Progressive lenses

[Brandi]

I need to get new glasses and was wondering about progressive lenses? A friend of mine who has them says they make your eye's get worse. That your vision goes faster with them. Has anyone heard or thinks this is true? I thought maybe it was just her and that her eye's are getting bad just because. But I can't tell her that she is stubborn and believes what she believes. (giggle)
I am having that thing where I am sitting and knitting and when I look up I can't see cause it is blurry and it is taking a bit for them to focus. When I wear my glasses they work for seeing far ahead but then I can't see up close. And now I need a magnifier lens to take splinter's out and so on. No big I like me in glasses just need one's that work for what I need without owning a bunch of reading glasses and distance glasses. Of coarse reading one's are waaaay cheaper. Any thoughts?

[OakLeaf]

I'm in the reading glasses club ... half a dozen pairs strewn all over the house, in my purse, in my jersey pocket, where I can (usually :rolleyes:) find them when I need them!

I like having full, unobstructed distance vision, including ALL my peripheral vision, and never more so than when I'm on the road (bici, moto, running, car). So I have contacts for my distance prescription and I just deal with not being able to see up close without glasses. Lately I almost always have a pair perched on my nose, granny-style, when I'm indoors. :p

[Brandi]

You know it is cheaper. My friend said her glasses including the office visit was almost 600. ouch! And if you go to the dollar store they are even cheaper only a $1.00 (hence the name)! lol

[pll]

Getting progressive lenses or reading glasses is a major event... an admission of age, so to speak. I have had progressive lenses for more than 3-4 years now. The first week or ten days were hard (I was dizzy) because you need to get used to the way you use the lenses. I don't think your eyes get any worse. My prescription has not changed.

What was funny is that the day picked my first pair of glasses with progressive lenses, I had dinner with a couple of friends of mine (both use glasses). They told they did not need reading glasses yet, but when the menus and the bill came, they read those by removing their glasses or held the bill high to read it by looking above their glasses.

[OakLeaf]

Well I think it's pretty common for people with nearsightedness to be able to read without correction for many years. I've been using reading glasses with my contacts for I think 12 years now, but when I'm home with my contacts out, it's only recently that I sometimes (not usually) need a little bit of "help" to read. :p If the type isn't super small and there's a reasonable amount of light, I don't need any. DH wears glasses for distance vision and same for him, his close vision is fine without any correction at all. If they were to make progressive lenses (or regular bifocals) for people like him or your friends, the bottom tier would be plain glass (no correction) anyway. So why pay extra for it?

[radacrider]

I am at that age :(, according to my doctor where it is just because of my age that my vision needs are changing. I have had progressives for some time as I am far sighted and my work does require close up and reading.:cool:

Over the last year, I have had a problem even with those, so now I have 2 pairs of progressives, 1) a general purpose pair for most things; and 2) a "working" pair for computer and close up work. The working pair have a higher transition line to give me more close up lens area.

It is a PITA, but I like being able to work without eye strain. I should note I have to have prism and astigmatism correction also.:(

[pll]

Well I think it's pretty common for people with nearsightedness to be able to read without correction for many years. I've been using reading glasses with my contacts for I think 12 years now, but when I'm home with my contacts out, it's only recently that I sometimes (not usually) need a little bit of "help" to read. :p If the type isn't super small and there's a reasonable amount of light, I don't need any. DH wears glasses for distance vision and same for him, his close vision is fine without any correction at all. If they were to make progressive lenses (or regular bifocals) for people like him or your friends, the bottom tier would be plain glass (no correction) anyway. So why pay extra for it?

For me, at the end it was an issue of comfort and safety to some degree. I was progressively annoyed at not being able to read my watch when I was driving or, at a stop, not being able to glance at a map or read an address. I still can read comfortably without my glasses and some detail oriented tasks are more easier without them, but now I don't have to remove them or do awkward eye contortions to look above or below the glasses. The comfort is well worth the price, in my view. I had the reading prescription for more than a year before actually caving in and ordering the progressives.

[Irulan]

You know it is cheaper. My friend said her glasses including the office visit was almost 600. ouch! And if you go to the dollar store they are even cheaper only a $1.00 (hence the name)! lol

Good lord, love those expensive eye clinics. WTF?

I've been getting my glasses at Costco optical for years. I have two sets of progressives, one for eveyday and one for work. Each set was less than $200, I'm sure. I've been a fan of the Costco optometrist ever since he figured out what my problem with contacts was, and the expensive eye clinic guy couldn't. That was lot of money down the toilet until we got that solved.

[Selkie]

I'm nearsighted and have been wearing progressive lenses for a couple years (I'm almost 49). Agree with pll. They are worth the investment---particularly the middle distance option for computer work.

It can take a bit of time to adapt but if I can do it, anyone can. :-) Have to admit that going down stairs can still be disorienting if I forget and look out of my "low beam" (reading) portion of the lens!!

One tip is to get frames that allow a decent size lens.

