Progressive Glasses

Progressives (or multifocal, no-line bifocals) are lenses with 3 zones of focus but no hard lines. Although you get the benefit of having no line in your lenses, Progressives will have areas of distortion on either side of the lens.

As we age, It becomes more difficult to look at objects that are close to our eyes. This is a very common condition called Presbyopia. Most people first notice when they have trouble reading the fine print, or when they have headaches after reading, due to eyestrain.

Bifocals were invented to alleviate this condition by adding a reading power to the bottom half of the lens, so that people could see distance as normal, then look down for a reading power.

Progressives are intended for people who need correction for Presbyopia but do not want a hard line in the middle of their lenses.

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.

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.

While it can take a little while to adjust to wearing progressive reading glasses, the more frequently you wear them, the easier the adjustment will be. Wearing them every day for at least two weeks without switching back and forth with your old glasses will help your eyes get used to the different powers in the lenses. However, if you are struggling to adjust, you should use your old glasses for driving until you are comfortable with your new glasses.

Choosing between bifocals and progressive glasses is both a matter of preference and convenience. Progressive lenses are great for people who need to wear glasses every day because they cover all distances in one prescription. They also give you a younger, fresher look. However, bifocals are good for folks who only need glasses occasionally or who have trouble adjusting to progressive reading glasses.

When it comes to progressive reading glasses, frame size is an important consideration. Certain frames will work better for certain progressive lenses. Frames must be tall enough for the entire range of vision provided by progressive lenses to fit within. Frames with a very short lens will likely not fit progressive lenses well; aviators and cat-eyes are also poor choices, as they will minimize the area of the reading lens. Look for frames at least 30mm tall to give you the best progressive glasses experience.