Eyeglasses - experience with progressive lenses?

[Gaston]

My vision is reaching the point that I need trifocals. Right now I'm wearing contact lenses for nearsightedness, with cheap computer glasses or readers over them. Since I don't play sports anymore I'm thinking about going back to glasses.

Has anyone worn the progressive lenses, and by that I mean those that gradually change correction from top to bottom instead of being stepped like trifocals? My older sister (I love to rub that in when she kicks into her schoolteacher/advisor mode) has them and swears that they're wonderful ... yet, when I watch her using her laptop she looks like a rooster trying to get a bead on a June bug. I don't mind the "old guy" glasses with lines, I just want to be able to see better and I don't think my neck will be happy with all that twisting and craning she does. Any opinions on that type lenses?

And while I'm on the topic - I require some fairly extreme nearsightedness correction, and the edges of my lenses are fairly thick even with some of the newer lens materials. The smaller lenses in today's more fashionable frames lessen that thickness a lot, but I wonder what the practical effect of smaller lenses and progressive grind would be to someone who is far past the standard for legally blind without correction.

While I wish to look my best, it's more important to me to see well.

 

[brianw]

I have worn Trifocals for years. About 4 years ago, I tried the progressives and they actually made me physically sick. I switched back to the lined lenses and had no more problems. The center lenses are perfect for the gauges in the car and the laptop.

 

[82R100]

I used progressive bifocals for the last six years (my first need for bifocals) and decided a couple of months ago to change to trifocals with lines.

While the lines have taken some getting used to (and are alarming and annoying when I first put the glasses on in the morning) they allow me to get away from the one major annoyance of the progressives: lateral off-axis distortion. By this I mean that you only get good correction looking straight ahead with the progressives. As you look at a lateral angle to the left or right your vision becomes distorted. 'Drove me crazy.

As with Brian, I have my middle range set at a good range for instrument panel and computer monitor.

I don't see an relief from angling my head "just so". I think that will happen with either type.

- Chris

 

[Gaston]

While the lines have taken some getting used to (and are alarming and annoying when I first put the glasses on in the morning) they allow me to get away from the one major annoyance of the progressives: lateral off-axis distortion. By this I mean that you only get good correction looking straight ahead with the progressives. As you look at a lateral angle to the left or right your vision becomes distorted. 'Drove me crazy.

Thank you for explaining that, it makes perfect sense now.

I sat in a chair beside a victim ... err, patient ... who was being instructed by the optician to "first turn your head, then look, don't look until your nose is pointed at it" and I could not fathom what he meant. It sounded dangerous considering that I'd be driving and operating equipment in them. Shades of Robin Hood's blinded manservant in the Kevin Costner remake, "Point me at danger, Sir Robin, I'm ready!"

My preference for contacts was mostly because of the superior peripheral vision I have with them - with this much correction, everything outside the frame may as well be clouds. I've cracked my head a time or two over that.

Do you have the smaller (top to bottom) recently fashionable frames? I prefer something close to the old RayBan Aviators, but I realize I could flatten the bottom of that shape a lot and not really lose anything.

PS - Your car has meaningful gauges ... and, you actually read them? Outstanding! I'm envious of the former, and impressed by the latter. That was a nice trip down memory lane.

 

[82R100]

Do you have the smaller (top to bottom) recently fashionable frames? I prefer something close to the old RayBan Aviators, but I realize I could flatten the bottom of that shape a lot and not really lose anything.

PS - Your car has meaningful gauges ... and, you actually read them? Outstanding! I'm envious of the former, and impressed by the latter. That was a nice trip down memory lane.

These lenses are certainly shorter than others I owned 15+ years ago but not seriously short. I have found that a compromise with trifocals is the limited vertical distance allotted to the middle field. I believe my optometrist said it was 7mm (conventional/standard dimension) and I notice in dimmer light that it's pretty small--that is the blurring from the lines above and below encroach noticeably into the field. This happens more in dim light because my pupils are larger then.

Actually it's a very low content IP. I do use a GPS unit sitting on top of the dash though and it has a lot of useful information.

 

[sodajerk]

I'm not a wearer but was in the business years ago. Assuming they are properly fitted, they work fine. However, a lot has to do with the wearer's ability and willingness to adjust to something new. They may very well cause dizziness to start because the transition starts higher than most folks are accustomed to. Given enough time, usually about two weeks, the feeling goes away. Again, a lot depends on how bad someone wants them.

The smaller (vertically) glasses in style now may be a problem for both invisible or normal flat-top trifocals. They have to be low enough so you can look straight ahead (think driving), the transitions or trifocals, either one, only have so much room to fit in. Also, because of the looking straight ahead fit of either, you may still have to raise or lower your head to get the angle needed. Depends, too, on things like how high your sister's monitor was sitting.

I'm still in bifocals now but when the time comes, I will try progessives.

