*New question post #23*How difficult was adjusting to your first pair of Progressive eyeglasses?

[diznygirl]

For my first pair took me a full two weeks to get used to them. I found I was still taking them off to see things up close, so I switched back to just distance. But my eyesight got worse so I braved it again, but this time with larger lenses. They were perfect the first time I put them on. I think the larger area really helped.

 

[luvflorida]

I've always thought that if I can get used to progressive lenses, then ANYONE can! I say that because it doesn't take much for me to feel queasy or dizzy/disoriented. I HATE that feeling! I can't do roller coasters or any other kind of similar ride or attraction. I used to get car sick easily when I was younger, and I've never been able to read or write while riding in any kind of vehicle.
So, I was very hesitant to switch from my single lens glasses to progressives. However, it was something I really needed to do. It did take me a little while to get used to my first pair, but I've been wearing progressives for about twenty years now and love them! Funny story...well, not funny at the time...but when I got my first pair of progressive lenses, I had a horrible time! For the first day or so, everything was completely distorted. I had a terrible time judging curbs, stairs, just about everywhere I put my feet. I couldn't even read with them. Everyone told me to give it time, that I would adjust, but it was awful. Finally, I went back to the eye doctor (which was also where my glasses were made) and had them check the prescription. Yep, they were incorrectly made, and were way off! After I got fitted with the correct lenses, it was fairly easy to get used to them!

So, if you really feel something doesn't seem right when you first get your progressives, don't hesitate to take them back and get them checked out! I also don't think it matters where you get your glasses made. That first pair (the ones made incorrectly) were from a doctor's office. I thought it would be the best place to get them done. It wasn't. Since then, I've had glasses made from different places, mostly Lenscrafters, and nobody has ever messed up the prescription!

 

[FINFAN]

thanks everyone! Some super helpful info here, especially the larger lenses and giving it time. So now I have another question/scenario. For those that wear contact lenses (bifocal or multi, anything that accommodates your presbyopia) If you need to keep wearing your glasses to get used to them, how do you do this if you wear contacts for the most part and glasses just at bedtime/waking up etc? Am I kidding myself thinking when I pop my contacts out, I can then put my progressive glasses on and I'm good to go?

 

[design_mom]

I can only answer your original question, since I do not wear contacts.

It took me a lot longer to get used to my progressive lenses than I expected. I was going from not wearing glasses at all to progressives. I adjusted to looking through different parts of the glasses for distance and close-up viewing pretty quickly. However, the stuff in my peripheral vision looked weird and was constantly distracting. I went back to the optician several times because I thought something was wrong with the glasses, and they just kept telling me that I needed to get used to them. It probably took me at LEAST 8 weeks to stop noticing weird stuff in my peripheral vision, but eventually I did.

In January, I got a new prescription and a new set of glasses. I was really worried that I was going to have the same (long) adjustment period for those, but thankfully, I got used to those right away.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

My first pair, it took a couple of weeks for me to stop feeling woozy when I wore them. Drove me bonkers. But, I adjusted. Since then, no problems with new versions (slightly changed script). My last pair, I got at Costco, with frames, HD lenses, all coatings, etc for around $250. Costco is an excellent deal and then will stand behind their product. You don't have quite the vast selection of frames, but I found quite a few frames I liked.

I got mine at Walmart, spent less than $400 (vsp helped cover cost of frames). The guy who handed them to me sat me down and worked with me for about 20 minutes, explaining how to use them...made things very easy for me! I didn't drive for 4 or so days with them on, and it took a couple more until I was comfortable backing the car up, but yeah, I was woozy with them for about 2 weeks. I have noticed, though, that my eyes seem to get "tired" more quickly than they did before (but this could be an old age thing...).

