The Pan. would be $507, and the
> EV would only be $387. This is all without frames, as I bought some
> frames already on eBay, but do include anti-glare and transitions.
>
> Of course I get the anti-glare and transistions on my lenses. Also,
> seems Eyemasters offers polarized lenses, I haven't seen that offered
> anywhere else. I would like to get that option if it's really good to
> have, or get Polarized instead of Transitions, as sunlight causes most
> of the glare. Would I need both and is Polarization available on both
> Varilux and EV?
>
> Thanks very much for any advice.
The Nikon lenses at Walmart are actually made by Essilor, which also owns
the Varilux brand. Essilor owns the Nikon brand in the USA (but not
necessarily in other countries). I haven't checked lately, but the high-end
Nikon at Walmart was supposedly virtually the same as the Varilux Physio
360. Essilor sells the Essilor brand (and Nikon brand in the case of
Walmart) to big box stores and the equivalent Varilux brand to independent
opticals, because independents don't like to compete on price with the big
box stores, and they will not carry the same lens as the big boxes.
Personally, I would avoid Eye Masters like the plague.
There are other excellent lenses on the market that are individually ground
to your Rx from scratch, such as the Hoya Id and the Zeiss Individual. But
in terms of price, the Nikon at Walmart may be hard to beat if you like the
Physio 360 (some love it and some hate it). If you buy at Walmart, try to
get fitted by the head optician and not one of the inexperienced sales
people.
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