Progressive glasses – action, indications, advantages and disadvantages, price

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Progressive glasses have grown in popularity and are now the most common treatment for vision loss that occurs with age – presbyopia. This condition occurs when the eye loses some of its flexibility and ability to adapt to seeing objects clearly at different distances. Presbyopia is most common among adults over the age of 40 and is very easy to treat and correct with proper and timely diagnosis.

Progressive glasses – action

The operation of progressive glasses is based on the use of special glasses, i.e. multifocal lenses designed specifically for people who need corrective lenses to see distant and close objects. Put simply, these lenses allow you to see clearly at many distances without a bifocal line.

The demand for progressive glasses increases with age. By the age of 35 or 40, many people find it difficult to focus on nearby objects. This is known as presbyopia, and to compensate for this focusing problem, some people wear single vision glasses for distant vision as well as reading glasses for close-up.

While this approach may work, progressive glasses provide a simpler and more convenient solution to age-related vision problems.

1. The top of the progressive lens provides clear distance vision.
2. The lower part provides clear close-up vision.
3. The center section helps you see clearly at intermediate or medium distances.

These lenses provide a gradual change of force from top to bottom.

While some people require progressive glasses as they age, these lenses are also recommended for children who need glasses for myopia and farsightedness.

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Progressive glasses – indications

With age, presbyopia almost inevitably develops, which literally means “the aging of the eye.” In 2005, the World Health Organization reported that at least a billion people worldwide have this problem. Presbyopia affects both people who have always worn glasses and people who have always had perfect eyesight.

Presbyopia occurs because as we age, the “lenses” of our eyes gradually harden. They’re not as flexible as they were when we were young, so it’s harder for them to focus on the objects around us, especially the nearby objects. Most people start to notice presbyopia when they can’t see the words on a page or computer screen as well as they used to.

While age-related changes in vision are certainly annoying, they are completely natural. If, at the age of forty or so, we suddenly struggle to observe things closely, we are not alone and nothing unusual is happening to us – we don’t have to worry about losing our eyesight. Presbyopia can be easily corrected with the correct type of glasses.

Presbyopia requires a different type of lens correction than myopia or farsightedness. If we only have one of these two vision problems, we only need single vision lenses that improve our eyesight at the same level throughout the lens.

Unlike presbyopia, we need lenses that improve the way we see both near and distant objects. As a result, bifocal, multifocal, and progressive lenses have multiple focal points and different levels of gain depending on the part of the lens.

Bifocal glasses versus progressive glasses

Most bifocals and multifocals have a clear demarcation between the different parts of the lens. Usually one of the parts or segments is located in the lower corner of the glasses near the nose. The dividing line between the two parts is usually on the same level as the lower eyelid.

When we wear bifocal lenses, we shift our eyes to the other lens to look down at a nearby object. When we want to look at something further, we look through the top half of the slide. The shift between the two correction and vision planes is worrying to many first-time wearers, and it can take some time to adjust to split line of sight.

When we use bifocals, we often experience “image jumps” when we look up and then down. The subject suddenly appears much larger, which is surprising until we get used to it. Our perception of depth may be slightly off.

In contrast, progressive lenses eliminate clear divisions between different prescriptions. There are no lines in the lens – instead our vision moves smoothly. Like bifocal lenses, we will continue to look up to see distant objects. Unlike bifocals, the progressive ones have a central or intermediate area. We will look straight ahead to see objects at an average distance – such as a computer screen. We’ll look down to see objects close to the face, but we’ll naturally make these movements anyway.

Most people adapt much more easily to progressive lenses than to bifocals or trifocals. However, bifocal lenses may be good depending on your individual situation. For example, if we are used to bifocals, it will take some time to switch to progressive. Additionally, progressive lenses can cost a little more than standard bifocal lenses.

Progressive glasses – advantages

Progressive glasses are not only an option for the correction of myopia and farsightedness, but also for the correction of astigmatism.

Astigmatism occurs when light is not focused evenly on the retina due to the irregular shape of the cornea, causing blurred vision.

In addition to correcting vision problems, other benefits of progressive glasses include:

1. You only need one pair of glasses

Some people believe that progressive lenses are better than single vision lenses because they allow them to see clearly at different distances without having to wear a second pair of glasses. Progressive glasses act as single vision lenses and reading glasses, so you only have one pair of glasses on hand.