 

[PlutoPony]

thanks everyone! Some super helpful info here, especially the larger lenses and giving it time. So now I have another question/scenario. For those that wear contact lenses (bifocal or multi, anything that accommodates your presbyopia) If you need to keep wearing your glasses to get used to them, how do you do this if you wear contacts for the most part and glasses just at bedtime/waking up etc? Am I kidding myself thinking when I pop my contacts out, I can then put my progressive glasses on and I'm good to go?

I wear contacts and have progressive glasses for when my contacts are out. I'm fine going back and forth between glasses and contacts. However, my contacts are mono vision, i.e. one eye is corrected for nearsightedness and the other for far. A lot of people have trouble adjusting to mono vision, it's getting the brain to adjust to using the eyes differently than "normal" but fortunately I've had no problems with that. So I'm not sure if the mono vision has any bearing on how I adjust to the progressives. My biggest issue with my glasses is they are small lenses and the middle part used for mid-range vision (like the computer) is small. Agree with others that bigger lenses are easier to use than smaller.

Not sure if I've helped any. I will say that I've heard quite a few problems with cheaper lens places not getting the progressive prescription right, which causes even more problems adjusting to them. A YMMV for sure.

Good luck!

 

[ronandannette]

What about looking at an online place? We've used clearly contacts a few times and they've been great. They're way cheaper and have tons of selection..

Please DO NOT try to buy progressives on-line. The measurements need to be extremely precise (there will be 3 or 4 different ones needed) and the frames adjusted to your face perfectly; even 1 mm off in any given direction and you will be living in misery.

I hate mine. I got them with an open mind but cant wait to be rid of them. They arent practical for me and its hard to position them so I can see to drive.

This x100. Blessedly, I'm scheduled for artificial lens replacements (for a congenital defect) in a couple of weeks and they say that should end my need for progressives, just like when people have cataract surgery. I literally cannot wait.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I have had mine for about a month and I hate them. I get to work and take them off and wear a cheap pair of readers.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I need to order a pair and have my prescription from my opthamologist . My Eye center is pretty pricey and the glasses thru them will be around $595 (frames are $185, lenses are pricey part)
So, knowing I can take my script anywhere, I am going to shop around, but here's the thing. I am concerned since this is my first pair switching to progressive that if I get them made somewhere other than my opthamologist's office, if they are not right, the place that I buy the glasses from says it's not their glasses but the script and I have no recourse. So I was just hoping for some real life experiences from the DISer's, to help me be to know what to look for/expect.
I already used up my insurance for the year on my contacts appointment so this is all OOP.

For starters, this is your vision and glasses are on your face so don't skimp, is my philosophy.

Second, I had progressives done TWICE at my office that I went to for yrs and I never could wear them.

I changed places and went to a place that assured me the progressives would work. I told them of my previous failures. I was at the point where I HAD to have bifocals/progressives.

I had no issues.

THEY were the ones that picked the glasses that progressives would work on me. The lens size is critical for progressives to work properly as well as a skilled person to do your measurements.

That is my 2 cents of my journey spanning 10yrs, lol. Good Luck.

 

[kimblebee]

Please DO NOT try to buy progressives on-line. The measurements need to be extremely precise (there will be 3 or 4 different ones needed) and the frames adjusted to your face perfectly; even 1 mm off in any given direction and you will be living in misery.


This x100. Blessedly, I'm scheduled for artificial lens replacements (for a congenital defect) in a couple of weeks and they say that should end my need for progressives, just like when people have cataract surgery. I literally cannot wait.

My daughter had to have progressives, weird I know, but she got them online and had no issues. Luckily her eyes corrected themselves and she needs a weaker prescription now. I guess do what makes you comfortable..

 

[MIGrandma]

I've had progressive lenses for quite a few years. I think I was in my early 40's when I got my first pair (I am 58 now) from Wal-Mart. I had no issues whatsoever with them. I was told it would take me "awhile" to get used to them but it really didn't take any time at all. I was perfectly fine with them. This was back when big glasses were in style, so there was a lot of lens there and I think that might have been the key issue.

