I moved from bifocals to progressives 15-20 years ago. Astigmatism in the left eye and need more magnification. I have never experienced the distortion everyone talks about. I guess I learned how to use the lenses quickly. I really like that I have decent vision at any distance.
I’ve been wearing progressive lenses for over 20 years, and I just love them. I tried bifocals it one time and to me they did not work at all that line drove me crazy.
I have worn glasses since I was 11, 65 years ago. By the time I was in my 50’s, my prescription was around -7 in each eye. When my ophthalmologist suggested bifocals, I went straight to progressive lenses. It only took me about 20 minutes to get used to them. I actually welcomed the onset of cataracts! Now I need almost no correction for distance. My ideal glasses now are progressive and transition lenses, combining 4 pairs of glasses into one.
Like you, when I needed bifocals, I went straight to progressive lenses with transition. Didn't even take me 20 minutes. Put them on and didn't skip a bit. About 6 years ago, had the ones with lines in my safety glasses at work (didn't want to fork out the extra money for the progressives as work wouldn't cover progressive lenses). Hated the lines. Suffered through two years with the lines until I could order new safety glasses at which point I gladly paid the extra cost for getting the progressives. Unless your prescription changes, my employer will only pay for new safety glasses every two years.
My prescription is just a smidge less than Norman. Never did hit -7. But I came very close. 😁 This means thick lenses, which leads to heavy glasses, which hurt the ears and nose. Even when I use a strap to try to reduce the load on my ears and nose. I never did use progressives or bifocals. Weight being my primary consideration, the simplest way to reduce weight is to choose frames with very small short lenses. These tend to not work so well with progressives, because there is insufficient height. I didn't want bifocals either. My job involves looking at computer screens most of the day. I could just imagine that raising my head to look down at the screen was going to give me a stiff neck. I went with monovision instead. The secondary reason is because I am a stingy cheapskate. Special lenses and features on the lenses and frames drives costs up unnecessarily. I now get mine online. Wait for a special promo, get two pairs each time. Left eye adjusted for distance, right eye for intermediate distance (computer). And the other pair, adjust the opposite way. The idea of getting a pair is so that one eye do not become overly dominant. Just switch between them daily. You could get different designs, but I always get identical pairs. Because I just get standard base-level everything, my glasses are only about $5-$10 a pair. Even getting two pairs, add in normal shipping, the price is still so cheap, it didn't really matter if they break. If one breaks, I retire its twin and order two more pairs. Waiting for the special promo and the time it takes my order to arrive by the slowest cheapest shipping option, I already have lots of old spares lying around.
My astigmatism was a little worse. I recently had cataract surgery. I have +7.0 D implants in both eyes. My distance vision is nearly perfect. My near vision is corrected with +2.75. Have never experienced this level of vision in my life. 62 years old. Cataracts were a blessing for me. No longer wear Coke Bottle lenses.
As an airline pilot, for me, progressives just didn't work. My instrument panel was more than an arms length away. Farther than standard reading distance. When I tried flying with them, there was only a very small spot on the panel that was in focus. I had to move my head around, a lot, to read the panel and get the information I needed to fly the aircraft. This can cause vertigo. The preferred method for scanning is to leave your head in one place and move your eyes. This is not possible with progressives. I had bifocals made that had the lower part focus at about 40 inches rather than the std reading distance, and had the bifocal line moved up 2 mm. That put the line right at the top of the instrument panel. Also, had the lower portion widened more than normal so I can leave my head in one place and let my eyes do the wandering to read the panel. My doctor resisted all these changes but in the end, she agreed and has become the "go to" doc for many airline pilots in our city.
My brother was a helicpter test pilot, he wore varifocals when flying. I would suggest that your problems come more from poor measurement and fitting than from the lenses themselves
I prefer progressive lenses....but everyone is different it's what works for you the whole intent of eyeglasses is to help ....not one is is better then the other it's what helps you
I felt blind wearing the progressives! I kept getting horrible headaches! I love my bifocals! I’ve never had any problems with my bifocals! I didn’t think I looked old!
In my experience in the UK, most problems with varifocals come from a lack of knowledge of the optician who is supplying them - not correctly measuring the distance between your eyes - most just take the overall distance, whereas it is essential to measure for each eye from the centre of the bridge of the nose, which is where your spectacles will sit. Also is is necessary to ensure the finished spectacles are fitted properly, with the correct vertical angle and bowing to the frame. I despair at how many pairs of spectacles I see that look as if they've just been thrown at the wearer!
I am old, and I do not care who notices it! What REALLY makes you look old is struggling to deal with the many different distortions on a complicated lens, constantly dizzy from rolling your eyes. I carry two different glasses, and use the one most appropriate, or just wear reading glasses on a neck chain to raise when I need them! Shocking news: Perhaps old news to most people, but I discovered that I could use my out-dated reading glasses for excellent middle-distance TV watching! My reading glasses are 2.5 now, but my old 2.25 glasses are wonderful for very clear TV eight feet away! Life is much nicer if you don't obsess over how old you look............................elsullo
Your video has helped me so much. I have spent 3 visits to the optometrist so far, talking about options. Being able to see them via video has been VERY useful - not sure what to do yet but this helps.
As a tech who has made eye glasses at the retail level for 20+ years now I found your video informative and absolutely true. As to getting used to progressives for those new to them I have a few insights not covered in the video. Those that have myopia or nearsightedness have an easier time with progressives than with farsighted people because even with single vision lenses the higher the prescription the more the peripheral distortion there is so finding that sweet spot in the lens where everything is clear is something those with myopia are already used to doing. Of course the opposite is true with those with hyperopia or farsightedness but not all the time, most people are determined to avoid the line so will try harder to get used to progressives. Also, with people who want to switch to progressives from lined bifocals I have found that progressives with a short intermediate corridor work best for them because they are used to that quick eye jump from distance to near vision. But I must stress that these are generalities and everyone is different.
I'm -8 and have never had to hunt for a sweet spot with single vision glasses, I'm quite puzzled by that. I've just ordered bifocals, I don't fancy progressives for various reasons. My ex was about -17 and he did mention that there's more distortion, but myopia that high is pretty unusual and it sounded like you were talking shout myopes in general.
And this is why I have 2 pairs of eye glasses. One for distance (mostly driving) with anti-glare coating for nighttime and one for reading or anything needing clear up close vision.
I've been using progressive lenses for a couple of years now and I must say that they're really good for outdoors since there is a wider distance variations of objects and also good for driving but not very good indoors especially when sitting on my computer.
Mine is a "Down the road" comment. The work I did, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Design and troubleshooting. I needed Good, quick, crisp vision, because time was money, and I couldn't make mistakes. I decided progressives were the best for me. I quickly adapted, and I could quickly focus at any distance, BUT my eyes got lazy. Because focusing could be achieved more easily by tipping the head than by exercising the focusing muscles, they atrophied, and as the lenses of my eyes migrated to farsightedness, my head tipped higher and higher looking at my laptop until I had a crook in my neck (cramped muscles in my neck) and I began realizing my eyes would no longer focus at all, at any distance but one (without the glasses) So for me, that was the long term effect of time and progressive lenses. I would say, "BEWARE"
I got a pair of progressives and the focal point was near impossible to identify. While driving, everything around me was out of focus. The car on the right out of focus, car on the left out of focus, car in front mostly out of focus. I would need to move my head all the time to see anything. Crazy... I switched to bi-focals which are infinitely better and everything is in focus. Now my eyes can move around and do their job.
I've worn bifocals since I was 14. I switched to progressives when I was 26. Best change ever. I could finally wear my glasses and see the dashboard when driving.
I started wearing progressives about 8 years ago and absolutely love them. Your explanation is spot on with respect to my experience with them. I don't have a very strong rx, though.
68 years old and reading was getting bad but I hadn't replaced my standard specs for 12 years before trying progressive lenses in my frameless glasses and love them. Yes they cost me almost £500 but wow, they are so thin and light that you tend to forget they're on your face.
I have Astigmatism and have been wearing glasses my entire life. I guess that's how it should be stated. When I first started wearing Progressive lenses, I really was not offered a choice, I did not care for them, still don't. As you stated, peripheral vision is shot. Getting accustomed to wearing them was not a problem just don't try to look to the side. I will definitely ask my optometrist about other options. Thank you for the enlightenment.
I got my first trifocals in my 50's from a retired couple that asked dozens of questions and argued with each other vehemently. But I got exactly what I needed. I could see at distances through the top, I could read a book through the bottom, and I could see the panel of a C172/C150 in absolute focus through the middle lens. I got a new set of glasses a few months ago and the middle lens is almost useless. The focal point is around 18", so it is only useful for reading with my arms out a bit in my lap. God forbid I should ever find the time and money to go back to recreational flying.
