How long does it take to get used to bifocals?

Give yourself a couple of weeks. When DH got them, he wore them briefly and tossed them in a drawer for a year! DR said that is very normal. When I got them, I made myself wear them all the time. Be careful going up and down stairs. You will see flashes out of the corners of your eyes for quite a while.

It took me 2-3 weeks for my progressives. Once it started to click, I was fine with them. But it was definitely a hard adjustment. Now they’re perfect.
ETA I had never worn regular glasses before, just readers.

It takes a few days to a week or so. Hot tip- Do NOT try to walk down stairs while focusing on something close up (like a phone or gifts you are carrying). Trust me. Dont do it. 😂😂😂😂😂

I got used to mine right away too. It never occurred to me to train my eyes for my progressives. I just put the things on and all was well. 

I only wear my glasses to drive. I gave up on bifocals years ago. I had minimal benefit.

When I first put my progressives on, it was crazy! After less than a day I adjusted. A year out and I still take them off for super up close stuff.

I have the progressive ones and I had no adjustment period. They just immediately worked. My only problem is going down stairs- I need to remember to tuck my chin in or I'll get dizzy.

It may not be you. Glasses can be made incorrectly at a lab or measurements taken incorrectly. I’ve worn progressive lenses for decades and crafting bifocals for several years and twice they’ve been made incorrectly.

Everything undulated when wearing my first progressives—the sidewalk, my car hood, etc. The woman who took measurements argued I’d get used to them. The optometrist checked and said they were way off. They were made again and and there was no adjustment period to speak of.

It happened again many years later and an optician re-measured. That practice switched labs because too many glasses weren’t up to their standards.

Your glasses may be fine but it’s worth rechecking if you’re not comfortable. Our optometrist group has a policy that even if they’re made correctly, if choices weren't the best they’ll re-make them once at no charge.

Btw, the size of the lower reading area can be individualized.

ETA to the last sentence. For crafting my optometrist made the lower reading area of bifocals extra large, and above that was for mid-range, up to maybe 6-8 feet? I also love using them for reading since the reading area is much bigger than on my progressives. 

She had me sit at her desk and scribble on paper and pretend I was reaching for items, to determine how far away my eyes were from the desk and how far away I tended to look. While I’ve gone to her for almost 20 years, any good optometrist should be able to help if you want a larger reading area, which sometimes helps eliminate eye strain when reading, etc. 

It shouldn't take more than a week or two. If it does, go back and ask them to remeasure your eyes.

DH fussed and fussed about his progressive lenses. He bought his glasses at the local optometrist. He went back to their office after 4 weeks and they told him to try for another 6-8 weeks. Still no improvement so he went back a second time. They told him there was nothing he could do, he just wasn't a good candidate for progressive lenses.

I didn't have a problem adjusting to my progressive lenses at all. I purchased them at Warby Parker and they were a wonderful fit. While I was getting my new glasses adjusted, DH started chatting with the salesperson at Warby Parker. She told him to bring his glasses in and she would look at them because she was almost positive they weren't measured correctly. That was the problem! Of course WP couldn't help with the glasses he didn't purchase there but going back to the optometrist a third time didn't help either-they told him they couldn't do anything to help him. So he purchased a pair from WP, where they measured his eyes correctly, and he's loved them ever since.