Fast forward to 4 years ago, I went to an opthalmologist since I'm diabetic and I had so much trouble getting used to the new pair of progressive lens glasses and after THREE lens replacements they still weren't quite right but I just lived with them. I couldn't make myself go back again. I hated them. This past November I got new lenses but kept the frames as just the lenses alone were $400 and we don't have optical insurance so I wanted to save money where I could. Again I couldn't get used to them so went back and they replaced the lenses, still had issues (mainly with distance) so went back again and a different employee helped me and was very patient in listening to me, and I don't know what he did but the distance vision improved with these lenses. It's still hard to find the "sweet spot" so things aren't blurry, and I have to tilt my head upwards a bit to see the computer screen without blurriness so it's kind of annoying but I'm living with it.

I think next time I might forego the vain-ness and try lined bifocals instead of the progressive and see if they are any better. I just want to see properly, and well, so being able to do that trumps having no lines.

 

[GaryDis]

thanks everyone! Some super helpful info here, especially the larger lenses and giving it time. So now I have another question/scenario. For those that wear contact lenses (bifocal or multi, anything that accommodates your presbyopia) If you need to keep wearing your glasses to get used to them, how do you do this if you wear contacts for the most part and glasses just at bedtime/waking up etc? Am I kidding myself thinking when I pop my contacts out, I can then put my progressive glasses on and I'm good to go?

Back when I was wearing both contacts and progressives, I had no trouble adapting. But I also started that in the very early days of needing correction for reading. I don't remember whether that was when I was still on monovision with my contacts or had switched to multifocal contacts.

But I'm curious as to why you're going to an ophthalmologist for eyeglass prescriptions? Or are you seeing an optometrist who works in an ophthalmologist's office? The office I go to is owned by an ophthalmologist, has both on staff, I saw ophthalmologists for my cataract and detached vitreous humor but an optometrist for my eyeglass prescription. I know there are ophthalmologists who are excellent at refraction and related eyeglass skills, but they're the exception, not the rule.

 

[FINFAN]

Back when I was wearing both contacts and progressives, I had no trouble adapting. But I also started that in the very early days of needing correction for reading. I don't remember whether that was when I was still on monovision with my contacts or had switched to multifocal contacts.

But I'm curious as to why you're going to an ophthalmologist for eyeglass prescriptions? Or are you seeing an optometrist who works in an ophthalmologist's office? The office I go to is owned by an ophthalmologist, has both on staff, I saw ophthalmologists for my cataract and detached vitreous humor but an optometrist for my eyeglass prescription. I know there are ophthalmologists who are excellent at refraction and related eyeglass skills, but they're the exception, not the rule.

The vision center has both, I was seen by both. Currently the ophthamologist is dealing with my contact lenses first, but I need to also be getting my ducks in a row on glasses. As a contact lens wearer, that is usually the primary category/reason for exam and the eyeglass script is in addition to. The ophthalmologist also had 2 different specialists on the practice examine me as my astigmatism and strength needed are quite severe. Plan of action at this time( after trying a boatload of contact types/materials) is to give bifocal contacts one more try. These are not standard bifocal so each pair has to be made specific to my issue, leaving me in limbo for 2 week intervals until the lenses come in and I can try them.
As my current eyeglasses are over 12 years old, an updated prescription was written in hopes of filling it. Essentially I am dealing with 2 issues at once. IF the bifocal contacts do not work out, I will have to go to standard, non bifocal lenses and need rx reading glasses, that I go back/forth all the time (really tying to avoid this as I am in that boat now only using cheap readers, it is not really livable) OR go to progressive eyeglasses instead of contacts. Ideally, as a contact wearer for over 40 years, I would like to cover both options, lenses for the most part but progressive eyeglasses for days/times when I am not wearing my contact lenses. I have a script written for both types of glasses~progressive and readers, I just don't know which I will need yet, or I may need both.