 

[whiteweed]

I wear progressive and I would suggest the Ovation or Varilux both are by Essilor. I have worn both and really do not think the Varilux is worth the extra money. I started wearing an add 2 last year and it drove me nuts. I think the set was a few mm off which is critical but the assistant adjusted them in, but I still think we missed it a bit. If I had to work in , well lets say accounting or running a printing press, something where you would have to shift the eyes to look around up close I would switch to a lined bifocal because of the narrow channel. I seriously considering lined but am concerned with the switch, but I think my doctors office guarantees satisfaction. In reading this post has made me want to go get some lined put in some old frames and see what it's like. The narrow channel will drive you crazy as you go up in power.

 

[jlindy]

Has anyone worn the progressive lenses

I have progressive bifocals and love them. I've tried regular ones, but couldn't stand them. So for me it's progressives all the way!

 

[sodajerk]

I will add that the biggest selling point of progressives is cosmetic, not functional. Standard trifocals in the proper width (measured in millimeters they come in 22, 25, 28, 35 and "executives" that run all the way across) do perform better laterally. I have no special work requirements and wear 22's and I'm used to turning my head and don't think I'll have a problem. YMMV so talk this over with your doctor or optician. And, as somebody said, there is usually a no risk trial period.

 

[bythbook]

I wear progressives and generally like them... can't juggle anymore, though.

really.

 

[RichGem]

My father wore progressives for a while and hated them. Said that you can only see clearly looking right along the vertical axis of the lense, anything else was blurry and made him feel a little sea sick. He switch backed to tri-focals and never looked back.

 

[SUMMERSRL]

I wear progressive bifocals. I will admit it took a LONG time for me to adjust to the distortion caused by looking through the lens at an angle. However... over time I have come to the point where I don't notice the distortion at all. I assume I've gotten to the point where I have learned how to turn my head when I look at something. And... yes... I do drive, so feel free to ignore the post about how this could negatively impact driving.

 

[mparker762]

I wore them for two years and never did get over the nausea. I finally switched to a pair of trufocals and have been very happy. No bi/trifocals line, no progressive nausea, no problems with two thirds of the computer screen being out of focus.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I think my mother might have them. I'll ask her when I speak to her next.

 

[Chimensch]

This is a very interesting thread. I have been wearing progressives for at least 25 years and never thought much about them ... BUT, as I work on the computer all day, I got a pair of regular glasses for looking at the screen, so what does that tell you?

 

[PaulX608]

There are a LOT of different progressive layouts these days. As someone said above, the Varilux is a very nice one to which people adapt easily. Newer technology with digital surfacing technology on the front and back of the lens allows for free form lenses to be specifically made and optimized for your Rx. Of course, this is currently more expensive than surfacing semi-finished blanks. Just at the lab where I work, we have 5 or 6 different PALs we stock in semi-finished blanks for in-house surfacing. And we can special order a whole lot more, including free-form digital ones. There are some lenses designed for for specific activities like driving or golfing, some that are better suited for different power ranges, and some that are designed specifically to fit today's shorter vertical dimensions. Unfortunately, there isn't a test that we can give you to see which one is best for you. Work with your Ophthalmologist/Optometrist and your Opticians. That's about the best advice I can give.

 

[PaulX608]

This is a very interesting thread. I have been wearing progressives for at least 25 years and never thought much about them ... BUT, as I work on the computer all day, I got a pair of regular glasses for looking at the screen, so what does that tell you?

We make a lot of those as well. We'll have folks come in and get a distance pair, a reading pair, and an intermediate pair for computer use.

 

[uofi1963]

I wore trifocals for around 10 years and hated them. I was always tilting my head when try to find the right segment for vision.

My first try at progressives was a flop. I had all of the the bad sensations: dizziness, swimming, etc.. Finally, I ran into a opthalmologist while on a trip. He suggested trying another brand of lens, and I fully adjusted within a day. I'd never go back.

It's the brain that makes the adjustment with these lenses. I know that there are blurry sections outside the channels, but I no longer see them. Everywhere that I look seems to be in sharp focus.

Another interesting aspect to this adjustment is that I can switch from one lens brand to another with only a few minutes of disorientation. After that, I can't see any difference in the lens design.

I'd recommend that you find the best optician around, one who will really work with you. It's possible that a Varilux won't work, but that a Zeiss or Kodak might. Or, it could be the other way around.

Good luck! It's worth trying.

Joel

 

[tm3]

you ask some good questions. i have high myopia and have worn progressives for about 7 years.

my opthalmologist said that it is much easier to try progressives and then transition to bi or trifocals if desired than it is to go to progressives after starting with one of the other options.

my first two pairs of lenses were kind of an oval shape with a diameter of 49mm. i had no problem adjusting to them, with no distortion in my peripheral vision. my latest pair is in a "fashion" frame of heavy plastic with small, squarish lenses. there is definitely a sweet spot and off axis distortion. it does not bother me, but i notice it. in the future i'm going to forgo fashion and stick with larger lenses.

the fit and measurement of progressives is pretty critical so i would recommend choosing a good optician if you decide to go that route.

 

[_JP_]

I wore progressives for one day and exchanged them. They simply did not suit the way that I work and play. The distortion made work difficult, and having to turn my head to read a narrow column of newsprint was simply too much!