Progressive Eyeglass Lenses

Progressive lenses have three prescriptions in one pair of glasses. That allows you to do close-up work (like reading a book), middle-distance work (like checking out a website on a computer), or distance viewing (like driving) without needing to change your glasses. They're sometimes called multifocal lenses.

Progressive lenses are an update on bifocal and trifocal lenses. Both of these more traditional types of glasses have telltale lines in the lenses. Progressives have a seamless look. Sometimes they're called "no-line bifocals," but that's not quite right. It would be more accurate to call progressive lenses "no-line trifocals."

Progressive reading glasses reduce eye strain by bringing everything into sharp focus, regardless of how close or far away it is. They work by creating a seamless and gradual shift between three visual correction powers as you move down the lens. You can see objects in the distance by looking straight ahead, then tilt your head slightly upward to see mid-distance objects, and glance slightly downward to see close-up objects.

• The upper section of a progressive lens provides the strength you need to see clearly in the distance.
• The lower section provides the strength you need to see clearly up close.
• The middle section helps you see clearly at intermediate or middle distances.
• These lenses provide a gradual transition in strength from top to bottom.

With progressive lenses, you won't need to have more than one pair of glasses with you. You don't need to swap between your reading and regular glasses.

• It provides clear vision at all distances (rather than at just two or three distinct viewing distances).
• It eliminates "image jump" caused by bifocals and trifocals. This is where objects abruptly change in clarity and apparent position when your eyes move across the visible lines in these lenses.
• Because there are no visible "bifocal lines" in progressive lenses, they give you a more youthful appearance than bifocals or trifocals.

Almost anyone with a vision problem can wear these lenses, but they're typically needed by people over age 40 who have presbyopia (farsightedness) -- their vision blurs when they're doing closeup work like reading or sewing. Progressive lenses can be used for children, too, to prevent increasing myopia (nearsightedness).

 Talk to your doctor to see if progressives are an option for you.

It takes time to adjust to progressives. You need to train yourself to look out of the lower part of the lens when you're reading, to look straight ahead for distance, and to look somewhere between the two spots for middle distance or computer work. Some people never adjust, but most do. During the learning period, you may feel dizzy and nauseas from looking through the wrong section of lens. There may also be some distortion of your peripheral vision (what you see on the edges when looking straight ahead).

Sure, progressive lenses are good for reading, computer use, and everyday activities, but are they good for driving? They certainly are. The same qualities that make them so well suited to other activities make them excellent driving glasses. The only precaution you may want to take is to ease into driving when you first start wearing progressive glasses–it can take a while to adjust and become more comfortable with them.

Because you get three glasses in one, progressive lenses are notoriously expensive, often costing many hundreds of dollars. For example, you could pay $260 for a standard progressive lens and only $105 for bifocals, according to Consumer Reports.

You’ll also pay more for a higher quality progressive lens. For instance, a high-index progressive lens might cost $350, whereas you might pay $310 for a high-definition progressive lens. And if you want a scratch-resistant progressive lens, the price can jump to $400.

But Optical Factor has a range of progressive reading glasses that cost a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere.

Some people adjust to progressive reading glasses almost immediately, while others may take a few days or even a few weeks. If you haven’t adjusted to your progressive lenses after a week, you should speak to your eye doctor about it. They may need an adjustment or be the wrong option for you.

Yes, this type of eyewear is for daily use. If you’re a first-time progressive lens’ wearer, just be aware that you may experience some problems with progressive lenses, such as a long adjustment period or blurry vision. 

A first-time progressive lens’ wearer may struggle for a few weeks after getting their new eyewear. And if you’re one of those people, wear your glasses as much as you can to get used to them. 

You can wear progressive lenses all day. The key is to put them on when you wake up and before you head to bed. Tip: Put them on your side table, and reach for them right away every morning. It’ll become a natural part of your morning and nighttime routine.

To mitigate these issues, wear your progressive lenses more each day until they feel more comfortable. Eventually, the problems will go away, and you’ll be well on your way to clear vision. 

Even though a progressive lens allows you to see near and far distances clearly, these lenses aren’t the right choice for everyone.

Some people never adjust to wearing a progressive lens. If this happens to you, you may experience constant dizziness, problems with depth perception, and peripheral distortion.

Plus, if you work on a computer, you may find that a regular progressive lens doesn’t provide the clarity you need at an intermediate distance.

Instead, you might require occupational or computer progressive lens, which provides a stronger strength for intermediate distances. This can reduce eyestrain and eye fatigue.

The only way to know if progressive lenses will work for you is to try them and see how your eyes adjust. If you don’t adapt after two weeks, your optometrist may need to adjust the strength in your lens. If problems continue, a bifocal lens might be a better fit for you.

Although there are many pros and cons of progressive lenses, just like there are for bifocal lenses, each type of lens can help you. The key is to know how to choose the right eyeglasses lenses for your unique needs and lifestyle. 

Progressive lenses can be challenging to get used to, but so can bifocals. Getting accustomed to your glasses can take time, from a few days to a month. However, wearing them often can help your eyes adjust.

Consider this:

• Progressive lenses lack lines and help you see at three distances.
• Bifocals have lines and allow for two prescriptions and two distances.
• Many types of bifocals and progressive lenses are available for different needs.