Which Progressive Lenses Will You Choose?

If you are like many people who are approaching their 40's, you may have noticed that you no longer see things up close as well as you used to. When you start having difficulty focusing on close-up objects, your eye doctor will usually diagnose you with presbyopia, and bi-focals may be in your future. Fortunately, most bi-focals are no longer lined lenses that make you appear to be older than you are. There are progressive lenses on the market that address your problem, but they have done away with the lines. But not all progressive lenses are the same. Here are a few points that may help you choose the best ones for you. 

Standard Progressive Lenses

Unlike bi-focals that have a small, concentrated, enhanced area that you read through, progressive lenses have multi-focal lenses. These lenses allow for a progression of strength that runs down a corridor that is vertically positioned within the lens. You are able to have one strength in the top of the lenses that allows you to see at a distance, another strength in the center, or intermediate zone, of your lens that allows you to see your television or computer screen, and still yet another strength in your lower lens that allows you to read small or fine print.

Your vision needs, along with your choice of eyeglass frame, will normally dictate which type of progressive lenses you are able to wear. This is because you must have enough vertical height in order to transition from one strength to another. If you choose a medium to larger eyeglass frame, standard progressive lenses will probably provide the real estate that you need for this transition. You will not have to worry about your lenses being too short, or your reading power being cut off. 

Short-Corridor Progressive Lenses

If you want to wear a smaller frame, you may want to look into a short-corridor progressive lens. As the name implies, the transition corridor is much shorter and smaller than in a standard lenses. While you will still have the transition that you need in order to see clearly, you may find it harder to see through this type of lens.

For the best results, make sure you are looking straight down through your lens by tilting your head when attempting to read. Do not attempt to read by looking down your nose or out of the side of your lenses.

Computer Progressive Lenses

Computer glasses, or computer progressive lenses, are glasses that are specially built to allow you to be able to work in front of a computer for an extended period of time. You may need computer lenses if you find yourself suffering from any of the following after using your computer:

  • Eye strain
  • Neck strain
  • Sore shoulders
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches and more

These lenses are designed with your intermediate zone of vision to be more in the exact center or your lenses, or exactly where you need it to be to view your computer. This zone is often wider than a standard progressive lens. This gives you optimal working vision, while reducing your need to tilt or tip your head. Because this zone is often enlarged, it leaves less real estate on your lens from distance vision, which may in turn lead to you having to switch glasses, or remove your glasses to see objects that are a distance away.

No matter which type of progressive lenses you choose, they often take a period of adjustment to get used to. Not only will you have to train your eyes to find the right sweet spots that will produce optimal vision, your eyes will also have to adjust to the additional assistance that your prescription is providing. Try putting them on and wearing them for short periods of time until you get used to them. For more information, check out a website like http://allabouteyes.com.


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