I recently got a pair of progressive lenses to try out. I hated it at first. But I kept wearing them for a couple weeks and after getting used to them, I now I use them almost exclusively. Every once in a while I switch to my back up pair which are full powered for stuff like driving. But I can drive just as well with my progressives, I just can't lean my head all the way back due to the distortion at the lower half of the lenses. My eyes are pretty bad (-8 in one eye, -7 in the other) and I've gotten older to the point that my eyes noticeably just don't adjust as quickly anymore from long distance to reading distance. It's actually really frustrating because it was a noticeable degradation in the quality of my eyesight and I had absolutely no control over it. I found switching to progressives have actually helped a lot.
I've worn tri-focals over 35 years (nearly 40) because I'm a professional photographer/lab technician and early "progressives" had a useless transition area it was so small. Now I'm spoiled to the "defined" focal length areas and knowing EXACTLY WHERE to look thru the lens for any given distance. I took the free trial on the Pentax "fully progressive aspheric lenses" and I got sea-sick on those $4300 lenses and couldn't see through my cameras or in the darkroom! I've raced and ridden motorcycles since I was 14 with glasses too and hunted and that peripheral vision is a BIG THING to me. At the 'puter-thingey, it's the bottom part of the tri-focal-TV, it's the middle part-distance (normal driving), it's the top part. 'House, at 69, I'm "elderly" too! I just want to SEE!
I think for people like yourself who are highly perceptive...it can be a bigger challenge to adapt to progressives...or any type of glasses lens once presbyopia sets in. I wonder how you would do with a scleral MF contact lens or what you would think of the new lens implants for cataract surgery.
Useful info. Two years ago I decided to try progressive lenses, at the age of 54, and was concerned because my sister could not adapt to them, and I never do well switching between glasses. I was pleasantly surprised how well I saw from the beginning, and after three or four days I had completely adjusted. Still have them, very pleased. I think they are Crizal and were about $450, using vision plan.
Ok. Sooo, I gave this video to my daughter who was SCARED to do the Progressive lens. Your video scared her even more talking about the side view!! Most people don’t worry about side views!! I did read a comment from the guy on a motorcycle, who relies heavily on side views!! I have never had a problem with them except for the fist few days!! Thanks a lot!! 💔
Progressives always made me feel dizzy and I never really adjusted to them. I decided on single vision glasses for distance , then I remove my glasses to see intermediate and close up. MUCH BETTER. NO LONGER FEEL DIZZY OR LIGHTHEADED !
A very informative video, thank you! I have both lined, and progressive lenses. I just got my 1st prescription pair last month, and those are the lined bifocals that I purchased through one of the popular franchised chain stores. They have all the protection options and they do help me see clearly for distance and reading, but not so good for a computer screen. The magnification is too much, and I almost have to put my face against the screen to see words clearly. The progressive glasses I have are safety glasses I ordered online for my job as a quality control inspector. I intentionally lowered the magnification on these just slightly so I would be able to spot defects from a reasonable distance, but still be able to enter my measurements and readings into the laptop I use at work. The distance I kept the same as my regular pair of glasses. It was a little tricky adjusting to them on the first day I wore them, but I adapted quickly, and they do work well. There is a little bit of distortion in a few spots with them, but turning my head slightly helps, and they don't inhibit my ability to do my job. I could probably wear these with as my normal everyday glasses without a problem. As I stated above, these are my 1st prescription, and being entirely on the wrong side of 60, we'll see how my eyes are doing in the next year or two, but I'm leaning toward progressive at the moment, just because I don't have that abrupt line splitting my vision as you described.
When I broke down and bought prescription glasses instead of Costco readers at the age of 68, I went with progressives, but as I didn't really need a lot of help with distance at that time, I tended to only wear them for reading and found that very frustrating as I had to keep tilting my head to get the words in focus. I also play piano and spend some time on the computer and they didn't seem to work great for that. I went back to Costco readers. Recently had my eyes checked again and decided to just go with prescription readers, which works fine for reading and computer because I can adjust the laptop, but reading music on piano only works when it's directly in front of me, so I'm still looking for a good solution.
I tried bifocals probably 40 years ago. After a few months, I realized that I couldn't see to weld anymore. Finally realized that the bifocal (lower) part was obstructed by the narrow lens in my helmet. Went to progressive lenses and a helmet with a larger lens. Never looked back! You missed the point that the brain gets used to the progressive lens and automatically tilts your head as needed, to choose the best angle for viewing things.
Love my progressives & adjusted to them almost immediately. It was worth it to pay a little extra for the ones w/ the least amount of peripheral distortion.
I like the progressives that "Lenscrafters" provided. They gave me some solid advice to instead of moving just your eye balls to what you're looking at- Get used to moving your head as well and it lessens the "fun house" effect that I was having. Note: Changed providers just over a year ago and the new office set the 'line of site' in a slightly different zone on my new specs. The ones that I had to replace had the progression bit starting out about 1/8" lower (they used a computerized device to get an exact placement.) The new office used a marker on the lens and (pardon the pun) "Eyeballed" it. The replacement pair went back to the office in under 30 minutes as it was horrid. They looked over where the progressions started and had to readjust. (They sent them back and had new ones made with the progressions in the correct space)
I have worn progressive lens for many years with no problems. But this new pair did take some getting used to. I had serious vertigo for about 2 weeks. They are good now.
Thanks for reminding me! I am in the process of getting new glasses and as I watched your presentation I realised I had ordered transition bifocals. When in fact I prefer transition progressives. I must change that when I go in to pay. It will cost more probably but thems the breaks. I prefer transition progressives. 😁👓🕶
I have been wearing progressive lenses for 8 years now, as I am -5 myopia, with astigmatism and presbyopia. They are also the latest transition lenses, so very expensive. But they are worth every penny as I need them as soon as I open my eyes. With these glasses I don’t have to have other pairs of specs. The frames are also top notch so I wear them playing tennis, too. Sometimes I wear varifocal contact lenses, but they are not as good as real glasses.
I went back to bifocals. The distortion with the progressives drove me nuts. Also sunglasses. I don't know why, but every time I tried to get an Rx pair, they couldn't/wouldn't do it and I never got an explanation as to why. Clip on SG, no thank you. With bifocals it was no problem. Having a Rx pair of sunglasses is such a wonderful thing!
I ordered my first pair of progressives today after wearing bifocals for 3 years. I adjusted to bifocals pretty readily so I am crossing fingers I can transition just as easily to progressives.
I got progressive lenses about a year ago and love them. I am VERY far-sighted (4.25 and 4.75, IIRC). But, now in my mid-50s, I can see very well up close without correction. But move beyond a few inches and things get blurry. Problem is, at the "right" prescription I can see long distance perfectly, but the TV across the room is too close. I'd wear contacts but have on reading cheaters to watch TV, more powerful ones to use a computer, and ... just forget anything closer. I opted for glasses only now and after a week or so, these are great! That sideways distortion, though ... ugh! But I'll take that to be able to see clearly down the road, across the room, or right up close.
For all around use in front of a computer, stuff around the house, driving, going to the store, walking or running, I prefer progressive lenses. When I do sports like skiing or scuba diving or snorkeling, I wear contact lenses...I wore bifocal lenses from the age of 13 - 45 years of age. I would not go back to bifocals by choice...
I got some progressive last you and no ever at Warby Parker explained the distortion factor when wearing them. THANK YOU so much for explain that. I thought I was going crazy!!!
I wear varifocals (UK) which I guess are 'progressive'. Took a while to get used to them. And I struggled with the distortion. Last time I paid more ( a lot more!) for the very best varifocals and they have no distortion at all and I love them. But - I'm sure they are making my eyesight worse in the long term. I suspect that if you have presbyopia and you get lenses that do all the work for your eyes then your eyes just give up and the lenses harden in one spot because they no longer have to try. I can't see a thing without my glasses now.
No, that's not how it works. Correcting your vision appropriately does not make your eyes worse. The lens in the eye doesn't have a concept of giving up. If you're not wearing the right prescription, on the other hand, that can cause headaches, eyestrain and such.
comments are as useful as this video, like many comments. I started with progressive but had to discard as I was not feeling safe while driving plus would feel very tired very quickly. Now for last couple of days I have moved to bifocal, feels better than progressive but still trying and may have go back to dedicated glasses, especially if these too make me tired quickly.
I have been wearing progressive lenses since back in the late 1980's. One point in this video the Eye Doctor talks about peripheral vision. I never noticed any problems with peripheral vision, but my current classes don't change the focus from center view to peripheral view at the edges. The prescription areas seem to be ground all the way from one edge to the other, not a round circle of focus.
when i had my progressive lens for the first time, i had this terrible head ache and felt dizzy just for a short period of time, but doctor told me i get used to it....and it did.. after 2 years i had to change my lens again due to scratches etc, and got no problem.... after more than a year i change my lens again coz i feel like having higher eye grade .... never had any problem with progressive, though distortion on the sides is very minimal.
