Progressive lenses

[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.

[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