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Progressives With Pair: Everything You Need to Know

progressive info for glasses
@paireyewear

Reply to @coconita61 Everything you need to know about progressive lenses. ##TheLarkin ##PAIREyewear ##WearPAIR ##progressivelenses ##glasses

♬ SUNNY DAY - Matteo Rossanese

Ever wonder just what exactly are progressive lenses? Well, here is just about everything you need to know about progressives- and if you yourself might need a pair.

Progressive lenses, sometimes called multifocal lenses, have three prescriptions in one pair of glasses. This allows you to do:

  • close-up work (like reading a book)
  • middle-distance work (like checking out a website on a computer)
  • distance viewing (like driving)

All without needing to change your glasses. This being said, if you have trouble seeing objects from both far and short distances, progressive lenses might be for you!

The primary viewing area in a standard progressive lens is for distance, with a smaller area at the bottom of the lens for near vision, and an even smaller area for intermediate vision in the middle. The clear viewing area is located in the central “corridor” of the lens. Since these areas are blended together, there’s a noticeable but expected blur when looking to the edges of the lens.

Are progressive lenses the same as bifocal lenses or trifocal lenses?

Many people confuse the terms “bifocal” or “trifocal” with progressive lenses. The main difference is that bifocals and trifocals have a visible line in the lens. Progressives have a seamless, invisible design where the power “progressively” changes throughout the lens.

Progressive lenses are an update on bifocal and trifocal lenses. Both of these more traditional types of glasses have telltale lines in the lenses. Progressives have a seamless look.

Do you offer bifocals or trifocals?

At Pair, we don’t offer bifocals or trifocals but we do offer progressive lenses which will serve essentially the same function allowing you to see close-up, middle-distance, and distance.

How do you read a progressive lens prescription?

A progressive prescription will have an ADD value. This is used when you require a prescription for both distance and reading meaning it is for progressives. It is shown as an ADD value with a plus (+) sign with a number.

The way we are measuring the segment height is by adding 4mm to the center point of the specific frame’s lens height. I.e. the lens height of the Twain is 36mm, so the center point is at 18mm and the segment height is 18mm + 4mm = 22mm. What this means is that the beginning of the progressive addition on the lens will begin at 22mm from the bottom of the lens. Anything below this area will be where the customer looks to see intermediate and near areas. Above this area is where the user will look to see farther distances.

Adapting to progressive lenses

Because of how they’re designed, there’s an adaptation period in learning to wear your progressive lenses. We recommend that you get in the habit of turning your head toward the object of focus instead of simply moving your eyes. For example, if you see a pedestrian about to cross the street, turn your head toward the person instead of just shifting your eyes. Otherwise you’ll be looking through the blurred edges of the progressive.

For new wearers, get used to your new lenses gradually by increasing how much time you wear them over the first few days. Try not to switch between different glasses, since this will lengthen your period of adaptation. Remember that you’ll need to turn your head and move your eyes in order to find the “sweet spot” for the activity that you’re focusing on.

For experienced wearers, a new pair of progressives–even in the same prescription–can still have a slight adaptation period. This is because no two pairs of progressive glasses are the same. For example, some people are more sensitive to viewing through multiple areas in a small lens, so switching to frames with a larger lens size can provide greater comfort and ease in adaptation.

While most users have great success with wearing progressives, they aren’t for everybody. If you’re still having trouble adapting after a couple of weeks, with headaches or feeling off-balance, contact your eye doctor to check your prescription and lens placement.



Now, do you feel like an expert on all things concerning progressive lenses? If not no worries, that’s what we’re here for. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] or talk to your eye doctor!

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