Varifocal Glasses Guide: What Are They?

Varifocal (or progressive) lenses correct near, middle, and distance vision in one pair of glasses, no separate pair needed for reading.

Unlike old-style bifocals, there’s no visible line dividing the lens. Bifocals have a distinct ledge you can see, with an abrupt jump between distance and reading vision. Varifocals blend the different zones smoothly into one lens, which is part of why they look completely ordinary from the outside, but also why there’s a real adjustment period as your eyes learn where to look for each distance.

Not all varifocals are equal. Standard lenses have a narrower zone of clear vision and more distortion at the edges. Premium or personalised varifocals, built around your exact prescription and frame, give you a wider clear zone and far less peripheral blur. That’s the main reason prices swing so much between retailers and lens tiers.

Getting Used to Varifocals

The adjustment period is real, and it’s not just in your head. Expect some peripheral distortion at first, and a genuine need to move your head rather than your eyes to find the right part of the lens. It settles down, but give it a couple of weeks before judging whether they’re right for you.

Varifocals aren’t limited to glasses either, multifocal contact lenses work on the same principle and are worth asking about if you’d rather avoid glasses altogether. Lentiamo, reviewed here, sells both.

How Much Do Varifocals Actually Cost?

Lens tier and retailer both move the price a lot. We’ve covered the full breakdown in our how much do glasses cost in the UK guide, and a direct retailer comparison with varifocal options in Specsavers vs Vision Express vs Glasses Direct and Specscart vs Lentiamo.

Varifocal Glasses Guide: Compare Retailers

Select Varifocal/Progressive as your lens type in our comparison tool to see real prices across retailers side by side.

The post Varifocal Glasses Guide: What They Are, What They Cost, and Getting Used to Them appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

Lentiamo Review UK: What You Get

Glasses prices start from £24, though the final cost varies quite a bit depending on the lens options you choose, so treat that as a starting point rather than what most people actually pay. Anti-reflective lenses come included as standard, which some retailers charge extra for.

One thing worth knowing before you order: Lentiamo requires your PD (pupillary distance) for glasses, same as most online retailers that don’t measure your eyes in person. If you don’t already have it from a recent eye test, our guide to measuring PD at home covers exactly how to get an accurate figure yourself.

Frame Range and Extras

Despite the contact-lens reputation, the frame range includes recognisable designer names, Ray-Ban, Prada, Tom Ford, and Carrera among them, alongside own-brand options across square, round, pilot, and cat-eye shapes for women, men, and kids.

There are also dedicated categories for reading glasses, blue light glasses, computer glasses, and prescription sunglasses, so it’s not just standard prescription frames. A virtual try-on tool is available on select frames too, useful for getting a rough sense of fit before you commit to buying online.

Delivery, Returns and Trustpilot Rating

Lentiamo offers free delivery on orders over £59, and 30-day returns if the glasses aren’t right. On Trustpilot, they currently hold a 4.3 rating, worth checking directly on Trustpilot’s own site rather than trusting a badge alone.

Lentiamo Review UK: Current Discount Code

As of writing, Lentiamo has a 20% off code on their own-brand glasses. Codes like this do change, so it’s worth confirming it’s still live before you check out.

Compare Retailers

If you’d rather see Lentiamo stacked up against other online opticians before deciding, our comparison tool shows real prices side by side, including NHS voucher savings if you qualify. For a direct price comparison against Specscart specifically, our Specscart vs Lentiamo head-to-head covers that in detail.

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Specscart vs Lentiamo: The Short Version

• Specscart: best if you want everything bundled into one price and the reassurance of trying frames at home first.
• Lentiamo: best if you want the lowest possible entry price and don’t mind buying without trying them on first.

Specscart

Prices

Specscart frames start from around £29.99, and that price already includes their “Clear Fully Loaded” lens package: anti-glare, scratch-resistant, anti-UV, and impact-resistant coatings, all standard, no add-ons to think about.

What they’re good at

• Every pair includes the full coating package free
• Free 7-day home trial, try up to 4 frames before you commit
• Reglaze service (new lenses in your existing frames) from £35.99
• 30-day no-questions returns, extended to 60 days for varifocals
• 3 physical stores in Greater Manchester (Bury, Walkden, Urmston) with free eye tests, if you’re local

Things to consider

Their entry price is higher than Lentiamo’s absolute cheapest options, since the bundled coatings are baked into the price rather than optional.

