As we age, our vision needs change. When adults experience presbyopia—the natural loss of near vision that comes with age—they lose the ability to shift focus from far to near. When this happens, finding a solution that offers clear sight at multiple distances has a great impact on our daily lives.
Progressive lenses, often called multifocal lenses, provide seamless vision at close, intermediate, and far distances without the lines everyone can see on a pair of bifocals or trifocals.
Occasionally, eye doctors also recommend progressive lenses to children with specific vision challenges. In this article, we’ll explain what progressive lenses are, how they work, and where to get your new progressive lenses in Calgary
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses go by many names. Sometimes progressive lenses are called “no line bifocals”, “seamless bifocals”, “invisible bifocals”, “seamless trifocals”, “invisible trifocals”, “variable focus lenses”, “multifocals”,etc. “Progressive Lenses” is the way they are referred to in the optical industry and in the optical literature because “Progressive Lens” is the most technically accurate name for these optically versatile lenses. Sometimes they are simply referred to as “Progressives”.
We all need to see things at three key distances. Optically, the visual world is divided up into Far, Near, and Intermediate viewing distances. Progressive lenses offer seamless zones of vision which pass from a patient's distance prescription, through their intermediate prescription to the patient’s closest near prescription. They do all this in a single, line-free lens.
The top portion of the lens supports distance vision, the middle is for intermediate distances, like computer screens, and the bottom area aids close-up tasks, such as reading and cell phone use. Unlike bifocals, progressive lenses offer a gradual, ‘progressive’ transition between these zones without visible lines, making them a popular choice for individuals looking for functional and aesthetic benefits.
Adapting to progressive lenses can take some time and some learning, but they provide a versatile and comfortable solution for various visual needs.
Types of Progressive Lenses
There are several types of progressive lenses tailored for various needs:
- Standard Progressive Lenses: Offer basic multifocal correction but aren't well customized to the wearer’s eye, face, and frame measurements.
- Premium Progressive Lenses: Custom-made to account for every difference in prescription between the eyes, for eye dominance, for size and shape of the eyeglass frame, for the position of the lenses in front of the eyes, and for how the frame sits on the face. Premium lenses provide a more natural feel, comfortable visual experience.
- Computer Progressive Lenses: Also known as "near variable focus lenses” or “office design lenses", these are suited for extended computer use, or any hobby that demands extended near vision like sewing.
- Long-Corridor Progressive Lenses: Designed for people who often look down, such as golfers.
- Short-Corridor Progressive Lenses: Created for smaller frames with shorter lens heights.
- Transition Progressive Lenses: Darken in sunlight for added UV protection.
Conditions that Require Progressive Lenses
Presbyopia (in Adults)
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that eventually affects all of us, usually somewhere between age 40 and 50. It occurs as the eye’s lens gradually loses its elasticity, making it harder to focus on close objects.
This loss of near vision can make activities like reading, looking at a phone screen, or doing close-up work more difficult. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and affects everyone eventually, even those who’ve never needed glasses before. Progressive lenses are often preferred for presbyopia as they provide a seamless way to see both near and far without needing separate reading glasses.
Certain Eye-Turn and Focusing Problems in Children
Accommodative Esotropia is a condition that results in a crossed-eye turn in children with focusing problems at near working distances. The eye turn is linked to the extra focusing effort. Optometrists can prescribe progressive lenses to do the extra work of focusing for the child so the eyes don’t have to. Then the eye turn can be controlled or minimized.
Accommodative Infacility is a condition that limits a child’s ability to focus at near distances. It does not necessarily result in an eye turn, but can cause intermittent near blur, fatigue when reading, slowness of focus especially when shifting from near to far focus, and loss of concentration when performing near tasks. This condition can often be trained with simple exercises, but sometimes requires progressive lenses so the eyes don’t have to overcome the extra focus demand all on their own.
In both cases, progressive lenses offer an effective, all-in-one solution for clear vision across different distances.
How Progressive Lenses Work
By dividing the lens area available into zones usable for different tasks, progressive lenses eliminate the need to switch between different glasses for specific tasks. By blending the transition between the usable zones, progressive lenses become beautiful cosmetically, with no visible lines.
Benefits of Progressive Lenses
Since any needed prescription is always available in progressive lenses, they reduce eye strain and provide convenience for daily activities. Progressive lenses are convenient for people who need visual correction at multiple distances. They reduce the hassle of carrying multiple pairs of glasses and have a cosmetic advantage by eliminating the lines associated with bifocals or trifocals. For people over 40 experiencing presbyopia, these lenses offer a way to maintain clear vision without the visible lines of bifocals.
Adjusting and Adapting to Progressive Lenses
Since different lens prescriptions cause different levels of magnification, and since progressive lenses have various prescription zones, progressive lens wearers may notice a difference in the size of objects in view through a progressive lens. Patients who experience this commonly say “I might have to get used to this a bit” when they first wear their progressive lenses.
While most users adjust to their progressive lenses within 2-5 days, some wearers adapt in a week or two, and rarely, it can take a few months. During this time, it’s essential to use the designated lens zones for optimal clarity.
If you are having difficulty wearing your progressive lenses, and you are unable to adapt to them in 5-15 days, you may need a fitting adjustment of your glasses. Usually, a small frame fitting adjustment is all that is needed to help you become adapted to your new lenses. Occasionally, your optometrist may need to adjust the design of your progressive lenses to optimally customize them for your specific ease of adaptation. At Doig Optometry, all progressive lenses include a warranty that allows us to redesign your progressive lenses when necessary within the first 30-60 days, depending on the brand.
Are Progressive Lenses Right for You?
If you are over 40 and you are having difficulty reading, it may be time for progressive lenses.
If you are over 40 and you can no longer read with your distance glasses on, it may be time for progressive lenses.
If you have to switch between various glasses for various tasks, and if this has become an inconvenient hassle for you, then progressive lenses are a good alternative.
If you are the parent of a child whose myopia keeps getting worse, ask whether progressive lenses can help slow the progression at your child’s next eye exam.
If you have eyestrain, headache, tired eyes or accuracy issues when you are doing computer or other near work, progressive lenses may be needed.
If any of these instances apply to you, ask Doctor Doig or Doctor Chorel whether progressive lenses might help you when you have your next eye exam at Doig Optometry.
How much to Progressive Lenses Cost?
Since progressive lenses can only be manufactured using complex technology that can reproduce a custom progressive lens design, progressive lenses are more expensive than single vision lenses. Usually, progressive lenses cost about twice as much as single vision lenses with similar levels of personalization and customization.
Progressive Lenses in Calgary
Progressive lenses can greatly improve your quality of life. Whether you’re considering progressive lenses for the first time or need a new pair, Doig Optometry offers expert fittings and a great selection of frames to complement your lenses. The optometrists at Doig Optometry each have over 28 years of experience designing and prescribing progressive lenses and the staff at Doig Optometry have over 50 years of combined experience fitting and dispensing progressive lenses. Book your appointment with us today, and let our experienced team help you find the right pair of progressive lenses you’ll love.
See Sharp, Look Sharp, Love Your Glasses.