I really need to be able to see distance clearly as well as a computer screen at about arms length. I currently have to take my glasses off to look at my phone and taken them off asked get really close to my computer screen to see that. I just ordered a pair of progressives so I hope I like them. For the lenses and frames plus Transitions and anti-glare they were about $700, luckily my insurance covered all but $170.
I've been using progressives for more than 20 years. I call them my 'eyes' because I can do everything in them on a regular basis. I do expect to pay more for them and they are worth it. However, for intense work like the computer or reading books, I have separate pairs - one for reading and one for the computer. No, I don't carry the extra pairs with me as I don't use the computer, or tend to do any prolonged reading when I'm out of the house (or away from my desk back in my days in the workforce). I reuse frames as much as possible so I'm not faced with a large bill every time I need a prescription change. The one weakness is when I have to parallel park; I don't have a car with a backup cam and the distortion can cause me to 'restart' the process occasionally.
As a optician i recommend round top bifocal lenses.they have best far vision as well as near vision not to mention they have side gapes left and right of round near power sight. And its way too much price in US,i live in india we have low price here as well as better and wide range of Verities of lenses here ....
I've been using progressive lenses almost 25 years. I'm far sighted and my optometrist had me start with progressive lenses before I needed a lot of near magnification.
I Enjoyed my progressive lenses. Now they changed me to bifocal because that is what is approved by my eye care provider. 😎👀Now 8:05 I struggle with it. Hence visiting this video to see how can I get use to it. I have no distortions on my progressive glasses. It was such a pleasure. 😮
Overall I really like my progressives. They did take a while to get used to but for what I do where I have to transition quickly between the different view lengths, they have been great. The major and I mean major issue I have with them is that if I have spent many hours on the computer, writing my thesis, marking etc then when I go to drive, I can barely see anything. It is almost like I am drunk and I can't focus on anything. I never had this issue with my single vision lenses.
You didn’t say which is best? Anyway what about if you have two pairs one for distance and the other for closeup? I don’t mind taking my glasses off often, but I want to know your opinion on it, thanks 🙏
Did progressive 3 times. Always returned a year later to bifocals for another 3 years. Spent a lot on making sure they were best of class. Last time was the third strike for progressive lenses.
When I first put on my progressive lenses and tried to go down stairs, I felt like a 4 year old. It didn't take long to get used to them, though. A few days. My looking habit changed, though - I could no longer look at anything side-eyed - I had to turn to look at things directly.
I have both. Line bifocals for home when I am reading and watching television and progressives when I am out and about and need to look at a variety of things. It has been no problem for me switching back and forth. It would really help if I went to the eye doctor frequently so my prescription was always up to date.
Just a suggestion. If you have bought high end progressives, and hate them, they could have been possibly "cut" incorrectly. This happened to me. I was adament I couldn't see with my new progressives. Got them remade by a knowledgeable optician. Love them! Don't let just anyone tell you to "get use to them." Unless you have cataracts, or some eye disease, etc, it shouldn't be a problem adjusting to a good quality progressive. Also, I have a fairly high amount of astigmatism.
Thank you for making this video. Literally very helpful!! I have several questions here.. 1. Is people who have motion sickness can't use and hard to adapt with progressive lenses? 2. I used to work using desktop at my office, is standard progressive lenses comfortable to use? Or i have to use office type progressive lenses? 3. Does progressive lenses suitable for graphic designer who has astigmatism? Rembembering there will be distortions while using the lenses your suggestions will be very helpful 🙏 million thankss
I have worn progressive lenses for about 2 decades. NOBODY explained to me that the problems I have experienced with the lenses were built- in, not an issue with me. And that is why doctors don't like their customers (called "patients" for a good reason) to check things on the internet.
I just bought my progressive lenses today and I will agree they are expensive. My lenses were $130. I’m nervous to wear them but I know they are going to really help me.
My progressive glasses are my very first glasses ever, over these past seven years and now my vission is to the point that my eyes start to blur after working on the computer or looking at my phone for extended time. Transistional focus becomes an issue when that happens. Not a big fan. I also find that the none glare coating has changed, creating a less sharp image as well. Not sure if I should stay or go to bi glasses. Being far sighted , its really just the Magnification issue as you mentioned, which I still have issues since getting them and find I have to move my head around more now than when I first got them.
Just traded in my new progressives. Hoping bifocal is better. The peripheral distortion bothered me, gave me eye strain and headaches. Plus I felt like an owl looking directly at everything.
At one time, I had 20/10 uncorrrected vision. As I aged, however, presbyopia reared its ugly head along with (apparently out of nowhere) astigmatism. Now I use progressive lenses and find I get the weirdest prismatic effects unless I have the glasses pressed firmly up on the bridge of my nose. From a quarter mile away, a green traffic light appears as if it's the top light in the unit. Pressing the bridge of the glasses returns the green lights to their proper position. Police cars with red and blue lights will have the red lights appear in their proper place, but the blue lights appear to be floating a foot above the light bar. This prismatic effect is most noticeable when looking at a light object on a dark background. The white lines painted on the road have the blue component shifted slightly "up" and the red component shifted slightly "down". The same goes for looking at the moon. The top of the moon has a blue border and the bottom has a red border. Pressing the glasses against the bridge of my nose reduces the effect when looking at the moon, but doesn't completely eliminate it. I don't know if this is a "feature" of all progressive lenses, but the last five prescriptions I've worn have all had some form of this prismatic anomaly.
Most of the commenters seem to agree that traditional bifocals are easier and clearer, so it's all about how they look. Do you really care so much about what others think of your glasses that you'd sacrifice your quality of vision? My son has worn bifocals since he was 8 years old. It took him about a week to get used to them. But he's never had a complaint about the lines. I'm getting ready for my first pair of bifocals, and I was considering the progressive lenses, but this video and the comment section just saved me some money. 😁😁👍👍
I tried progressive lenses for my astigmatism, and absolutely *hated* them. I gave it a week and a half to get used to them, and got them adjusted several times during that break-in period. At the end of it, I just couldn't stand them. Everything was blurry except for looking absolutely dead ahead. It was particularly bad, and dangerous, when I was driving, since I would attempt to glance into my rear-view mirrors or out a side window and not be able to see anything. I finally returned them and went back to my old glasses.
@@DoctorEyeHealth I'm guessing this is probably not what I should have done, but I was so frustrated and disappointed that I went back to wearing my old glasses since giving up on the progressives (a few weeks ago). I can see fine, and they're comfortable (they have just standard, "regular" lenses.) Maybe I'll give it another try in the future. My wife has progressives and likes them just fine.
Bifocals for me. I did try progressive aka varifocals lenses but couldn't get on with them, I went back 3 times to get them fixed. The lenses were 30mm wide but I could only see through a thin 5mm section in the middle, the rest of it was useless. I kept having to turn my head and not my eyes to read stuff, it literally did my head in. My bifocals work great fro driving and reading but computer work they are almost useless. I have to crane my neck upwards and look downwards through the reading part to see what's in screen properly. So glad I do t have an office job.
My 7x28 lined trifocals work great. Nice wide reading zones and good peripheral vision. I like polycarb material for lightweight impact resistance with UV protection. Pair that with a titanium or stainless steel frame, and you have a great pair of glasses. - NB (LDO) ps: lens recommendation is for age 40+.
I have tried several progressives because in my country bifocal has sort of phased out decades ago and a bifocus is so far away from standard that they are very expensive. Unfortunattely I cannot get used to the progessive lenses even though I do not have strong adjustments at all. So for me it is contact lenses and then putting on and off my reading glasses as the only working alternative.
Thank you for this. I’m going to be getting new glasses soon, I’ve been mulling over which type of lens to get. I wear trifocals. I’ll be staying with the traditional three part lens.
I never had any issues with the progressive my first pair was the wider reading portion so I didn’t have distortions on the side so when I put them on I was able right away to see perfect. Prior to those I try one bifocal lenses man’s I couldn’t get used to that line. But my first pair was a varilux XR lenses I didn’t had to pay anything for the pair as I had 900 allowance for eye wear on my vision insurance with 20/20 vision care through UHC. And all my glasses after my first pair have been progressive to me it’s feels like I’m wearing single vision as I could read look at a computer and drive or look at any distances with i never has any issue now my sister on the other hand a pair and she took them back to the store to either and got one for reading and one for distances
Good video, thanks for this! I have been thinking about maybe trying bifocals or progressive lenses.. but after watching your video, now I don't want to deal with the problems of EITHER of them! 🙂
I’m an astronomer. I could not see the stars properly with progressives. The star field seemed always out of focus.much of what you see in the sky is with averted vision or peripheral vision. The edge distortion made it impossible. I switched back to traditional tri-focals and I’m able to see much better. The lines clearly delineate in and out of focus areas and the peripheral areas are in focus.
As a Marine Biologist and part time Architect and weekend Rocket ship engineer, I find that..... Seriously, Progressives are taking forever to get used to if 80% of my day is at the computer; quite the ocular workout. Office lenses (as opposed to bifocals) were better. I don't believe that machine-made lenses should be that expensive when they pop out of the machine in a matter of minutes. It's like my phone company charging me additional rates for touchtone and 911.