They haven't made my eyes worse (have had the same script since I got the lenses).

[Crankin]

I wear contacts for distance and reading glasses, like Oakleaf. I have a pair of progressives that I hardly ever wear, as I have my contacts in all of the time.
I started needing reading glasses when I was barely 40, so 18 years.
My distance vision has improved in the last 4-5 years and my reading has leveled out.
I am going to get a new pair of progressives this yr., that are a little bigger, as I can't read well with the ones I have. But, I need child sized frames, so this will be interesting. It's worth the $. I mean, vision is, ah, kind of important.

[jusdooit]

I am very happy with my progressive lens. I had no trouble adapting to them. I did get a hint from someone however, blink when changing your vision from the reading portion to the distance portion. This break in input makes it easier to adjust to the change. I had to make a conscious effort to do this at first, but now it's second nature. Just a note, my vision actually improved last year.

[jessmarimba]

Good lord, love those expensive eye clinics. WTF?

I've been getting my glasses at Costco optical for years. I have two sets of progressives, one for eveyday and one for work. Each set was less than $200, I'm sure. I've been a fan of the Costco optometrist ever since he figured out what my problem with contacts was, and the expensive eye clinic guy couldn't. That was lot of money down the toilet until we got that solved.

That's not really an absurd price depending on the prescription. Even at Target Optical with insurance, non-progressive distance lenses for me are about $300. Add in non-clearance frames and I pay about $400 :( (and then I have to wait about 3 weeks to get them).

Which is why I'm wearing glasses that are about 4 years old.

[bmccasland]

I currently wear gas-perm contacts for my very bad nearsightedness and like Oakleaf, have reading glasses sprinkled all over for close work.

I need to get my back-up glasses updated, and my optometrist has mentioned progressives. I'm holding off - partly because I'm currently funding my dentist's office :rolleyes: - and partly because I'm not sure if I want progressives. Because of the strength, thus thickness, of my glasses, I need smaller frames. I learned in the "big frame" craze that they were just too heavy. I can see to read without glasses, but have a little trouble at that middle range for computer work. I want to avoid eyestrain, anything to keep me from having headaches.

[goldfinch]

I currently wear gas-perm contacts for my very bad nearsightedness and like Oakleaf, have reading glasses sprinkled all over for close work.

I need to get my back-up glasses updated, and my optometrist has mentioned progressives. I'm holding off - partly because I'm currently funding my dentist's office :rolleyes: - and partly because I'm not sure if I want progressives. Because of the strength, thus thickness, of my glasses, I need smaller frames. I learned in the "big frame" craze that they were just too heavy. I can see to read without glasses, but have a little trouble at that middle range for computer work. I want to avoid eyestrain, anything to keep me from having headaches.

I have very strong lenses. Now they have high index lenses that are pretty thin. And like you I do not use a very big frame. I've had no problem with progressives and have been using them for at least 10 years.

I also buy cheap prescription glasses just for computer work. I am wearing them right now. I have other pairs just for reading if I am going to read a long time. Because they are single vision I buy them online, from www.zennioptical.com. I rarely spend more than ten dollars a pair and that is with prescription lenses. I buy my progressives local because of the need to get a nice, accurate lens for my bad eyes.

[Catrin]

I've had bad luck getting good lenses from Walmart, and I tried before I needed a bifocal. My prescription is complicated, and the adding in the progressive or bifocal component doesn't help. I like my progressives and will stick with them.

My glasses are far from inexpensive, but they do the job - and I was never able to find a less expensive provider who was able to deliver lenses that worked properly for me. I am sure they aren't all that way, but as bad as my vision is I won't gamble just to potentially save a bit. Thankfully I do have vision insurance which does help mitigate the cost. I don't spend much on the frame, the insurance helps most there.

We had to change my astigmitism prescription a bit to enable to me have Oakley sunglasses for the bike - I am concerned that won't be an option this time as I think my astigmitism might be worse right now but we will see. Sometimes it is worse, sometimes it is better. I will find out next Tuesday when I go for my appointment.

[indysteel]

You know it is cheaper. My friend said her glasses including the office visit was almost 600. ouch! And if you go to the dollar store they are even cheaper only a $1.00 (hence the name)! lol

I don't wear progressives, but my lenses, frames and exam run close to that (although not quite) because my prescription is so bad (-1200 or so in each eye). By the time everything gets factored in, it adds up. So, yes, maybe your friend just went to an expensive optician or maybe she just has a difficult prescription.

[pll]

I have very strong lenses. Now they have high index lenses that are pretty thin. And like you I do not use a very big frame. I've had no problem with progressives and have been using them for at least 10 years.

+1

I have a very complicated prescription, with a much stronger lense on my right eye than on my left. The high index lenses are fantastic and you do not have to use large frames. I consider my glasses the only jewelry (functional jewelry, to boot) I wear on a daily basis, so I am particular about my frames and change them every couple of years.