Best for

Anyone who wants a simple, all-inclusive price and likes the reassurance of trying frames at home before ordering. Visit Specscart

Lentiamo

Prices

Lentiamo’s sale frames start from as low as £11.34, with their wider plastic frame range spanning roughly £25 to £365.90 depending on style. Every pair includes 100% UV protection and a free anti-reflective coating, blue light and water-repellent protection cost extra if you want them.

What they’re good at

• Genuinely rock-bottom entry prices on sale frames
• A huge selection, 1,000+ plastic frames alone
• 365-day lens replacement guarantee if unopened
• 30-day no-reason returns, in line with their official returns policy.

Things to consider

No home trial, you’re ordering based on photos and sizing rather than trying frames on first, and the core coating package is more basic unless you pay extra for blue light or water protection.

Best for

Confident buyers who already know their prescription and preferred frame style, and want the lowest possible starting price. Visit Lentiamo

Specscart vs Lentiamo: Side by Side

Specscart vs Lentiamo: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Specscart if: you want one simple price with everything included, or you’re not 100% sure a frame will suit you and want to try it at home first.

Choose Lentiamo if: you know exactly what you want, want the widest possible frame selection, and want to keep your starting price as low as possible.

Both currently have live discount codes if you want to stack extra savings, see our Specscart discount code guide for the current offer, and check Lentiamo’s site directly for theirs. Or, use our free comparison tool to see live prices from both retailers side by side, matched to your exact prescription.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

What We Found When We Looked Into Urban Sunglasses UK

We haven’t personally ordered from them, so treat this as a starting point for your own research. But those are exactly the kind of things worth checking with any online sunglasses retailer: a clear authorised-retailer claim, a fair returns window, and reviews you can verify independently on Trustpilot’s own site rather than a badge on the retailer’s page.

Genuine designer sunglasses also tend to arrive with a proper case and cleaning cloth, worth checking for when your order arrives.

Urban Sunglasses UK Discount Codes

As of writing, they have a few offers running until the end of October:

• 10% off your whole order,
• 15% off top brand sunglasses,
• £30 off when you spend £200 or more.

They also offer free next-day UK delivery and 14-day returns.

Brands Currently Discounted

They’re also running deals of up to 65% off specific styles from brands including Saint Laurent, Ray-Ban, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Tom Ford, and Oakley.

Ray-Ban is known for its classic Aviator and Wayfarer shapes, Gucci for bold, retro-inspired frames, and Tom Ford for sculpted, luxury acetate styles, a good starting point if you’re not sure which look you’re after.

Worth a look if your favourite happens to be one of them, before paying full price elsewhere.

Compare Sunglasses Retailers

If you don’t need a prescription, our comparison tool’s Sunglasses option shows Urban Sunglasses UK alongside other retailers so you can compare properly.

Need vision correction as well as sun protection? Choose Prescription Sunglasses instead, they don’t offer that, but the tool will show you who does.

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GOS1: The Free NHS Sight Test

GOS1 is the form used when you’re entitled to a free NHS-funded sight test itself, the actual eye examination. Eligibility here is based on things like age (under 16, or 16-18 in full-time education, or over 60), certain medical conditions (diabetes, glaucoma, or a family history of glaucoma over 40), and specific benefits.

GOS3: The NHS Optical Voucher

GOS3 is a completely separate form, the actual voucher toward the cost of glasses or contact lenses, issued after your eye test if you’re eligible. It has a cash value based on your prescription strength. For the full voucher value breakdown and how to use it, see our NHS Vouchers page.

Why You Can Qualify for One But Not the Other

The eligibility criteria for these two genuinely differ. For example, being over 60 gets you a free sight test, but doesn’t on its own get you an optical voucher toward glasses, those are assessed separately, often based on income or specific benefits like Universal Credit. This catches people out: they get a free eye test, then are surprised to be asked to pay full price for their glasses afterward.

A Real Example: Sarah’s Story

Say Sarah is 62. Because of her age, she’s automatically entitled to a free NHS sight test, no income check needed. At her appointment, her optician also checks whether she qualifies for an NHS optical voucher toward glasses, and that’s assessed separately, usually based on income or specific benefits rather than age alone. If Sarah doesn’t receive a qualifying benefit, she gets her eye test for free but pays full price for her glasses. If she does, she gets both the test and a voucher toward the cost. Same appointment, two different outcomes depending on which entitlement she actually meets.