I've tried progressives twice and had nothing but literal headaches....been wearing tri-focals for over 30 years primarily because of when I was working...I needed the middle slot with a dash of peripheral ...the cut lines don't bother me at all
At 40 years old my arms shrank so that I could not hold printed material far enough to read. Went to my optometrist, and after his exam, he told me to go to a drug store and buy some cheaters - reading glasses. I used them for the next several years. Now I worked as a systems engineer, installing and repairing computer systems. I got progressives specifically for work - I took them off to drive, because they couldn't make the strongest part or the weakest part cover my entire needs. (I could see distance excellently, at the time.) The progressives were horrible for working behind a system rack, because I couldn't wrench my neck enough to get the sweet spot where I needed to see through spaghetti masses of network cabling, plus the glasses kept falling off my nose. I went to bifocals for heavy close work and distances of roughly standing behind an operator, watching what they were typing on a screen. Eventually, I needed a slight tweak for driving comfort and got trifocals. I'm on my second pair and here's something I think everyone needs to know, since age and expense are at war in the eyeglass game: Going to Walmart or a discount place to but your frames and lenses may not be the best way to save. My vision care doctor has frames, and they tend to be a bit more pricey, with fewer styles. I like bigger lenses - less frame in my visual area. My vision team's lense and frame specialist worked with me on my first pair, making the middle section wider, situated a little lower on the lense, putting the jump to distance below the centerline. A very good pair. I tried Walmart for frames next, and they didn't even ask. Maybe I'm to blame for that, but in the future, I'll push it. There you go - another story in the Naked City...
It takes time to get used to progressive lenses. Head movement is important when finding sweet spots. I bought my first pair not long ago and they have made life way better for me seeing wise.. I actually went to eye doctor and got my prescription and then went on Eyebuydirect and had them make mine. They did a fantastic job and frames i got are perfect on my face
He didn't mention Varilux progressive lenses. They have very complex, high-tech design; claim to avoid the distortion; and seem to do so. (I've had them so long I can't remember what regular progressives were like.) Expensive, though.
Progressives are very personal. My optometrist said try these they are the bomb, 5 different sets in a month later and I'm on bifocals. For me progressives are completely useless. A thin stip of vissability down the middle. The glasses could have been reduced to a half inch vertical strip.Provided I always keep my eyes exactly front facing it's fine but as soon as I look off center, complete blur. I keep bumping into everything I walked past. Worse than having no glasses on. Definitely could not drive with them as I also need periphery vision for that. My bifocals are set to the computer screen (arms length) and also magnified for reading 16" away. I have a separate single focus glasses for driving.
Tried progressives, but when you look at something closer, your eyes point inward, causing only one or the other eye to be looking through the magnification and the other through the distortion. I also found that in order to see clearly I had to tilt my head forward and back to find the sweet spot of where I was looking and how far away it was. I was using my head position to see clearly. Overall, they did not work for me.
I love my progressives. Yes, at first it was like looking through an aquarium 🤢, but the swimminess went away after a few days, and now I just see normally. Different strokes 🤷🏼
Dr. Allen. LOVE your vids. I started on Progressives long about early 40's. I'm 60 now.. Though my scrip hasn't gone up that much over the years... I'm noticing that when my eyes shift from one distance to another... especially near to midnear (computer) I get this almost light-headed instability and I'm getting greater headaches too. Let's assume all my medical pros say nothing neurologically going on or any other health related thing per se. And this scrip below is from an exam just 6 months ago. Can you just grow 'less tolerant of progressives over time'? I've always been at that $160 for a pair of progressives level of cost.. Are the distortions you mention in this video possibly in the equation? Do I just need go to the higher $ progressives to eliminate more distortions? I love my Computer 2 zone Progressives. They work great.. but my 3 zone are causing these issues. My scrip is: +1.00-1.00x80 OD. +1.00-1.25x35 (add2.25) and I've been using the Varilux (non digitally cut) about $200 per pair (scratch + antiglare) for years now. Appreciate your show!!
Thanks for your videos. I haven't found my issue with progressives touched on yet. I want clear distance sight in the top of the lens. Otherwise, I'm constantly taking the glasses off so I can look at the mountains, etc. It seems from what I've read so far that a clear distance area isn't possible in a progressive. Your thoughts?
Tried both. Progressive distortion, & the fact that I could see the company logo in the glass, drove me crazy & reminded me of my migraine aura. No thanks. Bifocals are better, but I only use them as backup when I can find my dedicated lenses. So, I generally use 3 pairs of dedicated, 4 if you count prescription sunglasses. 😎
What is better for me? That is to go from 20/60, to 20/20, under my measurement control. To make certain, I make my own refractive measurements. "No glasses", work better for me, with 20/20. Read the cell phone at 22 inches, no glasses.
I got talked into progressives and not only were they very expensive but miserable. I worked customer service and invoicing. I constantly would be looking down at the desk, then to a pc screen and then out into the office. Within minutes of wearing them every day I would start feeling dizzy and nauseous. I constantly had to find where the focus was in the lens. I kept going back telling the eye doctor that I wasn’t happy and they were not working out. He insisted I just needed to get used to them. I would wear an old pair to drive to work because I couldn’t focus enough with the new ones and was afraid I would get in an accident. As a passenger in my friends car, we were going about 70 mpg on the highway and everything was a total blur. I got car sick for the first time ever. Finally, I asked for straight contacts for distance for activities where I didn’t want to wear glasses and ended up wearing them for work with a cheap pair of over the counter readers at the end of my nose to read the papers on the desk. Worked like a charm. Will never get progressives again
Well i'm assuming your progressives are what are called multifocal in australia. Pesonally they were the first glasses i ever wore at 55, and i found they actually made my vision without glasses slightly better. Wear them all the time and have photochromic or transitions. Pity the transition lenses just arent dark enough, have to buy a decent pair of scrip sunnys plus polarising. Gonna cost too much.
I didn't like progressives when they first started becoming widely available: the side distortion generally was larger than it is today, and they were reluctant to explain why I should pay MORE for glasses that gave me LIMITED clear vision. I mean, in a standard pair, the entire lens is usable, but in progressives, more of a "T" shape with serifs. heh. but as time went on, the price lowered as well as the unusable space therein. I note that it was an easier pill to swallow when I was buying a pair for less than $100 online rather than the $400 - $600 for a pair, in store. I can be upset for $80, NOT for $480. I have progressives, today, and am fairly happy. I usually get a standard pair and a progressive pair, online ... this way purchasing two pair for my different moods and needs still costs less than one pair from the in-store selection. Heck, I could buy a DRIVING pair and STILL spend less money by purchasing online than in-store for one pair.
I hated progressive lenses I wore them for a year and it caused me to suffer from motion sickness the whole time. The issue was because they were trifocals when I went back to the old fashion lenses but told them I only wanted bifocals and not trifocals which means I have 2 pairs of glasses for different situations. Added into the mix I have stigma of both eyes, it made my life hell, plus I have a great peripheral vision so the lenses caused me to miss things when driving.
I moved from bifocals to progressives 15-20 years ago. Astigmatism in the left eye and need more magnification. I have never experienced the distortion everyone talks about. I guess I learned how to use the lenses quickly. I really like that I have decent vision at any distance.
I've never experience distortion either. Prefer the progressives.
Yet, here you are on a channel dedicated to eyesight. Your eyes must be f…ed
I agree. I actually had trouble with bifocals when walking up and down stairs. I don't experience the same distortion with Progressives.
I’ve been wearing progressive lenses for over 20 years, and I just love them. I tried bifocals it one time and to me they did not work at all that line drove me crazy.
Progressives it is! I always get varilux lenses but the best. No distortion no nothing
I have worn glasses since I was 11, 65 years ago. By the time I was in my 50’s, my prescription was around -7 in each eye. When my ophthalmologist suggested bifocals, I went straight to progressive lenses. It only took me about 20 minutes to get used to them. I actually welcomed the onset of cataracts! Now I need almost no correction for distance. My ideal glasses now are progressive and transition lenses, combining 4 pairs of glasses into one.
Like you, when I needed bifocals, I went straight to progressive lenses with transition. Didn't even take me 20 minutes. Put them on and didn't skip a bit. About 6 years ago, had the ones with lines in my safety glasses at work (didn't want to fork out the extra money for the progressives as work wouldn't cover progressive lenses). Hated the lines. Suffered through two years with the lines until I could order new safety glasses at which point I gladly paid the extra cost for getting the progressives. Unless your prescription changes, my employer will only pay for new safety glasses every two years.
My prescription is just a smidge less than Norman. Never did hit -7. But I came very close. 😁
This means thick lenses, which leads to heavy glasses, which hurt the ears and nose. Even when I use a strap to try to reduce the load on my ears and nose.