[jessmarimba]

I think she was saying that she couldn't use large frames, not that she had to. The smaller the frame, the lighter the glasses (and the thinner the lenses)! On the other hand, I also can't wear wire-rimmed or semi-rimless either. They look terrible due to the lens size...and I'd never find them if I took them off.

I can't use large frames either. They turn out to be coke bottles on the edges, even with high index lenses. The last pair of glasses I had took forever because the lenses are pretty much too fat for the frames at the corners and they were trying to force them to fit (the outer corner of the lens on my bad eye is close to 1/4 inch thick on that pair)

[emily_in_nc]

I went to progressive lenses at about age 47 or 48 when I could no longer read with my contacts in. I tried several different multi-focal contacts, but none were good enough for both reading and distance. I did continue to use contacts plus reading glasses, and still will on rare occasions when vanity is an issue, but I wear my glasses about 95% of the time because I see a lot better in them. They were quite expensive, not because of my Rx being complicated, but because I got rimless metal Kate Spade frames, high-index polycarbonate lenses with anti-glare and Transitions (turn to sunglasses outdoors). So they ran me (with exam) around $1000! I had vision insurance at the time that covered about half that, and since they are both clear and sunglasses, it isn't quite as awful as it sounds.

What IS awful is that they're less than a year old, and I dropped them into the pool here and cracked one of the lenses, up where it attaches to the bridge of the nose part of the frame. It's just a small crack, and I can still see fine since it's not in the vision area, but eventually, they will probably break completely. Now I notice the other lens is cracking a bit around this same area too. I think it may be the nature of these rimless lenses to be a bit weak in that area. So, I'll need new glasses soon, but without insurance, I am going to have to cut way back on the "fanciness" to be able to afford 'em. I've heard there are mail-order places that will take your Rx and make glasses, and the frames are much less too since there's a huge markup on those in retail chains like the one I went to.

I really like progressives, and they took me almost no time to get used to. The only thing you have to be careful with is going down stairs, especially in low-light situations. I think because neither my distance nor reading Rx is very extreme, it was probably an easier adjustment than for folks who have a very strong Rx in either direction. I also have mild astigmatism.

The thing that's nice about progressives is that they look like single-vision lenses, so there's no line to announce to the world that you are, ahem, of a certain age. :D

P.S. I am wearing them in my avatar pic to the left.

[Brandi]

I noticed when sculpting this year that if I was close up on the sculpture I was having a hard time seeing clear. But that was inside with not great lighting. I am nearsighted and have Astigmatism as well. The glasses I have are great for seeing those stop signs coming up and street signs as well. It's the trying to read after looking far for a time or reading then looking up and trying to see far. My husband is a freak he is 53 and has perfect vision still. Even though his whole family wears glasses. And he is always on his computer and STILL he has good vision.
Now right now I can be on the computer and see fine but when the light starts to get bad that changes.
Debating on weather to just buy more reading glasses and take them everywhere with me or give in. I too am funding my dentist office right now as well. And my kitty needs to have a little skin cancer on his nose frozen off and teeth cleaned while they do that. Animals and teeth always seem to come first.

[Brandi]

I don't wear progressives, but my lenses, frames and exam run close to that (although not quite) because my prescription is so bad (-1200 or so in each eye). By the time everything gets factored in, it adds up. So, yes, maybe your friend just went to an expensive optician or maybe she just has a difficult prescription.
You could be very right about that. Maybe it is a hard perscrpt.

[Brandi]

I have very strong lenses. Now they have high index lenses that are pretty thin. And like you I do not use a very big frame. I've had no problem with progressives and have been using them for at least 10 years.

I also buy cheap prescription glasses just for computer work. I am wearing them right now. I have other pairs just for reading if I am going to read a long time. Because they are single vision I buy them online, from www.zennioptical.com. I rarely spend more than ten dollars a pair and that is with prescription lenses. I buy my progressives local because of the need to get a nice, accurate lens for my bad eyes.
I went to the site and am not sure how it works. The glasses seem so cheap. Are they for just reading or they fill prescriptions too?

[Irulan]

I have two pair. One is an everyday progressive, sort of a driving/reading type glass. The other is work specific, computer and "closer". Brandi, you might need a work specific lens for the distance range your sculpting is in.

[goldfinch]

I went to the site and am not sure how it works. The glasses seem so cheap. Are they for just reading or they fill prescriptions too?

They are for real. I've bought about 10 pair of glasses from them. You have to put in your prescription, which you can get from your eye doc. The most difficult thing is your interpupillary distance, or IPD. You either need someone to measure the distance between your pupils or get it from your eye doctor. They usually don't do that unless asked.

[azfiddle]

I have worn progressives for about 5 or 6 years. They took me a month to get used to, and I had headaches, but after the month, I didn't notice a problem any more.

Mine are usually about $400 or $450, but insurance pays for a good chunk and flexible spending account pays for the rest.

[smilingcat]

I've had my progressive lens for about 8 years or so I think... And my eyes have not gotten worse or better. My eyes have been stable. Can't read too well up close and definitely blurry (bokeh) far away without my glasses.