Common Questions About Sight Tests and Optical Vouchers

• If I get a free eye test, does that mean I automatically get help with glasses too? No. They’re assessed separately, as covered above.
• Can I get an optical voucher without a free sight test? In practice, no, you need a GOS3 voucher issued following an eye test, but you may have paid for that test privately if you didn’t qualify for a free one, and still be entitled to a voucher if you separately qualify.
• Does the voucher cover my whole pair of glasses? Not necessarily, it covers a set amount depending on your prescription strength. If your glasses cost more than the voucher, you pay the difference. See our NHS Vouchers page for the exact values.

NHS Sight Test: How to Know What You’re Entitled To

The honest answer is: ask your optician directly when you book, they’ll check both entitlements separately as part of your appointment. You can also check the official NHS guidance on free eye tests and optical vouchers beforehand. If you’re claiming based on Universal Credit specifically, see our guide to Universal Credit and free glasses for the exact earnings thresholds that apply.

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Universal Credit Free Glasses: Do You Automatically Qualify

No. Universal Credit alone doesn’t guarantee free glasses or a free NHS sight test. What matters is how much you (and your partner, if you claim jointly) earned in your last assessment period. If your earnings are below the relevant threshold, you qualify for full help with health costs, including NHS optical vouchers. If you’re above it, you may still get partial help, or none at all.

The Actual Earnings Thresholds

You qualify for full help if your combined earnings in your last Universal Credit assessment period were:

• £435 or less, if you don’t have a dependent child
• £935 or less, if you receive the Universal Credit child element
• £935 or less, if you or your partner have been assessed as having limited capability for work

These thresholds are based on combined household earnings for couples, not individual income, so it’s worth checking based on your joint claim if you’re not claiming alone.

Universal Credit Free Glasses: What You Actually Get

Qualifying gets you a free NHS sight test and an NHS optical voucher (form GOS3) worth a set amount toward glasses or contact lenses, depending on your prescription strength. For the full voucher value table and how to actually claim and use it, see our NHS Vouchers page.

What If You’re Just Over the Threshold?

If your earnings are slightly above the threshold, you’re not automatically excluded. You may still be entitled to partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme (HC3 certificate), which can reduce the cost even if you don’t get it free. It’s worth applying to check rather than assuming you don’t qualify.

How to Actually Check and Claim

Tell your optician you’re claiming Universal Credit when you book your eye test, they’ll check your entitlement as part of the appointment. You can read the official NHS guidance on free eye tests and optical vouchers for the full rules, or see our NHS Vouchers page for what to do once you have your voucher.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

If you wear glasses and love running, cycling, or swimming, you’ll know the usual trade-off: wear your regular glasses and risk them slipping or fogging, switch to daily contact lenses, or just go without correction. Specscart has recently launched a dedicated prescription sports eyewear range covering all three, running sunglasses, cycling sunglasses, and swimming goggles, built specifically for an active prescription wearer rather than adapted from standard frames.

Prescription Running Sunglasses

Specscart’s running sunglasses use lightweight, ultra-flexible TR90 frames with a wraparound fit designed for a wide field of view. The lenses are anti-impact and glare-free with 100% UV protection, and the frames include a sweat-resistant grip and adjustable nose pads to keep them in place during a run. They come with a 1-year warranty, 30-day returns, and free 24-hour dispatch.

Prescription Cycling Sunglasses

The cycling range shares the same wraparound design and TR90 frame construction, with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses rated for all-weather conditions, and Specscart states these frames are made in the UK. They include the same free 24-hour dispatch as the rest of the range, worth double-checking the warranty and returns terms on the product page directly, since these aren’t listed identically to the running range.

Prescription Swimming Goggles

Specscart’s prescription swimming goggles are available across a wide range of prescription powers, with 26 tinted, mirrored, and polarised lens options. They include UV protection for outdoor swimming, an adjustable strap, and reusable removable eye cups, along with a 1-year warranty, 30-day returns, and free 24-hour dispatch.

Hybodus also offers a dedicated reglaze service if your prescription changes later, from £35.99, send your goggles to Specscart’s Manchester lab, choose your new lens option, and they’re returned with updated lenses fitted into your existing frame, rather than needing to buy a new pair outright.