I never did use progressives or bifocals. Weight being my primary consideration, the simplest way to reduce weight is to choose frames with very small short lenses. These tend to not work so well with progressives, because there is insufficient height. I didn't want bifocals either. My job involves looking at computer screens most of the day. I could just imagine that raising my head to look down at the screen was going to give me a stiff neck.
I went with monovision instead. The secondary reason is because I am a stingy cheapskate. Special lenses and features on the lenses and frames drives costs up unnecessarily. I now get mine online. Wait for a special promo, get two pairs each time. Left eye adjusted for distance, right eye for intermediate distance (computer). And the other pair, adjust the opposite way. The idea of getting a pair is so that one eye do not become overly dominant. Just switch between them daily. You could get different designs, but I always get identical pairs.
Because I just get standard base-level everything, my glasses are only about $5-$10 a pair. Even getting two pairs, add in normal shipping, the price is still so cheap, it didn't really matter if they break. If one breaks, I retire its twin and order two more pairs. Waiting for the special promo and the time it takes my order to arrive by the slowest cheapest shipping option, I already have lots of old spares lying around.
Same!!!
My astigmatism was a little worse. I recently had cataract surgery. I have +7.0 D implants in both eyes. My distance vision is nearly perfect. My near vision is corrected with +2.75.
Have never experienced this level of vision in my life. 62 years old. Cataracts were a blessing for me. No longer wear Coke Bottle lenses.
As an airline pilot, for me, progressives just didn't work. My instrument panel was more than an arms length away. Farther than standard reading distance. When I tried flying with them, there was only a very small spot on the panel that was in focus. I had to move my head around, a lot, to read the panel and get the information I needed to fly the aircraft. This can cause vertigo. The preferred method for scanning is to leave your head in one place and move your eyes. This is not possible with progressives. I had bifocals made that had the lower part focus at about 40 inches rather than the std reading distance, and had the bifocal line moved up 2 mm. That put the line right at the top of the instrument panel. Also, had the lower portion widened more than normal so I can leave my head in one place and let my eyes do the wandering to read the panel. My doctor resisted all these changes but in the end, she agreed and has become the "go to" doc for many airline pilots in our city.
My brother was a helicpter test pilot, he wore varifocals when flying. I would suggest that your problems come more from poor measurement and fitting than from the lenses themselves
@@migranthawker2952 your brother could have had a lower prescription. Believe the experience of people here. Bifocals are the way to go
I prefer progressive lenses....but everyone is different it's what works for you the whole intent of eyeglasses is to help ....not one is is better then the other it's what helps you
@@AndresRamirez-gx9oy
Agreed.
You should go for Varilux X Series progressive glasses.
I felt blind wearing the progressives! I kept getting horrible headaches! I love my bifocals! I’ve never had any problems with my bifocals! I didn’t think I looked old!
In my experience in the UK, most problems with varifocals come from a lack of knowledge of the optician who is supplying them - not correctly measuring the distance between your eyes - most just take the overall distance, whereas it is essential to measure for each eye from the centre of the bridge of the nose, which is where your spectacles will sit. Also is is necessary to ensure the finished spectacles are fitted properly, with the correct vertical angle and bowing to the frame. I despair at how many pairs of spectacles I see that look as if they've just been thrown at the wearer!
I am old, and I do not care who notices it! What REALLY makes you look old is struggling to deal with the many different distortions on a complicated lens, constantly dizzy from rolling your eyes. I carry two different glasses, and use the one most appropriate, or just wear reading glasses on a neck chain to raise when I need them! Shocking news: Perhaps old news to most people, but I discovered that I could use my out-dated reading glasses for excellent middle-distance TV watching! My reading glasses are 2.5 now, but my old 2.25 glasses are wonderful for very clear TV eight feet away! Life is much nicer if you don't obsess over how old you look............................elsullo
Your video has helped me so much. I have spent 3 visits to the optometrist so far, talking about options. Being able to see them via video has been VERY useful - not sure what to do yet but this helps.
As a tech who has made eye glasses at the retail level for 20+ years now I found your video informative and absolutely true. As to getting used to progressives for those new to them I have a few insights not covered in the video. Those that have myopia or nearsightedness have an easier time with progressives than with farsighted people because even with single vision lenses the higher the prescription the more the peripheral distortion there is so finding that sweet spot in the lens where everything is clear is something those with myopia are already used to doing. Of course the opposite is true with those with hyperopia or farsightedness but not all the time, most people are determined to avoid the line so will try harder to get used to progressives.
Also, with people who want to switch to progressives from lined bifocals I have found that progressives with a short intermediate corridor work best for them because they are used to that quick eye jump from distance to near vision. But I must stress that these are generalities and everyone is different.
This is great stuff!!!! Thank you!
I'm -8 and have never had to hunt for a sweet spot with single vision glasses, I'm quite puzzled by that. I've just ordered bifocals, I don't fancy progressives for various reasons. My ex was about -17 and he did mention that there's more distortion, but myopia that high is pretty unusual and it sounded like you were talking shout myopes in general.
And this is why I have 2 pairs of eye glasses. One for distance (mostly driving) with anti-glare coating for nighttime and one for reading or anything needing clear up close vision.
Though we need to carry 2 eyeglasses in our purse.
I've been using progressive lenses for a couple of years now and I must say that they're really good for outdoors since there is a wider distance variations of objects and also good for driving but not very good indoors especially when sitting on my computer.
Yes! Same for me.
Such a strange problem as that’s what happens with bifocals. With progressives a small up or down head movement will do it.
I use a separate single vision pair for the computer so I can see the whole screen without straining my neck
Same!
Mine is a "Down the road" comment. The work I did, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Design and troubleshooting. I needed Good, quick, crisp vision, because time was money, and I couldn't make mistakes. I decided progressives were the best for me. I quickly adapted, and I could quickly focus at any distance, BUT my eyes got lazy. Because focusing could be achieved more easily by tipping the head than by exercising the focusing muscles, they atrophied, and as the lenses of my eyes migrated to farsightedness, my head tipped higher and higher looking at my laptop until I had a crook in my neck (cramped muscles in my neck) and I began realizing my eyes would no longer focus at all, at any distance but one (without the glasses) So for me, that was the long term effect of time and progressive lenses. I would say, "BEWARE"
I got a pair of progressives and the focal point was near impossible to identify. While driving, everything around me was out of focus. The car on the right out of focus, car on the left out of focus, car in front mostly out of focus. I would need to move my head all the time to see anything. Crazy... I switched to bi-focals which are infinitely better and everything is in focus. Now my eyes can move around and do their job.
Agreed, bifocals allow for natural viewing without the annoying need to always point your nose at what you're looing at as with progressives.
I've worn bifocals since I was 14. I switched to progressives when I was 26. Best change ever. I could finally wear my glasses and see the dashboard when driving.
That's awesome!
I started wearing progressives about 8 years ago and absolutely love them. Your explanation is spot on with respect to my experience with them. I don't have a very strong rx, though.
What kind of frames do you use? Please
68 years old and reading was getting bad but I hadn't replaced my standard specs for 12 years before trying progressive lenses in my frameless glasses and love them.
Yes they cost me almost £500 but wow, they are so thin and light that you tend to forget they're on your face.
I have Astigmatism and have been wearing glasses my entire life. I guess that's how it should be stated. When I first started wearing Progressive lenses, I really was not offered a choice, I did not care for them, still don't. As you stated, peripheral vision is shot. Getting accustomed to wearing them was not a problem just don't try to look to the side. I will definitely ask my optometrist about other options. Thank you for the enlightenment.
Actually, a plus 2 Dioper works quite well for $15. Thanks for your suggestions.
A bifocal gives me headaches.
I got my first trifocals in my 50's from a retired couple that asked dozens of questions and argued with each other vehemently. But I got exactly what I needed. I could see at distances through the top, I could read a book through the bottom, and I could see the panel of a C172/C150 in absolute focus through the middle lens. I got a new set of glasses a few months ago and the middle lens is almost useless. The focal point is around 18", so it is only useful for reading with my arms out a bit in my lap. God forbid I should ever find the time and money to go back to recreational flying.
This helps me as an archer I'm struggling with clarity using progressives. I have a bad astigmatism and am now going to try bifocals or single!
I recently got a pair of progressive lenses to try out. I hated it at first. But I kept wearing them for a couple weeks and after getting used to them, I now I use them almost exclusively. Every once in a while I switch to my back up pair which are full powered for stuff like driving. But I can drive just as well with my progressives, I just can't lean my head all the way back due to the distortion at the lower half of the lenses. My eyes are pretty bad (-8 in one eye, -7 in the other) and I've gotten older to the point that my eyes noticeably just don't adjust as quickly anymore from long distance to reading distance. It's actually really frustrating because it was a noticeable degradation in the quality of my eyesight and I had absolutely no control over it. I found switching to progressives have actually helped a lot.