2. No ugly bifocal line

Progressive lenses offer the advantages of multifocal lenses without a multifocal line. And because progressive lenses gradually change the strength of the lens, you don’t have to deal with the sudden changes in clarity that are common with multifocal lines.

3. Modern, youthful appearance

Bifocal and trifocal glasses are sometimes associated with old age. Wearing glasses with a bifocal line can make you feel uncomfortable. You may feel more comfortable with progressive lenses as there is no visible line.

Progressive glasses – disadvantages

While progressive glasses can provide clarity “without lines”, it is important to understand the disadvantages of these glasses.

1. You must learn to look through the lens

Bifocal and trifocal lenses have a visible line, making it easier to identify where to look for clear vision. Because progressive lenses do not have a bar, there is a learning curve and it can take one to two weeks to learn how to properly see through lenses.

2. Temporary visual distortions

The lower part of the progressive lens is enlarged as it is intended for reading. So, if our eyes are looking down when we step off a curb or climb stairs, our feet may appear larger and it may be difficult for us to judge our stride. It may cause us to stumble. To avoid problems while walking, you need to train your eyes to look through the rest of the progressive lens and not through the reading part.

Progressive lenses can also cause peripheral distortion when you move your eyes from side to side. These visual effects become less noticeable as our eyes adjust to the lenses.

3. More expensive than single vision glasses and bifocal lenses

Keep in mind the cost difference between progressive lenses, single vision lenses, and bifocals. Progressive lenses are more expensive because we basically get three glasses in one. In addition, we pay for the convenience and the extra time needed to create multifocal glasses without lines. However, given the convenience and simplicity of progressive glasses, some people find it worth the extra cost.

Progressive glasses – cleaning

It should be remembered that if we want to enjoy our glasses for a long time, we must properly care for their lenses. For this reason, we should remember to wet cleaning the glasses. To do this, place them under a stream of lukewarm running water and rinse. After that you should use washing-up liquid or liquid soap and spread a small amount on the glasses with your finger. Then rinse the glasses and frames again, shake them gently and wipe them with a microfiber cloth (these are usually added when buying glasses and a case).

When cleaning the glasses, it is also worth remembering to clean the frame, on which dust, dirt and bacteria accumulate.

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Progressive glasses – selection of glasses

While progressive glasses allow you to see clearly near and far, these glasses are not the right choice for everyone.

Some people never get used to wearing progressive glasses. If this happens, they may experience constant dizziness, depth perception problems, and peripheral distortions. Additionally, if we work on a computer, it may turn out that an ordinary progressive lens does not provide the required transparency at intermediate distances.

Instead, you may need professional or computerized progressive lenses that give you more power at intermediate distances. This can reduce eye strain.

The only way to find out if progressive glasses are right for you is to try them on and see how your eyes adjust. If we don’t adjust after two weeks, your optician may need to adjust the power of the lens. If the problems persist, a bifocal lens may be a better solution for us.

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Progressive glasses – prices

When it comes to the cost of progressive glasses, the prices start from several hundred zlotys, and the upper limit depends on the individual needs of the client. The cost depends on, among others: the type of glasses; the material from which they are made; type of frame and brand, additional coatings (e.g. anti-reflective, photochromic). Even though the final price may seem high, keep in mind that one pair of progressive glasses replaces several pairs of regular prescription glasses.

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Progressive glasses – do we have other options?

If we have presbyopia, we don’t have to wear progressive or bifocal glasses right away. If we have difficulty observing things closely, we may only need reading glasses, which we use every time we read or use the computer. However, if our vision is so blurry that we can’t see things near or far, a progressive lens set may be a better solution.

We can also try contact lenses. We can use the left lens to see distant objects and the right lens to see objects up close. Over time, our eyes and brain adapt to this way of seeing. However, at first the change can be very confusing. It can also cause headaches and limit depth perception. Our ophthalmologist can give us more information about this option.

We can also combine reading glasses and contact lenses. If distant objects are only slightly blurred, we can wear low correction contact lenses and then put on reading glasses to see the words on the page or screen.

Finally, some forms of surgery can temporarily relieve the symptoms of presbyopia. Currently, however, surgery is not a long-term solution. Advanced long-term solutions may be on the horizon, but for now, glasses and lenses are a non-invasive, practical, and inexpensive solution to blurred vision.

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