Pricing and the Buy 2, Get 50% Off Offer for Prescription Eyewear

Specscart is currently running a Buy 2 & Get 50% Off deal across its sports eyewear range, worth understanding exactly what that covers before you order. The offer applies to frames worth £49.99 and above, and the 50% discount is on the frame price only, not lenses or other accessories, applied to the lower-priced of your two frames. In practice, this is less of a limitation than it sounds, since Specscart already includes standard lens coatings in the base price rather than charging extra for them, something we covered in more detail in our Specscart review.

Is Prescription Sports Eyewear Worth It?

If you currently rely on daily contact lenses just to run, cycle, or swim without your normal glasses, dedicated prescription sports eyewear is a genuine alternative worth considering, no lens handling required, and none of the discomfort some people get from contacts during exercise. Pricing depends on your prescription and lens options, so it’s worth checking Specscart’s own configurator for your exact cost before deciding.

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What NHS Vouchers Do and Don’t Cover for Myopia Control

If your child is under 16 (or under 19 and in full-time education), they’re automatically entitled to an NHS optical voucher toward glasses. Current voucher values range from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the strength of the prescription. That voucher goes toward the base cost of the lens and frame, the same as it would for any pair of glasses. What it doesn’t cover is the myopia control element itself, the DIMS or HAL technology, the contact lens design, or the reshaping treatment, since that’s classed as a premium, private add-on rather than standard NHS provision. Check your eligibility on our NHS Vouchers page. In practice, that means the voucher reduces your bill rather than eliminating the private cost, exactly as covered in our Stellest lenses guide.

Spectacle Lens Costs: MiYOSMART vs Stellest

Both MiYOSMART (DIMS) and Stellest (HAL) are spectacle lens options, and pricing tends to be structured similarly: either a one-off cost for the lenses, or a monthly payment plan.

MiYOSMART lenses alone typically cost from around £250 to £350 a pair, with frames priced separately. Some opticians offer payment plans instead, around £25 a month, which usually includes a replacement pair each year or whenever the prescription changes.

Stellest lenses tend to be priced similarly when bought outright, with complete glasses (frame and lenses together) typically costing around £300 to £360. Several opticians also offer 6 to 12-month interest-free payment plans, from around £19 to £24 a month, the range our own Stellest lenses fall into.

Contact Lens Costs: MiSight

MiSight is a daily disposable contact lens, so the cost structure is different again, it’s an ongoing monthly cost rather than a one-off lens purchase. Most UK providers charge somewhere between £44 and £52 a month via direct debit, plus an initial fitting fee that ranges from £45 to £150 depending on what aftercare is included. Because MiSight lenses are replaced daily, the ongoing cost reflects lens replacement as well as the myopia control element.

Orthokeratology Costs

Ortho-k works differently again: instead of a monthly lens subscription, you’re typically paying for a custom-made pair of rigid lenses upfront, alongside an initial consultation. Expect the lenses themselves to cost anywhere from £250 to £500, plus a consultation fee of £60 to £150. Many providers also offer ongoing monthly plans instead, from around £45 to £53 a month, which usually bundle in aftercare, replacement lenses, and cleaning solution. Lost or damaged lenses are typically an extra cost on top, often £125 or more per lens.

What Affects Myopia Control Lenses Cost

A few things move the price more than the underlying lens technology does:

• Monthly plan vs one-off payment, plans spread the cost but can work out more expensive over a year or two than paying upfront, depending on the provider.
• What’s bundled in, some prices include eye tests, aftercare appointments, and replacement lenses; others charge for these separately.
• Frame choice, for spectacle lens options, your frame is priced on top of the lens cost.
• Provider and location, independent opticians and larger chains price identically specified plans differently, it’s worth comparing more than one before committing.

Myopia Control Lenses Cost: Our Advice

There isn’t a single “cheapest” option once you compare like-for-like, monthly plans, bundled aftercare, and frame costs all shift the real total differently for each family. Use the price ranges above as a starting point, then compare actual quotes from opticians near you, factoring in what’s included. Our guide to how myopia control lenses work covers how each option actually functions, and our Stellest lenses guide covers one family’s real, ongoing experience with the cost and the results.

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How We Found Out About Stellest Lenses

Our optician suggested Stellest lenses at what was otherwise a normal eye test appointment. We hadn’t researched myopia control beforehand and didn’t know lenses like this existed until it came up in conversation. If you’re in the same position, that’s completely normal, this isn’t something most parents go in already knowing about. If you want the science behind how Stellest and similar lenses actually work, we’ve covered that separately in our guide to how myopia control lenses work.