I've worn tri-focals over 35 years (nearly 40) because I'm a professional photographer/lab technician and early "progressives" had a useless transition area it was so small. Now I'm spoiled to the "defined" focal length areas and knowing EXACTLY WHERE to look thru the lens for any given distance. I took the free trial on the Pentax "fully progressive aspheric lenses" and I got sea-sick on those $4300 lenses and couldn't see through my cameras or in the darkroom! I've raced and ridden motorcycles since I was 14 with glasses too and hunted and that peripheral vision is a BIG THING to me. At the 'puter-thingey, it's the bottom part of the tri-focal-TV, it's the middle part-distance (normal driving), it's the top part. 'House, at 69, I'm "elderly" too! I just want to SEE!
I think for people like yourself who are highly perceptive...it can be a bigger challenge to adapt to progressives...or any type of glasses lens once presbyopia sets in. I wonder how you would do with a scleral MF contact lens or what you would think of the new lens implants for cataract surgery.
I'm an artist who takes in tons of visual info and was thinking lots of lens replacement surgery too like the doc suggested.
Useful info. Two years ago I decided to try progressive lenses, at the age of 54, and was concerned because my sister could not adapt to them, and I never do well switching between glasses. I was pleasantly surprised how well I saw from the beginning, and after three or four days I had completely adjusted. Still have them, very pleased. I think they are Crizal and were about $450, using vision plan.
That is great to hear! Glad you have been enjoying them!
Ok. Sooo, I gave this video to my daughter who was SCARED to do the Progressive lens. Your video scared her even more talking about the side view!! Most people don’t worry about side views!! I did read a comment from the guy on a motorcycle, who relies heavily on side views!! I have never had a problem with them except for the fist few days!! Thanks a lot!! 💔
Progressives always made me feel dizzy and I never really adjusted to them. I decided on single vision glasses for distance , then I remove my glasses to see intermediate and close up. MUCH BETTER. NO LONGER FEEL DIZZY OR LIGHTHEADED !
A very informative video, thank you!
I have both lined, and progressive lenses. I just got my 1st prescription pair last month, and those are the lined bifocals that I purchased through one of the popular franchised chain stores. They have all the protection options and they do help me see clearly for distance and reading, but not so good for a computer screen. The magnification is too much, and I almost have to put my face against the screen to see words clearly.
The progressive glasses I have are safety glasses I ordered online for my job as a quality control inspector. I intentionally lowered the magnification on these just slightly so I would be able to spot defects from a reasonable distance, but still be able to enter my measurements and readings into the laptop I use at work. The distance I kept the same as my regular pair of glasses. It was a little tricky adjusting to them on the first day I wore them, but I adapted quickly, and they do work well. There is a little bit of distortion in a few spots with them, but turning my head slightly helps, and they don't inhibit my ability to do my job. I could probably wear these with as my normal everyday glasses without a problem.
As I stated above, these are my 1st prescription, and being entirely on the wrong side of 60, we'll see how my eyes are doing in the next year or two, but I'm leaning toward progressive at the moment, just because I don't have that abrupt line splitting my vision as you described.
When I broke down and bought prescription glasses instead of Costco readers at the age of 68, I went with progressives, but as I didn't really need a lot of help with distance at that time, I tended to only wear them for reading and found that very frustrating as I had to keep tilting my head to get the words in focus. I also play piano and spend some time on the computer and they didn't seem to work great for that. I went back to Costco readers. Recently had my eyes checked again and decided to just go with prescription readers, which works fine for reading and computer because I can adjust the laptop, but reading music on piano only works when it's directly in front of me, so I'm still looking for a good solution.
I tried bifocals probably 40 years ago. After a few months, I realized that I couldn't see to weld anymore. Finally realized that the bifocal (lower) part was obstructed by the narrow lens in my helmet. Went to progressive lenses and a helmet with a larger lens. Never looked back! You missed the point that the brain gets used to the progressive lens and automatically tilts your head as needed, to choose the best angle for viewing things.
Love my progressives & adjusted to them almost immediately. It was worth it to pay a little extra for the ones w/ the least amount of peripheral distortion.
That's great!
I like the progressives that "Lenscrafters" provided. They gave me some solid advice to instead of moving just your eye balls to what you're looking at- Get used to moving your head as well and it lessens the "fun house" effect that I was having.
Note: Changed providers just over a year ago and the new office set the 'line of site' in a slightly different zone on my new specs. The ones that I had to replace had the progression bit starting out about 1/8" lower (they used a computerized device to get an exact placement.) The new office used a marker on the lens and (pardon the pun) "Eyeballed" it. The replacement pair went back to the office in under 30 minutes as it was horrid. They looked over where the progressions started and had to readjust. (They sent them back and had new ones made with the progressions in the correct space)
I have worn progressive lens for many years with no problems. But this new pair did take some getting used to. I had serious vertigo for about 2 weeks. They are good now.
Thanks for reminding me! I am in the process of getting new glasses and as I watched your presentation I realised I had ordered transition bifocals. When in fact I prefer transition progressives. I must change that when I go in to pay. It will cost more probably but thems the breaks. I prefer transition progressives. 😁👓🕶
Wonderful! Yeah I like transitions too, they are not for everyone but I like them. Hope you can get things changed.
I have been wearing progressive lenses for 8 years now, as I am -5 myopia, with astigmatism and presbyopia. They are also the latest transition lenses, so very expensive. But they are worth every penny as I need them as soon as I open my eyes. With these glasses I don’t have to have other pairs of specs. The frames are also top notch so I wear them playing tennis, too. Sometimes I wear varifocal contact lenses, but they are not as good as real glasses.
I went back to bifocals. The distortion with the progressives drove me nuts. Also sunglasses. I don't know why, but every time I tried to get an Rx pair, they couldn't/wouldn't do it and I never got an explanation as to why. Clip on SG, no thank you. With bifocals it was no problem. Having a Rx pair of sunglasses is such a wonderful thing!
I ordered my first pair of progressives today after wearing bifocals for 3 years. I adjusted to bifocals pretty readily so I am crossing fingers I can transition just as easily to progressives.
For progressives that I absolutely love, I always go with Varilux comfort max. It’s the best,
I love my progressives! Thankfully, the Optician on my first pair taught me how to use them before I left.
I got progressive lenses about a year ago and love them.
I am VERY far-sighted (4.25 and 4.75, IIRC). But, now in my mid-50s, I can see very well up close without correction. But move beyond a few inches and things get blurry. Problem is, at the "right" prescription I can see long distance perfectly, but the TV across the room is too close. I'd wear contacts but have on reading cheaters to watch TV, more powerful ones to use a computer, and ... just forget anything closer. I opted for glasses only now and after a week or so, these are great! That sideways distortion, though ... ugh! But I'll take that to be able to see clearly down the road, across the room, or right up close.
For all around use in front of a computer, stuff around the house, driving, going to the store, walking or running, I prefer progressive lenses. When I do sports like skiing or scuba diving or snorkeling, I wear contact lenses...I wore bifocal lenses from the age of 13 - 45 years of age. I would not go back to bifocals by choice...
I got some progressive last you and no ever at Warby Parker explained the distortion factor when wearing them. THANK YOU so much for explain that. I thought I was going crazy!!!
I wear varifocals (UK) which I guess are 'progressive'. Took a while to get used to them. And I struggled with the distortion. Last time I paid more ( a lot more!) for the very best varifocals and they have no distortion at all and I love them. But - I'm sure they are making my eyesight worse in the long term. I suspect that if you have presbyopia and you get lenses that do all the work for your eyes then your eyes just give up and the lenses harden in one spot because they no longer have to try. I can't see a thing without my glasses now.
No, that's not how it works. Correcting your vision appropriately does not make your eyes worse. The lens in the eye doesn't have a concept of giving up. If you're not wearing the right prescription, on the other hand, that can cause headaches, eyestrain and such.
comments are as useful as this video, like many comments. I started with progressive but had to discard as I was not feeling safe while driving plus would feel very tired very quickly. Now for last couple of days I have moved to bifocal, feels better than progressive but still trying and may have go back to dedicated glasses, especially if these too make me tired quickly.
I have been wearing progressive lenses since back in the late 1980's. One point in this video the Eye Doctor talks about peripheral vision. I never noticed any problems with peripheral vision, but my current classes don't change the focus from center view to peripheral view at the edges. The prescription areas seem to be ground all the way from one edge to the other, not a round circle of focus.
I am an optician. And found the T28 is the best fit for me. But even better fit wearing contacts, with a pair of readers.
when i had my progressive lens for the first time, i had this terrible head ache and felt dizzy just for a short period of time, but doctor told me i get used to it....and it did.. after 2 years i had to change my lens again due to scratches etc, and got no problem.... after more than a year i change my lens again coz i feel like having higher eye grade .... never had any problem with progressive, though distortion on the sides is very minimal.
I really need to be able to see distance clearly as well as a computer screen at about arms length. I currently have to take my glasses off to look at my phone and taken them off asked get really close to my computer screen to see that.