Hope this helps.

[skhill]

Got my first pair of progressives over the summer. I didn't have any trouble adjusting to them at all. Reading in low light was getting tough, but the what really pushed me to getting them was reading music. That distance was getting increasingly bad.

My uncle the opthamologist told me that I should expect to change my perscription several times over the next decade, then hopefully things won't change much for a long time. We'll see. (Alas, he's retired now, so no more free eye care...)

[Brandi]

I have two pair. One is an everyday progressive, sort of a driving/reading type glass. The other is work specific, computer and "closer". Brandi, you might need a work specific lens for the distance range your sculpting is in.
Good point you could be very right.

[jessmarimba]

My contacts don't correct my astigmatism (they're way too expensive even without a custom toric for the right eye) and the only thing I have trouble with is reading music. That distance is so tricky. Fortunately, unlike sculpting, I can just copy it and blow it up really big (or print it out in huge font the first time).

[Crankin]

I have very bad astigmatism in my left eye, which I am sure affects my depth perception, which is horrible.
I have never been able to tolerate a toric lens, and I've tried a few. Every time, within seconds of putting it in, my eye starts itching, my nose feels sniffly, and I develop allergy symptoms. One time it went on to become bronchitis. No eye doctor believes me when I tell them this. I'm ready to try again, because for 30 + years I've chosen to have less than 20/20 vision in my left eye. I always wear my glasses instead of my contacts, for the eye test when getting my license renewed, but the last time, I thought I wasn't going to pass, even with my glasses on. I really didn't understand what they were asking me to do and it was a scary feeling, in addition to the fact that the people at the RMV thought I was cognitively limited! The test has to do with objects and their placement, not reading letters and I could barely see what they were talking about. I was able to figure it out after getting a more in depth explanation, but really, I wonder if even my glasses don't correct this issue with depth perception, or is it astigmatism? I remember as a kid, even after I started wearing glasses for distance, I would fail the eye test every year in school, as you were supposed to see an apple on a table and to me it was always under the table. Things just don't appear to be be where they really are to me, they always seem closer and coming up faster, and this is worse when I have to look to look right, as in making a right turn. I am hoping that if I can wear the toric lens, some of this might get better.

[jessmarimba]

I think I'm lucky in that my left eye is very much dominant. My right (bad) eye barely factors into my visual perception - and with how we've chosen to treat my vision, that's been an encouraged development. I don't notice that I can't see clearly in that eye when I'm running/biking, though I imagine it affects the peripheral vision on my right side. I can function almost perfectly with my left eye half-corrected doing everything except driving at night and reading. We've talked about making me a pair of glasses with just the astigmatism correction so I can wear them over my contacts to see road signs in low light but I haven't taken that step yet - but it might be an option for you if the toric is unbearable but normal lenses are ok? I wonder if your brain is still trying to rely too much on input from your left eye and won't accept that it's an unreliable source. I also wonder if they might have a problem matching the focal point of your astigmatism prescription to your visual focal point? If your astigmatism isn't standard but is more unevenly distributed (if your eyeball is shaped really wonky) I could see that being a result. The toric might help but might not, I found them to move more than normal contacts and it was sometimes difficult to keep them in the right position on my eye. I'm curious now though, your depth perception seems to be an odd symptom for just astigmatism, more of a source data/computational analysis miscommunication. I wonder if you might not be helped more by some sort of exercise that teaches your brain how to better interpret the visual input it's gonna get.

(For reference, my distance prescription for contacts is about -6.5 in each eye, my bad eye also should have an astigmatism correction to -5.5 or -5.75. But it's bad enough that if it's not corrected, it doesn't register as visual input.)

[Crankin]

Wow, my vision (the distance stuff) is a 2.75 for my left contact and 3.5 for my right. The distance vision is actually better in my left eye. My prescription has gone down a lot in the last 2-3 years as it used to be 4.5 and 3.75, then I switched doctors and the new one gradually reduced it, and I can see a lot better now. I have had so many eye doctors in the 21 years I've lived here, I can't keep track. My reading prescription got worse at the same time the distance got better, but now, that has stabilized. I have absolutely no problem with the regular Accuvue contacts. I wear them from the minute I get up to the minute I get into bed.
I am not really sure if the astigmatism has anything to do with my horrible depth perception, it's really just a thought in my head, in the hope that if it gets fixed, my riding skills might improve. When I try to explain how things look/feel to me, to my DH, it's really hard for him to understand.

[OakLeaf]

I wonder if a neuropsych workup might give you some clues and as jess suggested, some exercises? It seems like you've had to make a lot of accommodations through your life. (I'm curious ... how is your balance with your eyes closed? Not that it's necessarily better, that's a whole 'nother set of issues that I've been working on myself in PT, but it might help isolate your visuoperceptual issues from balance issues related to tendon and muscle sense organs and strength.)




