— Varifocal glasses & sunglasses
Great quality varifocals
at a remarkable price.
Three freeform designs, made to your prescription. One price covering the frame, the lenses, lens thinning, coatings and fitting, from £195.
Guarantee We back every pair. If your varifocals aren’t right, we’ll make them right. Find out more
— Choose your lens
We don’t compromise on quality.
Every option in the range is a freeform lens, made to your prescription. What changes between the three is how wide the clear zones are, how much edge distortion is neutralised, and how hard-wearing the coatings are. Each option carries everything the one before it has, plus more.
Our priority is finding the right lens for you, not the most expensive one. Our varifocals don’t start cheap and get good, they start good and get exceptional.
What’s in the price
Premium
Freeform design
A good all-rounder for everyday life: driving, the shops, glancing at your phone. Clear zones that are easy to settle into.
PRESCRIPTION GUIDERecommended for prescriptions up to around ±3.00 · cyl 1.25 · add +1.75
£215 in sunglasses
Advanced
Wider-field design
For a full, varied day: driving and outdoors, screens, reading and close-up hobbies. Wider zones and a quicker settling-in.
PRESCRIPTION GUIDERecommended for the prescription range ±3.00 to ±5.00 · cyl 1.25 to 2.50 · add +1.75 to +2.50
£295 in sunglasses
Tailored
Widest design
For people who ask the most of their lenses: long days across screens, specific needs, or a stronger prescription that would highlight distortions in a simpler lens.
PRESCRIPTION GUIDEAll prescriptions benefit, but always recommended for ±5.00 · cyl 2.50 · add +2.50 or above
£395 in sunglasses
All prices are for a complete pair and include the frame, varifocal lenses, lens thinning where required, coatings and fitting. There are no compulsory extras. Pay in 3 with Klarna, interest-free, is available on orders placed via our customer support team online: subject to status, 18+, UK residents only, terms apply. See how Klarna works. Prices are correct at the time of publication and may be varied.
— The basics
What are varifocal glasses?
A varifocal lens holds more than one prescription. The top of the lens is set for distance, the middle for screen and arm’s-length range, and the bottom for reading, and the strength changes gradually between them. You look through the part that suits what you’re doing.
Because the change is gradual there’s no visible line across the lens, which is the main difference from a bifocal. One pair covers the whole day, instead of swapping between reading glasses and distance glasses.
Most people start needing them in their forties or fifties, when close-up focus gets harder. If you already wear glasses for distance and now hold your phone further away to read it, varifocals are usually the next step.
The three zones in a varifocal lens
The upper part of the lens. For driving, walking and looking across a room.
The middle band. For computer screens, dashboards and anything at arm’s length.
The lower part. For books, phones and close work.
— How our lenses are designed
Freeform lenses.
Not traditional ones.
Traditional varifocals come from a limited range of standard designs, shaped using fixed moulds.
Freeform is a different way of designing the lens. The surface is calculated and cut point by point by computer-guided machinery, for your prescription rather than for a standard shape.
In practice that means a wider usable area in all three zones, and much less blur towards the edges of the lens.
Every IOLLA varifocal is a freeform design, because we don’t compromise on lens quality. It isn’t an upgrade we sell you on top; it’s where our range starts.
What differentiates varifocal designs
How wide the clear area is at any given distance. A wider field means less hunting for the sweet spot and more of the scene in focus at once.
The slight sense of the room shifting when you turn your head, caused by distortion towards the edges of the lens. The less of it there is, the quicker a lens feels normal.
Lens design that holds the clear zones steady as your eyes move, so vision settles faster when you glance between your screen and the far side of the room.
— How to order
Five steps, no surprises.
Here’s exactly what ordering a pair looks like.
Worried a frame won’t suit varifocals?
It’s the question we get asked most, and it’s a fair one. Very wide, shallow shapes aren’t ideal, because a varifocal needs enough vertical depth to fit the reading portion comfortably.
Beyond that, the range is wide open. Our team are trained on exactly this, and will steer you towards shapes that suit your face and work well with the lens, so you’re not guessing.