I just ordered a pair of progressives so I hope I like them. For the lenses and frames plus Transitions and anti-glare they were about $700, luckily my insurance covered all but $170.
I've been using progressives for more than 20 years. I call them my 'eyes' because I can do everything in them on a regular basis. I do expect to pay more for them and they are worth it. However, for intense work like the computer or reading books, I have separate pairs - one for reading and one for the computer. No, I don't carry the extra pairs with me as I don't use the computer, or tend to do any prolonged reading when I'm out of the house (or away from my desk back in my days in the workforce). I reuse frames as much as possible so I'm not faced with a large bill every time I need a prescription change. The one weakness is when I have to parallel park; I don't have a car with a backup cam and the distortion can cause me to 'restart' the process occasionally.
I just started using progressive, i feel just fine. I don't get headaches after. I think my eyes adapted pretty good to them.
As a optician i recommend round top bifocal lenses.they have best far vision as well as near vision not to mention they have side gapes left and right of round near power sight.
And its way too much price in US,i live in india we have low price here as well as better and wide range of Verities of lenses here ....
I've been using progressive lenses almost 25 years. I'm far sighted and my optometrist had me start with progressive lenses before I needed a lot of near magnification.
I Enjoyed my progressive lenses. Now they changed me to bifocal because that is what is approved by my eye care provider. 😎👀Now 8:05 I struggle with it. Hence visiting this video to see how can I get use to it. I have no distortions on my progressive glasses. It was such a pleasure. 😮
Overall I really like my progressives. They did take a while to get used to but for what I do where I have to transition quickly between the different view lengths, they have been great. The major and I mean major issue I have with them is that if I have spent many hours on the computer, writing my thesis, marking etc then when I go to drive, I can barely see anything. It is almost like I am drunk and I can't focus on anything. I never had this issue with my single vision lenses.
I used both....i find birocal more useful and comfortable.
Progressive as you said is cumbersome and takes time to used to it.
You didn’t say which is best? Anyway what about if you have two pairs one for distance and the other for closeup? I don’t mind taking my glasses off often, but I want to know your opinion on it, thanks 🙏
Did progressive 3 times. Always returned a year later to bifocals for another 3 years. Spent a lot on making sure they were best of class. Last time was the third strike for progressive lenses.
When I first put on my progressive lenses and tried to go down stairs, I felt like a 4 year old.
It didn't take long to get used to them, though. A few days.
My looking habit changed, though - I could no longer look at anything side-eyed - I had to turn to look at things directly.
I have both. Line bifocals for home when I am reading and watching television and progressives when I am out and about and need to look at a variety of things. It has been no problem for me switching back and forth. It would really help if I went to the eye doctor frequently so my prescription was always up to date.
Just a suggestion. If you have bought high end progressives, and hate them, they could have been possibly "cut" incorrectly. This happened to me. I was adament I couldn't see with my new progressives. Got them remade by a knowledgeable optician. Love them! Don't let just anyone tell you to "get use to them." Unless you have cataracts, or some eye disease, etc, it shouldn't be a problem adjusting to a good quality progressive. Also, I have a fairly high amount of astigmatism.
Thank you for making this video. Literally very helpful!! I have several questions here..
1. Is people who have motion sickness can't use and hard to adapt with progressive lenses?
2. I used to work using desktop at my office, is standard progressive lenses comfortable to use? Or i have to use office type progressive lenses?
3. Does progressive lenses suitable for graphic designer who has astigmatism? Rembembering there will be distortions while using the lenses
your suggestions will be very helpful 🙏 million thankss
I have worn progressive lenses for about 2 decades. NOBODY explained to me that the problems I have experienced with the lenses were built- in, not an issue with me. And that is why doctors don't like their customers (called "patients" for a good reason) to check things on the internet.
I just bought my progressive lenses today and I will agree they are expensive. My lenses were $130. I’m nervous to wear them but I know they are going to really help me.
Progressive for me. Bi-focals gives me headache when my travels from the line portion of the lens.
Yeah that line jump is tough.
Thanks for the info... Currently using progressive lenses since I was a kid, progressive lenses all the way🤓👍🙏
My progressive glasses are my very first glasses ever, over these past seven years and now my vission is to the point that my eyes start to blur after working on the computer or looking at my phone for extended time. Transistional focus becomes an issue when that happens. Not a big fan. I also find that the none glare coating has changed, creating a less sharp image as well. Not sure if I should stay or go to bi glasses. Being far sighted , its really just the Magnification issue as you mentioned, which I still have issues since getting them and find I have to move my head around more now than when I first got them.
Just traded in my new progressives. Hoping bifocal is better. The peripheral distortion bothered me, gave me eye strain and headaches. Plus I felt like an owl looking directly at everything.
At one time, I had 20/10 uncorrrected vision. As I aged, however, presbyopia reared its ugly head along with (apparently out of nowhere) astigmatism. Now I use progressive lenses and find I get the weirdest prismatic effects unless I have the glasses pressed firmly up on the bridge of my nose. From a quarter mile away, a green traffic light appears as if it's the top light in the unit. Pressing the bridge of the glasses returns the green lights to their proper position. Police cars with red and blue lights will have the red lights appear in their proper place, but the blue lights appear to be floating a foot above the light bar. This prismatic effect is most noticeable when looking at a light object on a dark background. The white lines painted on the road have the blue component shifted slightly "up" and the red component shifted slightly "down". The same goes for looking at the moon. The top of the moon has a blue border and the bottom has a red border. Pressing the glasses against the bridge of my nose reduces the effect when looking at the moon, but doesn't completely eliminate it. I don't know if this is a "feature" of all progressive lenses, but the last five prescriptions I've worn have all had some form of this prismatic anomaly.
Most of the commenters seem to agree that traditional bifocals are easier and clearer, so it's all about how they look. Do you really care so much about what others think of your glasses that you'd sacrifice your quality of vision? My son has worn bifocals since he was 8 years old. It took him about a week to get used to them. But he's never had a complaint about the lines. I'm getting ready for my first pair of bifocals, and I was considering the progressive lenses, but this video and the comment section just saved me some money. 😁😁👍👍
I tried progressive lenses for my astigmatism, and absolutely *hated* them. I gave it a week and a half to get used to them, and got them adjusted several times during that break-in period. At the end of it, I just couldn't stand them. Everything was blurry except for looking absolutely dead ahead. It was particularly bad, and dangerous, when I was driving, since I would attempt to glance into my rear-view mirrors or out a side window and not be able to see anything. I finally returned them and went back to my old glasses.
Yeah that is a bummer! Did you order a whole new pair or just straight up go back to your old glasses.
@@DoctorEyeHealth I'm guessing this is probably not what I should have done, but I was so frustrated and disappointed that I went back to wearing my old glasses since giving up on the progressives (a few weeks ago). I can see fine, and they're comfortable (they have just standard, "regular" lenses.) Maybe I'll give it another try in the future. My wife has progressives and likes them just fine.
Good overview. Sadly, progressives are oversold, because of greater profit. I have bifocals with full width reading zone, which work very well for me.
Bifocals for me. I did try progressive aka varifocals lenses but couldn't get on with them, I went back 3 times to get them fixed. The lenses were 30mm wide but I could only see through a thin 5mm section in the middle, the rest of it was useless. I kept having to turn my head and not my eyes to read stuff, it literally did my head in.
My bifocals work great fro driving and reading but computer work they are almost useless. I have to crane my neck upwards and look downwards through the reading part to see what's in screen properly. So glad I do t have an office job.
My 7x28 lined trifocals work great. Nice wide reading zones and good peripheral vision. I like polycarb material for lightweight impact resistance with UV protection. Pair that with a titanium or stainless steel frame, and you have a great pair of glasses.
- NB (LDO)
ps: lens recommendation is for age 40+.
I have tried several progressives because in my country bifocal has sort of phased out decades ago and a bifocus is so far away from standard that they are very expensive. Unfortunattely I cannot get used to the progessive lenses even though I do not have strong adjustments at all. So for me it is contact lenses and then putting on and off my reading glasses as the only working alternative.
Thank you for this. I’m going to be getting new glasses soon, I’ve been mulling over which type of lens to get. I wear trifocals. I’ll be staying with the traditional three part lens.
My new eye Dr suggested that I look at getting bi focals and I'm only turning 36 in September!!
Had both and I love my progressives , best thing since sliced bread 😂
Trifocal works for me😎 tried progressive three times and never felt I saw as clear as trifocal
I wear progressives and love them . I have astigmatism, presbyopia and myopia. The trick is to make sure the lenses are larger
I never had any issues with the progressive my first pair was the wider reading portion so I didn’t have distortions on the side so when I put them on I was able right away to see perfect. Prior to those I try one bifocal lenses man’s I couldn’t get used to that line. But my first pair was a varilux XR lenses I didn’t had to pay anything for the pair as I had 900 allowance for eye wear on my vision insurance with 20/20 vision care through UHC. And all my glasses after my first pair have been progressive to me it’s feels like I’m wearing single vision as I could read look at a computer and drive or look at any distances with i never has any issue now my sister on the other hand a pair and she took them
back to the store to either and got one for reading and one for distances
Good video, thanks for this! I have been thinking about maybe trying bifocals or progressive lenses.. but after watching your video, now I don't want to deal with the problems of EITHER of them! 🙂
It's amazing what people will put up with for the sake of vanity.
