In reply to Ian Archer:
I'm an optometrist. I'm assuming you mean varifocals not bifocals (they're the ones with a separate, visible reading segment and wouldn't cause the type of problem you describe).
If the long distance is fine, then it's likely that the prescription and frame measurements are correct. What you're struggling with is most likely the design of the varifocal lens.
As you get older, you need a stronger reading prescription, and as your reading prescription increases ("reading add" actually - the amount of difference between the distance and reading prescriptions), you need to squash more change into the varifocal. So, your first pair of varifocals (when your reading add is about +1.00 at age 48) are easy to get used to, but by the time you're 60 you'll need +2.25 of change squashed into the lens. This creates more peripheral distortion and gives a smaller reading area in the lens. The older you are (up to 60), the higher reading add you need, the more distortion and smaller reading area you get.
So, you might just get used to it. You will need to give it 2-3 weeks to see if your brain adapts and the effect just disappears by magic. You might be surprised how good the brain is at creating "normal vision" with a bit of practice. Or you might not, in which case you'll need a solution.
First thing I would do is phone the optician and tell them the problem you're having and agree that if you can't get used to them, they'll sort it out. Which they will. But they'll want you to see if you adapt to them first. You could go in and get them to check the measurements and fit, which can improve things (they should have done this when you picked them up).
If you've gone from a better quality varifocal brand in your old specs into a cheaper one, I don't think you'll adapt. You'll need to upgrade to at least what you had before.
But either way, you'll need to let them know you're struggling with them, and if you don't adapt then they'll need to work methodically through and check everything to find you a solution. That might involve upgrading to a better varifocal brand if there is nothing wrong with the prescription and measurements. But whatever you do, make sure that you get it sorted rather than just putting the new glasses in a draw, wasting your money and then bad mouthing the opticians!
By the way, measuring up varifocals needs to be done accurately, but it's not rocket science. You just need to mark the position of where you look through the lens straight ahead and provide the two co-ordinates. Some lenses need more measurements, but usually these are only relevant in high prescriptions. If someone's taking 20 minutes, they either don't know what they're doing, or they're putting on a show.
Also, all the high street chain opticians are perfectly capable of accurately dispensing a high quality pair of varifocals, so long as the staff doing it are trained and capable. And if an optician won't sort out a problem for you, complain.
Post edited at 10:32