 

[GaryDis]

The vision center has both, I was seen by both. ...

Ah, I get it.

Pre-silicone hydrogels, I was never able to wear my contacts more than 8-9 hours/day, so I needed glasses and thus got my progressives earlier in the process. Personally, I think that progressives have to be easier than standard bifocals, because I can't imagine that line not being distracting. But everyone is different. I never had a problem with eyeglasses from other places such as Costco, and with my previous optometrist, the optician in the office was a separate business, so I never felt embarrassed to ask my optometrist to check my glasses for being correct. So I would feel comfortable going some place that you know has good customer service. But no one will be able to guarantee that progressives will work, especially with strong astigmatism mixing with a strong base prescription.

I wish I could give more useful advice. Good luck!

 

[FINFAN]

Ah, I get it.

Pre-silicone hydrogels, I was never able to wear my contacts more than 8-9 hours/day, so I needed glasses and thus got my progressives earlier in the process. Personally, I think that progressives have to be easier than standard bifocals, because I can't imagine that line not being distracting. But everyone is different. I never had a problem with eyeglasses from other places such as Costco, and with my previous optometrist, the optician in the office was a separate business, so I never felt embarrassed to ask my optometrist to check my glasses for being correct. So I would feel comfortable going some place that you know has good customer service. But no one will be able to guarantee that progressives will work, especially with strong astigmatism mixing with a strong base prescription.

I wish I could give more useful advice. Good luck!

thanks~~I wish me (and my wallet) luck too

 

[PollyannaMom]

thanks everyone! Some super helpful info here, especially the larger lenses and giving it time. So now I have another question/scenario. For those that wear contact lenses (bifocal or multi, anything that accommodates your presbyopia) If you need to keep wearing your glasses to get used to them, how do you do this if you wear contacts for the most part and glasses just at bedtime/waking up etc? Am I kidding myself thinking when I pop my contacts out, I can then put my progressive glasses on and I'm good to go?

I wear contacts during the day and glasses in the evening as well, and I don't have a problem switching back and forth - but my contacts are also multi-focal, so maybe that helps.

 

[SueInBoston]

I wear contacts during the day and glasses in the evening as well, and I don't have a problem switching back and forth - but my contacts are also multi-focal, so maybe that helps.

Same with me. I've been wearing multi focal contacts for years and got my first progressive glasses this past February. I had no trouble adjusting to the glasses and love how sharp everything is. But I don't like glasses in general (sunglasses too) so I mostly wear contacts

 

[FINFAN]

so I am still going round and round~ multifocal gas perms are out, bifocal gas perms are out, monovision soft lenses are out, all that is left is some $1400 PER LENS otion that is NOT going to happen. So , looks like I will be limited to my gas perms for distance primarily with rx readers and then I have to decide what type of glasses, bifocal, no line bifocal or progressive, We have a trip planned out west and the Grand Canyon this year, I would really, REALLY like to see it!
Thanks again everyone for the feedback...glad other have had things work out and have options. I may ask for 1 monovision gas perm lens for my left eye ( up close one) so that I have 3 lenses, and if I am going to be doing more up close work can try it, but switching back and forth occasionally will prob be a failure. Guess I would haeveglasses for days like that. With my script tho, I am dreading the size I will need and be heavy/ hurt my nose and ears , esp if progressive as I agree, larger makes sense for better result.

 

[Vijoge]

I never could get used to them. I tried for about a year.

 

[HM]

I got two pairs from Sears Optical years ago. The sunglasses came in first.
I wore them out of the mall and to my car. Had trouble walking. Sat down looked around and got out and went back in the store to talk to the optician about the fact that everything looked like it was leaning off to the left. He checked to make sure the prescriptions were right....they were. I told him that I was dissatisfied and got a refund on both pairs. He was like....you'll get used to them. I wasn't willing to risk it. The vision I got from them was off so much. So, I have two pairs of glasses: one for reading and one for driving/movies.