5 tips for switching to progressive lenses

Progressive lenses are the all-rounders among glasses: They correct short-sightedness (myopia) at the top and form a continuous gradient towards the bottom, where they correct presbyopia. This visual aid combines distance glasses, reading glasses and everything in between. This makes them the first choice for many glasses wearers - but often a period of adjustment is necessary.

At the zoo…

At the zoo: I can clearly see the funny little polar bear through my normal glasses. He seems to be looking in my direction just as curiously and takes a clumsy step towards me. What was his name again? There was an article about it on the internet, so a quick look at my smartphone helps. But wait - everything is blurry. Or my arms are too short. Where are my reading glasses? In my backpack. Dig around, but don't drop the phone. And what do I do with the other glasses? Push them on my head? Put them away? The little polar bear has now trotted away, bored. And I'm annoyed. There has to be something better...

The progressive lens: One for (almost) all situations

Juggling with glasses is a rather unpopular cabaret. For this reason, people with both short-sightedness and presbyopia often use progressive lenses. The top is distance glasses, the bottom is reading glasses. Even though the lens of progressive lenses offers a smooth transition between near and far vision, it can be roughly divided into three main areas. Wearers of glasses use the distance vision area for distances of more than two meters, the near vision area is optimized for typical reading distances of less than 50 centimeters. The area for the distance in between is called the progression zone. While the distance vision zone in high-quality glasses extends almost across the entire width of the lens, the reading zone usually takes up a much smaller part of the lens width. The sharp field of vision is particularly narrow in the progression zone.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses

The main advantage of progressive lenses is obvious (and frees up your hands): they make constant handling of different visual aids unnecessary - they replace several pairs of glasses at the same time. This also reduces the chance of losing glasses, sitting on them or forgetting them at home. Unlike bifocal glasses with different, separate viewing areas, the optics of the lenses are also more harmonious - they simply look more elegant. However, where there is light, there is also shadow: progressive lenses are often more expensive than glasses with a single prescription. In addition, headaches and dizziness can occur during the adjustment phase. Overall, a change to a different way of seeing is necessary, as head movements and eye movements must be better coordinated. After about 4 to 6 weeks, however, every owner should have gotten used to their new progressive lenses.

Tips for getting used to seeing with progressive lenses

1. Practice makes perfect: Unlike reading glasses, your progressive lenses are meant to be a constant companion. Try to wear them as often as possible. This is the only way you will get used to the visual impression. The longer you wear the glasses, the more natural they will become for you.
2. Horizontal head movements: Due to the blurred edges of progressive lenses, you should make sure not only to follow objects with your eyes, but also to always turn your head slightly. This is especially important when driving a car, as we often rely on noticing dangers or other road users out of the corner of our eyes out of habit.
3. Vertical head movements: When moving your head vertically, always remember that you can only see clearly at short distances through the lower part of the lenses. This is especially important when going down stairs, as we tend not to tilt our heads down enough when we go down. Therefore, position your head so that you can see the steps clearly. When reading, on the other hand, you should get used to only moving your eyes downwards, as short distances can be seen clearly at the lower edge of the lenses. After a while, the correct head position will become second nature.
4. Have the correct setting checked: Unlike glasses with a fixed prescription, it is very important that progressive lenses fit perfectly. The point at which you look through the lens with your eyes in a neutral position must be exactly in the middle. If you are unsure, your optician or ophthalmologist will be happy to check for you whether further adjustment work is necessary.
5. Even progressive lenses are not suitable for all situations: especially when working at a computer screen, you would have to tilt your head back most of the time in order to be able to see the nearby work area well. In the long term, this can lead to orthopedic problems. You should therefore use special workplace glasses for computer screen work that are specifically tailored to the typical distance of computer screens.

Why are progressive lenses so expensive?

Admittedly, good progressive lenses are not cheap. Then there is the cost of the frame, which, depending on the manufacturer, can also put a big hole in your wallet. The price of the lenses depends on how large the different fields of vision are. In most cases, the wider the sharp field of vision, the more expensive the lens. High-quality progressive lenses are also adapted to the individual eyesight of their wearer. They therefore offer the greatest possible visual comfort in relation to the individual needs of the customer. Anatomical details play a role here - such as the distance between the eyes or the dilation of the pupils - but the intended use and the usual viewing habits of the buyer are also taken into account. A glasses wearer who drives a lot for work has different needs than someone who sits at a desk almost all day. For these reasons, advice and production are a complex process, which results in additional costs compared to normal prescription glasses. Then there are the costs for anti-reflective coating or coating of the lenses, which are also charged for normal glasses.

Is it worth buying progressive lenses?

The best way to decide whether progressive lenses are right for you is to have an individual consultation with your ophthalmologist or optician. The higher purchase costs and the necessary adjustment period are offset by significantly greater comfort, which ideally means that you almost forget that you are wearing glasses at all. With progressive lenses, your hands are free - so you can quickly pull out your smartphone and still wave to the bear.