Bifocal contacts

[FINFAN]

Have you looked at Zenni? I just got a pair of single vision eyeglasses there for $37, and they're sharp as could be. Perfect. The progressives would cost me about $80, and I'm getting those next.

Others have suggested Zenni, but I am concerned because it is my very first pair /time getting progressives. I am picturing a lot of adjusting and fitting...(prob from my contact nightmares) and am worried about on line ordering if I have those issues? I just started a new thread looking for advice/experiences from first time progressive glasses wearers. Hopefully I will have a better feel for this if I get some feedback. So you already tried/worn progressives or you will be getting your first pair from them?

 

[nkereina]

I wear multifocal contacts, not sure of the brand. I did not need to adjust to them and did notice it help with the reading. I previously only wore contacts to see distance. I do find them to be almost double the price of "normal" contacts, and I only have a SLIGHT need for reading. If I needed anything stronger for reading, I think my contact options would be more limited. My mom wears bifocal glasses and tried at least 5 different trial pairs of contacts - both multifocal and other solutions the doctor recommended - and none worked for her. Good luck!

 

[Lynne M]

Others have suggested Zenni, but I am concerned because it is my very first air /time getting progressives. I am picturing a lot of adjusting and fitting...(prob from my contact nightmares) and am worried about on line ordering if I have those issues? I just started a new thread looking for advice/experiences from first time progressive glasses wearers. Hopefully I will have a better feel for this if I get some feedback. So you already tried/worn progressives or you will be getting your first pair from them?

I've worn progressives for about 10 years, so about 10 different pairs from various providers. I never needed any changes to any of them. Progressives in general take a little bit of getting used to, but I don't know what the provider could do in terms of adjusting or fitting, other than re-making them with a different prescription.

If you do think you'd be wanting the prescription changed, then I guess ordering online wouldn't be your best choice.

 

[wvjules]

So after 3 weeks I finally got my trial pair of mutifocal lenses. Distance seems to be fine, reading seems to be fine but stuff a little closer than arms length is not very sharp. We will see how the week goes. Also, it's weird that they felt a lot thinner in my hand than my previous contacts but they feel thicker in my eyes.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am nearsighted. My optometrist was like, well I can see your problem, you have had over 40 birthdays now.

They gave me the option of having bifocal contacts, but I passed on it. I believe they were going to be more expensive. I could have done the thing of wearing one contact, but my OCD will not allow that, things just have to match. So, I just wear regular contacts and struggle with things up close. If I am really desperate to read stuff up close I will use some cheater glasses from the Dollar Tree.

 

[ronandannette]

I've worn progressives for about 10 years, so about 10 different pairs from various providers. I never needed any changes to any of them. Progressives in general take a little bit of getting used to, but I don't know what the provider could do in terms of adjusting or fitting, other than re-making them with a different prescription.

If you do think you'd be wanting the prescription changed, then I guess ordering online wouldn't be your best choice.

My Optometrist (who does not sell eyeglasses) advised VERY strongly against ordering progressives on-line. Getting them right requires extremely precise measurements of your pupils and centre of vision. Being even 2 mm off can greatly alter the effectiveness of your glasses. When you go to an Optician they are highly trained in taking the measurements and matching the "zones" to whatever type of frame you pick. On-line you have to measure yourself and take your chances at how suitable the frame is for your prescription.

 

[monorailsilver]

I am nearsighted. My optometrist was like, well I can see your problem, you have had over 40 birthdays now.

They gave me the option of having bifocal contacts, but I passed on it. I believe they were going to be more expensive. I could have done the thing of wearing one contact, but my OCD will not allow that, things just have to match. So, I just wear regular contacts and struggle with things up close. If I am really desperate to read stuff up close I will use some cheater glasses from the Dollar Tree.

Yep I got the same "over 40" line too!

I couldn't do the mono vision-is that what they are called when one is for distance and 1 close up due to my OCD issues as well.

I did get the multifocal and have been wearing them for close to 2 months now. I went back and for the first month of trial (I wear my disposables for a few days each) but I am happy I decided to get the multifocal. I mean my phone isn't 2 feet away from me anymore with me trying to read it. I hate the price though!

 

[FINFAN]

hi all. Well, after more than 2 dozen types and sizes of lenses, guess what? I am back in my distance only gas perms, and have my first pair of progressive eyeglasses on order. i AM SUPER BUMMED that no mutifocal , bi-focal or mono-vision lenses worked,, I even gave the insane $1400 lens a shot but nope, my eyes are just not having it. Keeping my fingers crossed on the progressives. After hearng how "don't worry , one of these lenses will work out for you" , and then nada, I am a bit sceptical that I will handle progressives but we will see!

 

[huff44]

My brother is an optometrist and I have worked for him for 17 years. I deal with contacts mostly and soft bifocal contacts are not for everybody. The problem is they only come in 1 shape and size in each of the different brands, so if they don't fit your eye properly, you will not get good vision. You will give up a little distance to get mediocre near.


As far as ordering progressive lens online, not a good idea as mentioned before. If it is measured to high you will have to tilt your head down to see distance. If measured to low, you will have to tilt your head up to see out of bifocal (that's if the bifocal power is even in the lens and is not cut off).

 

[FINFAN]

My brother is an optometrist and I have worked for him for 17 years. I deal with contacts mostly and soft bifocal contacts are not for everybody. The problem is they only come in 1 shape and size in each of the different brands, so if they don't fit your eye properly, you will not get good vision. You will give up a little distance to get mediocre near.


As far as ordering progressive lens online, not a good idea as mentioned before. If it is measured to high you will have to tilt your head down to see distance. If measured to low, you will have to tilt your head up to see out of bifocal (that's if the bifocal power is even in the lens and is not cut off).

yep~my beast of an astigmatism compounds the issue. When I was being measured for my progressives, they checked and re-checked, and then checked again, making sure my head was in the right spot etc. I know I paid more thru my Dr's place, but knowing I can just go in and have things taken care of? Worth it. Besides, they gave me a 20% discount overall ~which brought them within $65 of the online place that had the frames I chose. Overall time for my order is 10 business days, not bad. They also spent a ton of time with me choosing frames that will work best for my Rx, and had me read / write and use my phone, to observe where I like glasses to sit on my nose, how I hold my head etc. I am fully expecting things to be a little off and need adjusting, but there is no way I could have figured everything out on line. Probably for distance only frames, or fancy readers/ bifocal sunglasses, but too risky to me for progressives. Especially when I am going to have a ton of questions after the fact, I bet. They also had a pair of progressives I could try. They were not my script, but close enough for me to "see" what I was ordering, switching over to. I couldn't do that online