Pop in, no appointment
Walk into any showroom with a valid prescription (from the last two years).
Styled by our team
We’ll help you find a frame you love that also works well with a varifocal lens. No jargon, no pressure.
Measured by a specialist
Pupil distance, fitting height and frame position, taken to the millimetre. This is what makes a varifocal work. About 15 minutes.
Made to your prescription
Your lenses are surfaced point by point and glazed into your frame. Usually ready in around 10 days.
Fitted, then fine-tuned
We adjust them on your face and show you how to use the zones. Come back any time for free adjustments.
— Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
What’s the difference between varifocals and bifocals?+
A bifocal has two prescriptions with a visible line between them: distance at the top, reading at the bottom, and nothing for the middle distance. A varifocal changes gradually through distance, intermediate and reading, so there’s no line and no gap at screen range.
Most people find varifocals more natural to live with, and they’re better suited to screen work because of that middle zone.
Why can’t I read with my varifocals?+
Usually it’s one of two simple things. The reading zone sits at the bottom of the lens, so you need to look down through it rather than straight ahead, and lifting your chin slightly helps. And if the glasses have slipped down your nose, the reading zone drops out of line with your eyes.
There are lots of checks we can do to make sure your glasses are set up as well as they possibly can be, so if reading still feels uncomfortable, book a slot to come and see us.
How long does it take to get used to varifocals?+
Most people settle within a few days; some take up to two weeks. The trick is to wear them full-time from the start rather than switching back to your old pair, and to move your head rather than your eyes at first.
If you’re still not right after a fortnight, come back in. That’s what the Happiness Guarantee is for.
Should varifocals be worn all the time?+
In the settling-in period, yes, and that’s the single biggest thing that helps. Switching back to an old pair keeps your eyes guessing. After that it’s up to you: many people wear them all day, others keep them for work and reading.
Are varifocals good for driving?+
Yes. All three of our designs have a full distance zone at the top of the lens, and Advanced and Tailored give a broader, steadier view ahead, which is what you notice when checking mirrors and glancing at the dashboard.
Which varifocal lens should I choose?+
It depends on your prescription and your day, not on price. Premium suits a straightforward prescription and everyday wear. Advanced suits a varied day across screens, reading and driving. Tailored is for stronger prescriptions, specific needs and long hours across multiple screens, where edge distortion shows up most.
Our team will recommend based on what you tell them about your eyes and your routine.
Will varifocals work in any IOLLA frame?+
Nearly all of them. The two things we look for are enough vertical depth to fit the reading portion comfortably, and a shape that isn’t very wide and shallow, since those leave less room for the corridor between zones.
The best way to find a frame that works is to come in and be styled by one of our team. They do this all day and will happily tell you which shapes will and won’t behave with your prescription.
Can I use a prescription from another optician?+
Yes, as long as it’s less than two years old and includes your reading addition. We’ll still take the fitting measurements in the showroom; those are specific to the frame you choose and can’t be transferred from anywhere else.
I’ve tried varifocals before and couldn’t get on with them. Is it worth another go?+
Usually, yes. Most bad experiences come from older mould-based designs with narrow corridors. Our Advanced and Tailored lenses widen the clear zones and neutralise most of the edge distortion that causes swim. Tell us what went wrong last time and we’ll pick the design around it.
What if my prescription is strong?+
Stronger prescriptions show up more distortion towards the edges of any lens, which is exactly what the Tailored design is built to control. Above roughly ±5.00, cyl 2.50 or add +2.50 we’d always recommend it, and lens thinning is included in the price, so a stronger prescription doesn’t cost you more.
Do you make an alternative for screen and desk work?+
Yes. Occupational lenses, £195 all-in, are built for the working day rather than for everything. Your full reading prescription sits at the bottom and eases off as you look up, so your screen stays sharp too, with no chin-tilting to find the sweet spot.
They have no distance zone, so they can’t be used for driving. They work best as a second pair alongside your varifocals.
Ordered varifocals with us before?
If you’d like to refresh or upgrade your lenses, pop into any showroom, give us a call on 0330 124 6525, or get in touch below. We’re happy to help.