I’m an astronomer. I could not see the stars properly with progressives. The star field seemed always out of focus.much of what you see in the sky is with averted vision or peripheral vision. The edge distortion made it impossible. I switched back to traditional tri-focals and I’m able to see much better. The lines clearly delineate in and out of focus areas and the peripheral areas are in focus.
As a Marine Biologist and part time Architect and weekend Rocket ship engineer, I find that.....
Seriously, Progressives are taking forever to get used to if 80% of my day is at the computer; quite the ocular workout. Office lenses (as opposed to bifocals) were better.
I don't believe that machine-made lenses should be that expensive when they pop out of the machine in a matter of minutes. It's like my phone company charging me additional rates for touchtone and 911.
very technical, straight to the point, thanks!
I've tried progressives twice and had nothing but literal headaches....been wearing tri-focals for over 30 years primarily because of when I was working...I needed the middle slot with a dash of peripheral ...the cut lines don't bother me at all
Great to hear! Glad to hear you have had such success with them!
At 40 years old my arms shrank so that I could not hold printed material far enough to read. Went to my optometrist, and after his exam, he told me to go to a drug store and buy some cheaters - reading glasses. I used them for the next several years. Now I worked as a systems engineer, installing and repairing computer systems. I got progressives specifically for work - I took them off to drive, because they couldn't make the strongest part or the weakest part cover my entire needs. (I could see distance excellently, at the time.) The progressives were horrible for working behind a system rack, because I couldn't wrench my neck enough to get the sweet spot where I needed to see through spaghetti masses of network cabling, plus the glasses kept falling off my nose. I went to bifocals for heavy close work and distances of roughly standing behind an operator, watching what they were typing on a screen. Eventually, I needed a slight tweak for driving comfort and got trifocals. I'm on my second pair and here's something I think everyone needs to know, since age and expense are at war in the eyeglass game: Going to Walmart or a discount place to but your frames and lenses may not be the best way to save.
My vision care doctor has frames, and they tend to be a bit more pricey, with fewer styles. I like bigger lenses - less frame in my visual area. My vision team's lense and frame specialist worked with me on my first pair, making the middle section wider, situated a little lower on the lense, putting the jump to distance below the centerline. A very good pair. I tried Walmart for frames next, and they didn't even ask. Maybe I'm to blame for that, but in the future, I'll push it. There you go - another story in the Naked City...
It takes time to get used to progressive lenses. Head movement is important when finding sweet spots. I bought my first pair not long ago and they have made life way better for me seeing wise.. I actually went to eye doctor and got my prescription and then went on Eyebuydirect and had them make mine. They did a fantastic job and frames i got are perfect on my face
@@finley614 , I'm kind of hoping they come up with smart glasses, that self adjust so that anywhere I look will be auto focused. 😃
He didn't mention Varilux progressive lenses. They have very complex, high-tech design; claim to avoid the distortion; and seem to do so. (I've had them so long I can't remember what regular progressives were like.) Expensive, though.
Progressives are very personal. My optometrist said try these they are the bomb, 5 different sets in a month later and I'm on bifocals. For me progressives are completely useless. A thin stip of vissability down the middle. The glasses could have been reduced to a half inch vertical strip.Provided I always keep my eyes exactly front facing it's fine but as soon as I look off center, complete blur. I keep bumping into everything I walked past. Worse than having no glasses on. Definitely could not drive with them as I also need periphery vision for that. My bifocals are set to the computer screen (arms length) and also magnified for reading 16" away. I have a separate single focus glasses for driving.
Tried progressives, but when you look at something closer, your eyes point inward, causing only one or the other eye to be looking through the magnification and the other through the distortion. I also found that in order to see clearly I had to tilt my head forward and back to find the sweet spot of where I was looking and how far away it was. I was using my head position to see clearly. Overall, they did not work for me.
This video helped me so much!! Thank You !!
I love my progressives. Yes, at first it was like looking through an aquarium 🤢, but the swimminess went away after a few days, and now I just see normally. Different strokes 🤷🏼
your explanation and pros & cons was awesome, good work :)
Hey, thanks!
Dr. Allen. LOVE your vids. I started on Progressives long about early 40's. I'm 60 now.. Though my scrip hasn't gone up that much over the years... I'm noticing that when my eyes shift from one distance to another... especially near to midnear (computer) I get this almost light-headed instability and I'm getting greater headaches too. Let's assume all my medical pros say nothing neurologically going on or any other health related thing per se. And this scrip below is from an exam just 6 months ago. Can you just grow 'less tolerant of progressives over time'? I've always been at that $160 for a pair of progressives level of cost.. Are the distortions you mention in this video possibly in the equation? Do I just need go to the higher $ progressives to eliminate more distortions? I love my Computer 2 zone Progressives. They work great.. but my 3 zone are causing these issues. My scrip is: +1.00-1.00x80 OD. +1.00-1.25x35 (add2.25) and I've been using the Varilux (non digitally cut) about $200 per pair (scratch + antiglare) for years now. Appreciate your show!!
I couldn’t wear progressive lens and returned to my old myopic lens as I couldn’t drive with those. That peripheral distortion made me crazy.
Very impressive presentation!
Where do 'sync' lenses fall on this spectrum? Those were recommended by a new-to-me optometrist, but they were very expensive.
Hmmm not too sure. Maybe it’s something new I have not heard of yet
Thanks for your videos. I haven't found my issue with progressives touched on yet. I want clear distance sight in the top of the lens. Otherwise, I'm constantly taking the glasses off so I can look at the mountains, etc. It seems from what I've read so far that a clear distance area isn't possible in a progressive. Your thoughts?
Tried both. Progressive distortion, & the fact that I could see the company logo in the glass, drove me crazy & reminded me of my migraine aura. No thanks. Bifocals are better, but I only use them as backup when I can find my dedicated lenses. So, I generally use 3 pairs of dedicated, 4 if you count prescription sunglasses. 😎
What is better for me?
That is to go from 20/60, to 20/20, under my measurement control.
To make certain, I make my own refractive measurements.
"No glasses", work better for me, with 20/20.
Read the cell phone at 22 inches, no glasses.
I got talked into progressives and not only were they very expensive but miserable. I worked customer service and invoicing. I constantly would be looking down at the desk, then to a pc screen and then out into the office. Within minutes of wearing them every day I would start feeling dizzy and nauseous. I constantly had to find where the focus was in the lens. I kept going back telling the eye doctor that I wasn’t happy and they were not working out. He insisted I just needed to get used to them. I would wear an old pair to drive to work because I couldn’t focus enough with the new ones and was afraid I would get in an accident. As a passenger in my friends car, we were going about 70 mpg on the highway and everything was a total blur. I got car sick for the first time ever. Finally, I asked for straight contacts for distance for activities where I didn’t want to wear glasses and ended up wearing them for work with a cheap pair of over the counter readers at the end of my nose to read the papers on the desk. Worked like a charm. Will never get progressives again
Well i'm assuming your progressives are what are called multifocal in australia. Pesonally they were the first glasses i ever wore at 55, and i found they actually made my vision without glasses slightly better. Wear them all the time and have photochromic or transitions. Pity the transition lenses just arent dark enough, have to buy a decent pair of scrip sunnys plus polarising. Gonna cost too much.
I didn't like progressives when they first started becoming widely available: the side distortion generally was larger than it is today, and they were reluctant to explain why I should pay MORE for glasses that gave me LIMITED clear vision. I mean, in a standard pair, the entire lens is usable, but in progressives, more of a "T" shape with serifs. heh. but as time went on, the price lowered as well as the unusable space therein. I note that it was an easier pill to swallow when I was buying a pair for less than $100 online rather than the $400 - $600 for a pair, in store. I can be upset for $80, NOT for $480.
I have progressives, today, and am fairly happy. I usually get a standard pair and a progressive pair, online ... this way purchasing two pair for my different moods and needs still costs less than one pair from the in-store selection. Heck, I could buy a DRIVING pair and STILL spend less money by purchasing online than in-store for one pair.
I hated progressive lenses I wore them for a year and it caused me to suffer from motion sickness the whole time. The issue was because they were trifocals when I went back to the old fashion lenses but told them I only wanted bifocals and not trifocals which means I have 2 pairs of glasses for different situations. Added into the mix I have stigma of both eyes, it made my life hell, plus I have a great peripheral vision so the lenses caused me to miss things when driving.
The line in regular bifocals give me a headache. I was able to adjust to progressive lens easier.