Also FWIW, I wore Accuvue successfully for years until they came out with their latest "new improved" version. As soon as my optometrist put the trial lens in my eye it felt like it was inside out - the edge was very perceptible. There's got to be some kind of record for the shortest time anyone's ever worn a trial lens! He said a lot of people have issues with the new coating. I'm wearing Cooper Avaira now.

[Tokie]

This has gotten very technical, so my reply is a bit out of context....but Crankin, I am very petite too, and used to only wear children's frames - usu a bit clunkier than adult styles. My optometrist carries small frames, the last 2 pair I have purchased are from "Bevel" brand - pricey, but well made,fashionable, and well-proportioned for petite faces. Frameless models- any brand- are good for any size face. And when your prescription changes, they can make new lenses in any shape/size that you prefer! Tokie

[Crankin]

Oy, Oakleaf, I would be embarrassed as he** to go for a neuropsych eval, as it would make me look like an overachiever :). And, since I know most of them around here, I know they are not too proficient in evaluating these issues, but more in the areas of learning and ADHD. I almost wonder if there's any PTs who work with this stuff and maybe an eye doctor who knows a lot about depth perception. I am not sure about my balance with my eyes closed, maybe I should test it.
And yea, those new Accuvues suck. I also put one in for about 5 minutes and said "no." I am wearing the older version. Again, the doc thought I was nuts, that I could feel a difference. The thing is, that the balance and probably the depth perception issues run in both sides of my family. My dad is super uncoordinated and my mom's sister makes me look like an Olympian. My mom, however, was extremely athletic and coordinated, which is where I probably get the endurance genes from. Too bad I didn't get the rest.
I am somewhat leery of "eye exercises" to cure anything. I just remember lots of ODs trying to cash in on visual training to cure everything from reading disabilities to bad behavior in adolescents.
You are right, I have many compensatory strategies, mostly consisting of knowing what I am good at and sticking to that. But the thing is, I am somewhat of a risk taker as I get older, and now I'd like to be able to do more.
ETA: Tokie, yes the last place I got glasses at had "tween" sized glasses and they were perfect for me. I will keep the Bevel brand in mind.

[BikeDutchess]

Just like some of you, I wear contacts for distance but need readers for close-up. So I've been having more trouble reading my Garmin when riding, and I imagine trying to find/dig out goatheads and such from my tires would be a challenge too. I just found & ordered sunglasses with built-in magnification from this place: http://www.dualeyewear.com/ Sort of like bifocals, but without any correction in the main viewing area. They aren't terribly expensive at $50 a pair.

I just received my order today and like the way they look! I can read my watch, my phone, etc., with these on! I only wish they had adjustable nose pads so they wouldn't rest on my cheeks. Haven't had a chance yet to try them out riding, so will report back in a few weeks!

[bmccasland]

Just like some of you, I wear contacts for distance but need readers for close-up. So I've been having more trouble reading my Garmin when riding, and I imagine trying to find/dig out goatheads and such from my tires would be a challenge too. I just found & ordered sunglasses with built-in magnification from this place: http://www.dualeyewear.com/ Sort of like bifocals, but without any correction in the main viewing area. They aren't terribly expensive at $50 a pair.

I just received my order today and like the way they look! I can read my watch, my phone, etc., with these on! I only wish they had adjustable nose pads so they wouldn't rest on my cheeks. Haven't had a chance yet to try them out riding, so will report back in a few weeks!

OOOOoooo, now there's a thought! I have interchangable lenses for my riding glasses. Hopefully I could find a reader lens to fit whatever brand it is that I have. I have the same trouble seeing, and have been stuffing a pair of readers in my jersey pocket (in their little case). Thanks BikeDutchess!

[GLC1968]

I'm considering a similar pair from Amazon (only $25) to see if they'll work for me, too.
http://www.amazon.com/Wrap-Around-Sport-bifocal-sungalsses-readers/dp/B00205SRDU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I16N7Y0Y4NV1YG&colid=3CGOJE4OIQNBH

I just got progressives a week ago and I can't get used to them. They make me sick to my stomach when I wear them! I'm trying my best, but it's really difficult. BUT, I can't see my phone, the dashboard of my car or things I'm chopping in the kitchen (or the recipes) without readers but readers are often unrealistic in those situations.

Now my old readers are my computer glasses (as my eyes got worse, the Rx for the readers moved to the computer screen distance really nicely!) and I'm switching back and forth between the two types of glasses as I go through my day at work.

I miss my youth! :p

[withm]

I just got progressives a week ago and I can't get used to them. They make me sick to my stomach when I wear them! I'm trying my best, but it's really difficult. BUT, I can't see my phone, the dashboard of my car or things I'm chopping in the kitchen (or the recipes) without readers but readers are often unrealistic in those situations.



I once picked up a new pair of glasses, put them on and thought WTF??? They made me crosseyed immediately. Turns out the optician had reversed the Rx in the left and right lenses. Talk about instant headache and dizziness! They had to re-order new lenses, and they got it right that time. So, you may want to take them back and be sure they made what they were supposed to make for you.