What the Fitting Process Actually Involves

There’s no separate clinical procedure beyond a standard eye test. Our daughter’s Stellest lenses were fitted the same way any pair of glasses would be: measurements taken, prescription confirmed, frames chosen. The only real difference is the lens itself.

The Adjustment Period: What to Expect

The one thing we’d flag honestly: the outer edges of the lenses felt a bit dizzying at first. That settled within around three weeks as she got used to them. It’s worth knowing in advance so it doesn’t feel alarming if it happens, it’s a known adjustment, not a sign anything’s wrong.

What Stellest Lenses Cost, and How Vouchers Can Help

For us, Stellest lenses cost around £24 a month, though the exact figure depends on the frame and any extras you add. Because our daughter is under 16, she was eligible for an NHS optical voucher, which contributed toward the cost. We go into a full cost breakdown, including NHS voucher eligibility and how it compares with contact lens options, in a separate guide.

Do Stellest Lenses Work? Our Daughter’s Results So Far

Our daughter has now been wearing Stellest lenses for 18 months, with a check-up every six months. At her last check in July, her eyesight had improved slightly, and that was despite not wearing them consistently every day. We want to be honest about that rather than presenting it as guaranteed proof, clinical trials, not one family’s experience, are the real evidence for how well this works generally. But it’s a genuinely encouraging sign for us.

The One Thing That Actually Determines Whether It’s Worth It

If there’s one piece of advice we’d give another parent, it’s this: consistency is everything. Myopia control lenses only work if they’re actually worn, as close to full-time as possible. Skipping days, or only wearing them some of the time, undermines the whole point, and you’re still paying the monthly cost either way. It’s worth being firm with your child about wearing them, because the value is entirely tied to how consistently they’re worn.

Other Myopia Control Options Besides Stellest

Stellest is one option among several. DIMS lenses (Hoya’s MiYOSMART) work on a similar principle with a different lens design, and MiSight contact lenses achieve a comparable effect for children who’d rather avoid glasses altogether. We haven’t used these ourselves, so we can’t compare them from experience, but our guide to how myopia control lenses work covers how all of them function and the evidence behind each.

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Why Standard Glasses Don’t Slow Myopia Progression

Ordinary single-vision lenses do a good job focusing light correctly on the central retina, where you actually look. But at the edges of your vision, they let light focus slightly behind the retina instead. Researchers believe this peripheral signal, called hyperopic defocus, is part of what tells a growing eye to keep elongating. Myopia control lenses all work on the same underlying principle, however different they look: shift that peripheral focus point to sit in front of the retina instead, and the growth signal seems to weaken.

Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses: DIMS and HAL Technology

Two spectacle lens designs currently lead the evidence base, and they take slightly different approaches to the same idea.

DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments), used in Hoya’s MiYOSMART lens, has a clear central zone for normal distance vision surrounded by 400 small segments in the lens periphery, each adding extra positive power.

HAL (Highly Aspherical Lenslets), used in Essilor’s Stellest lens, takes a denser approach: 1,021 aspherical lenslets arranged in 11 concentric rings around the central zone, with the defocus effect increasing further from the centre.

A two-year comparative study found both genuinely slow eye growth, and the difference between the two wasn’t statistically significant, so DIMS and HAL work comparably well. That’s actually useful to know: the choice between them tends to come down to things like cost, fit, and what your optician actually stocks, not one being clearly superior.

How MiSight Contact Lenses Work

For children (or parents) who’d rather avoid glasses, MiSight is a daily disposable contact lens using the same underlying principle in a different form: concentric rings alternating between your normal correction and a peripheral myopic-defocus zone. In long-term trials, MiSight slowed progression by around 50%, and children who stayed on the study showed no meaningful catch-up progression even six years in. It’s been available in the UK since 2020.

Orthokeratology: The Overnight Option

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) works completely differently from the other three. Instead of being worn during the day, rigid gas-permeable lenses are worn overnight, gently reshaping the cornea while you sleep, flattening it centrally and steepening it slightly at the mid-periphery. That reshaping does two things at once: it corrects vision for the following day without needing to wear anything, and it creates the same kind of peripheral myopic defocus signal as the other options.

Which Type of Myopia Control Is Right for Your Child?

All four options are working toward the same goal by different routes, and none of them is simply “better” in the abstract, it depends on your child’s age, prescription, and what they’ll actually wear consistently, since none of these work if they’re left in a drawer. Our guide to choosing a myopia control lens covers exactly that decision, including what things actually cost in the UK.

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