[GLC1968]

I once picked up a new pair of glasses, put them on and thought WTF??? They made me crosseyed immediately. Turns out the optician had reversed the Rx in the left and right lenses. Talk about instant headache and dizziness! They had to re-order new lenses, and they got it right that time. So, you may want to take them back and be sure they made what they were supposed to make for you.

I wish that were the case. When I am sitting still, they work fine. It's only when I move or look around or drive or walk or.... ;) I think they got them right and it's just that it's taking my brain awhile to adapt. I am really surprised at how much I have to move my head around to see things clearly. I just don't like that everything except what is directly in the center is totally blurry when my non-glasses vision is better than that!

[Catrin]

I wish that were the case. When I am sitting still, they work fine. It's only when I move or look around or drive or walk or.... ;) I think they got them right and it's just that it's taking my brain awhile to adapt. I am really surprised at how much I have to move my head around to see things clearly. I just don't like that everything except what is directly in the center is totally blurry when my non-glasses vision is better than that!

This doesn't sound right, I've been in progressives for a decade and have never had this kind of problem with them. I would go back and talk with them about that.

[Crankin]

When I first got progressives, my doctor made me wear them straight for a week. Since I never wear my glasses, except when I get into bed or if I am very sick (I use contacts with readers), it was horrible. I felt nauseous and dizzy and had to clutch the railings of stairs. But, it went away. If I do wear my progressive outside, it feels slightly weird, but nothing like at first.
Still searching for stylish frames that will fit my puny face and can do progressives. I went to my eye doctor and the person that fits the glasses told me that they don't have any funky frames, since all of the middle aged suburban clients don't want them... I'm an outlier.

[GLC1968]

Crankin - yep that's it. Before this, I never wore glasses except when reading, so having something essentially distorting my vision all the time is tough.

Though, I can't help but wonder....those of you with progressives, can you see an entire line of type in focus from left to right on a standard page? Or is it only in focus in the center and you have to turn your head back and forth to read each line in focus? This just seems weird. When I mentioned it when I first put them on, they said 'oh, that's normal for progressives which have an hourglass shape to the frame'. Honestly, had I known that, I might have opted for a different solution to my issues.

[radacrider]

My computer progressives are fine and a standard page width is fine for reading in terms of sharpness. I do have some issues, including with my "standard" progressive pair due to my Rx, which includes correction for astigmatism and I have prism correction in both lenses.

*Prism, for those interested, actually force a horizontal shift in the image, in my case inward in both lenses to correct for eye muscle discrepency. Otherwise, I get strain and headaches from working so hard to see a single image, versus double. <ha, joy>

[Catrin]

I've had progressives for a decade, and if I do move my head back and forth I am so accustomed to it that I no longer notice it. I have, however, just started using computer glasses and it is taking a little adjustment. There isn't any doubt, however, when I forget to change my glasses!

I am really starting to enjoy my computer glasses though, my neck really appreciates not having to tip backwards to see the screens properly and I am very glad I went with actual computer glasses rather than single-vision.

It really is amazing what we ask out of our lenses these days, and I am very thankful for the technology that makes it possible to see so well - my vision is BAD!

[murielalex]

I've had progressives and regular bi-focals for years and I still have trouble with progressives no matter how many times I get things adjusted or change lenses. I'm constantly taking my glasses off or moving them around on my nose. I've even tried bi-focal contacts. I'm used to it by now except when I'm at the shooting range when I'm trying to get perfect vision at a distant target and at my gun's site at about the same time. Other than that, I've just accepted things as they are. All in all, I'm glad I've still got great vision, even if I'm blind as a bat without my glasses. I have a couple friends losing their sight to macular degeneration, and I simply can't imagine what that must be like.

[Crankin]

OK, I finally found cool, funky glasses that will work for progressives. Taking the advice I got here, I found one optical place that carried Bevel brand, which has a line for petite women. I almost fainted from the prices (and that says a lot to induce that in me); I don't mind paying for titanium on my bike, but do I really need it in eyeglasses? Not to worry, as they didn't have any of the petite sized frames at the store.
So, I worked with a very nice optician, who listened to my concerns: head too small, glasses that fit me often not big enough for progressive prescriptions, crooked head. She pulled out 4-5 pairs that fit and I liked, that would "probably" work. Then she found a pair that are really funky, with a bigger lens area than I would have imagined. But the frames themselves are smaller. I decided to go wild and get them... They are D&G.
I got the transitions lenses, along with the Varilux progressives, on the hope that I might actually wear these outside of my house once in awhile. I've been wearing contacts for 35 years and rarely, if ever wear my glasses. I do wear reading glasses about 50% of the time, over my contacts. I will report back in a couple of weeks.

[GLC1968]

Interesting, Crankin. I'll be curious to see how you like them.

I went back to my place and spoke to them about my problems with my progressives. She was willing to work with me to find a good solution. Basically, the problem is that my reading Rx is so strong and my distance is so mild that it has a lot of distortion as the lens transitions between the two. Our solution based on my usage needs was to remove the reading Rx from my lens. So my progressives will give me the slight distance correction (in only one eye) and my mid-range vision (like for computer or car dashboard or ingredient lables or smart phone). For up close reading, I just ordered a pair of inexpensive readers. When I read, it's often for extended periods of time when I'll have no issue with changing my glasses anyway.

We'll see how this works. The new lenses won't arrive for another 2 weeks. I think it'll be great for awhile, but as my eyes continue to degrade, I'm sure I'll have to come up with another solution. :rolleyes:

[WindingRoad]

I think if you are looking at progressive lenses for the first time especially the frame fit is crucial to getting them to work for you. A lot of the styles these days are plastic and they don't really fit 'back' on a lot of peoples noses so the lenses sit too far out from their eyes. When this happens it narrows your field of view through the progressives. It's like a keyhole, if you stand back from it the field of view is really small but if you put your eye right up next too it you can see a much larger field of view. Also, some progressive addition lenses (PALs) are just better than others. Some have a much more smooth transition from distance to near with WAY less distortion. Varilux is probably one of the best manufacturers of PALs that have the least amount of distortion. To get the best out of your lenses put a GOOD QUALITY anti reflective coating on them. NOT generic stuff from Wally World or Lenscrafters. Get Crizal if you can. It is the hardest coating on the market, you will pay more for it but you won't be back with little hairline scratches every 6 months from cleaning them with your t-shirt. Zeiss can be a good anti reflective coating too but they makes cheap crappy versions too so you must be careful what you get. That's how places like Wally World lure people in by throwing the name Zeiss around and acting like they offer quality goods. They don't. Realize too that some lens materials will not come with certain options available to it. Certain materials don't have the right qualities to apply non reflective coatings and most reputable companies like Crizal know that, this is why they won't even offer their product on some materials. Best thing to do is spend a bit extra for your PALs and get the good stuff. This is one place you don't want to be cheap. You really do get what you pay for.

Oh and as for PALs making your eyes get worse, absolutely not. Unfortunately at a certain age we ALL lose our ability to read up close. Some of us who are myopic (nearsighted) can extend the time till bifocals are required by taking our distance correction off to read but then of course you can't see anything far away. The decline of reading ability has nothing to do with wearing PALs it has everything to do with the normal aging process. So by all means be comfortable and don't strain your eyes trying to see without your glasses because it won't stop your eyes from getting worse what it will do is give you a splitting headache after a while.

Just my two cents ;)

[WindingRoad]

I think I'm lucky in that my left eye is very much dominant. My right (bad) eye barely factors into my visual perception - and with how we've chosen to treat my vision, that's been an encouraged development. I don't notice that I can't see clearly in that eye when I'm running/biking, though I imagine it affects the peripheral vision on my right side. I can function almost perfectly with my left eye half-corrected doing everything except driving at night and reading. We've talked about making me a pair of glasses with just the astigmatism correction so I can wear them over my contacts to see road signs in low light but I haven't taken that step yet - but it might be an option for you if the toric is unbearable but normal lenses are ok? I wonder if your brain is still trying to rely too much on input from your left eye and won't accept that it's an unreliable source.

Yes, your brain has likely suppressed your left eye at this point. You may even have a slight eye turn in that eye because if your aren't really using it the muscles don't try to fixate with the other eye any more so they may go to a incongruous resting position.

I also wonder if they might have a problem matching the focal point of your astigmatism prescription to your visual focal point?

Most definitely. Your left eye i has what is called an Axial Refractive Myopic error so the retinal image that forms on that eye is WAAAAAY bigger than what is on your other retina. This causes your brain to suppress the one side because it cannot fuse images with such disparity.

If your astigmatism isn't standard but is more unevenly distributed (if your eyeball is shaped really wonky) I could see that being a result. The toric might help but might not, I found them to move more than normal contacts and it was sometimes difficult to keep them in the right position on my eye.

If you decided to add astigmatism correction to your prescription at any point you would likely be more comfortable in glasses. Remember that retinal image disparity issue I mentioned above, well if your glasses sit at a very specific distance (vertex distance) from your eye SOME of that can be alleviated. It's due to physics of how images form on the retina. Contact lenses will NOT help with this at all. Not to mention as your are already noticing toric lenses with considerable power in them are uncomfortable.

I'm curious now though, your depth perception seems to be an odd symptom for just astigmatism, more of a source data/computational analysis miscommunication. I wonder if you might not be helped more by some sort of exercise that teaches your brain how to better interpret the visual input it's gonna get.

Not surprising the depth perception is not good, at this point you don't have true binocular vision with the left eye being suppressed most of the time.

(For reference, my distance prescription for contacts is about -6.5 in each eye, my bad eye also should have an astigmatism correction to -5.5 or -5.75. But it's bad enough that if it's not corrected, it doesn't register as visual input.)

Jess I'm curious have you always had this much uncorrected astigmatism and wasn't treated for amblyopia as a child?

[Crankin]

Winding Road, I wasn't sure if you were talking to me or Jess in those responses! I too, have an astigmatism in my left eye, which remains uncorrected with my contacts. I have not been able to tolerate the toric lens, though I am going to try again this year, in May.
So, I've had my glasses for a week. I wore them right out of the office where I got them, and despite the weird feeling of being outside with them (the transition lenses don't darken when you are driving with tinted windows), I survived driving on the freeway. I wore them all day Saturday, too and most evenings. I see perfectly and now my ears don't even hurt from the arms.
I will occasionally wear them to work and for social events, but since I am doing some sport almost every day, I continue to use contacts 95% of the time. They are very funky and fit my personality, but frankly, I feel like a "4 eyes."
I do think my astigmatism has fooled my brain for so long it really does have something to do with my poor balance and visual/depth perception. Since I've been taking the weights and core class, I notice there are things I just cannot do. Meaning, it "feels" very wrong, and if I do the movement, I will fall. Like yesterday, we had to do explosive jumps up on a step bench with 2 risers. I can't judge how far to jump so I land on the bench, and I feel like I will go right over the other edge. So, I kind of did a 2 foot hop up. I *can* jump down onto the floor fine.

[WindingRoad]

Sorry Crankin' I just saw your post, it's been a busy month :rolleyes: I saw your post earlier about vision therapy too. It's interesting you mentioned that because I am supposed to begin vision therapy myself due to the fact that I have a pretty severe muscle imbalance in my eyes. That being said, it's my understanding that vision therapy is more of a muscular training and would help with a problem like I have with excess convergence. For unequal or high astigmatism with associate related image disparity I don't think it would help. I am by no means an eye doctor yet but from what I have learned vision therapy works for some, really well, and others, not so much (which is the hoax part we often hear about).

Regarding your contacts and not having the astigmatic correction, that isn't uncommon. I am supposed to have astigmatic correction too but each time I have attempted (an failed) to wear contacts the torics felt like putting a bath mat in my eye and my vision would never 'settle'. I did find out that if you are prone to migraines (as I am) this adds an especially interesting element to wearing contacts. When I have a bad migraine attack my corneal curvature actually changes due to my eye pressure change??? Long story short, the contact no longer fits and I blink it out :confused: OK so back to the balance issue. If you have uncorrected astigmatism, yes you will likely have some impaired balance as a result. However, if you try to correct it now it will be a gradual process and your brain may not be able to tolerate the change. It's been compensating all this time just to allow you to see two images that look pretty close to the same, you go messing with that and the brain gets very annoyed. It may just say, ok I don't like this image from this left eye, I'm gonna shut it off. Insert 'eye turn', 'double vision' or any other bizarre thing your brain can come up with. What I'm saying is that once we are adults it isn't always a good idea to try to fix it if it ain't broken. Your balance would likely be much worse if you tried to 'add in' your astigmatism now. I experience this first hand too so I feel your pain. I feel like a total dork sometimes in Yoga when I just fall over :D Cycling is different though because you can get more 'gravity' cues to compensate for the visual imbalance. FWIW I have never been able to do those kinds of jumps you mention either for exactly the same reason. I'm always afraid I'll half way miss the freaking bench and kill myself. Again my two cents. :)

[Crankin]

Thanks for that feedback. My DH finally got a toric for one eye last year. He says he didn't experience any change in his balance, and he finally felt that he could "see" perfectly. However, he has above average spatial skills and wasn't having issues in the first place.
I think I may try the toric when I go for my appointment, but I am not hopeful... so far, the two times I have tried, it felt like someone was wiping sandpaper on my eye. The first time, it caused me to have a super allergy attack, which lead to asthma symptoms, and went to bronchitis. Lovely.
So, if I wore my glasses when I was at the gym, things would be easier? Not that I could ever imagine wearing glasses during exercise. But, taking this class has really pinpointed my issues, narrowed them down in ways that are good. I am making some progress trying to stand on the upside down bosu ball, but it's embarrassing to be dorkier than the out of shape, extremely obese person in class.
All of this is very interesting to me. When I first became a teacher of learning disabled kids, back in the 70s, vision training was in vogue to "cure" reading problems. That was discredited quite rapidly, so I've always been leery of any of this stuff.

[jessmarimba]

Jess I'm curious have you always had this much uncorrected astigmatism and wasn't treated for amblyopia as a child?

I juuuuust saw this post.

I don't know how bad it has always been. I got glasses at around 7, contacts at 11 and RGP contacts in high school. I don't think I even paid attention to the astigmatism correction until I switched to disposable contacts and realized how expensive they were. We probably stopped correcting the astigmatism when it got over -3, because the one or two brands that make toric lenses stronger than that are pretty cost-prohibitive.

I'm wondering if it might be keratoconus, but I haven't had anyone check.

No amblyopia as a child, but uncorrected I've never been able to tell the difference between my eyes, it's just been blurry out of both.