So…progressive lenses…tell me all about them.

[AmazingGrace]

Went to the eye dr this week. It was through Costco. Beyond impressed. The puffer test was not traumatic and I didn't have to get my eyes dilated. Instead, they took this high tech photo that shows my whole eyeball.
Lately, I've been taking off my glasses to read close. I need them for distance, but I'm constantly on and off with the glasses. Dr says I can either do single vision or go progressive lenses. I had to take my glasses off so much yesterday that I'm leaning toward the progressive lenses with single vision sunglasses.
Can anyone tell me what the adjustment period is like with these things? Thank you!

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• my eye doctor says people go to bifocals/progressives around age 45. With all the screen time.... it's now happening at earlier ages.
• what forced me to bifocals/progressives was driving.... especially at night. My eyes was taking too long to look down the road and then back to check the speedometer. I'm much safer with the progressives.
• sunglasses? If for driving.... seriously look at "polarized" lenses which removes glare. I had my sunglasses made with progressives.
• Progressives are set at the bottom of the lens. I had the eyeglass maker set to start a little lower (1mm) to make my distance viewing bigger.
• the worst thing about progressives is going down stairs. I need to look down to where I need to put my feet.... the lenses switch to "near" distance!

 

[wenrob]

My DH and I both HATED them. Dizzy, headaches, I couldn't see and he's convinced they made his vision worse. They're supposed to be better now, my insurance will even replace them for free within a year if you don't like them but I can't make myself try them again.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Individual experiences can vary. When I first started wearing progressives, I think I adjusted to mine in about 24 hours. My other half NEVER could make the adjustment (after multiple attempts) and still wears traditional bifocal lenses.

It's worth a try, though, because I do think they're way easier to use. You might ask the optician if you can't adjust to the progressive lenses if they will let you try something else. My other half was able to do that and was not charged extra for the change. He asked up front about that option, though.

Good luck!!

 

[Christine]

I tried them once but could not make the adjustment. I probably needed to buy a frame that had a large lens but I didn't like the looks of that style. I found that the areas of the various vision levels were just too narrow. I had to hold my head funny to get a good read of my computer screen. The distance was okay. Just couldn't get used to them. Fortunately, my vision insurance allowed me to return them if I couldn't get used to them so I did so and got bifocals which still aren't perfect.

 

[Skippy918]

• sunglasses? If for driving.... seriously look at "polarized" lenses which removes glare. I had my sunglasses made with progressives.

Costco sells the Drivers Edge transition lens for daytime driving. These are great sunglasses and really help with contrast especially when it's overcast. They are polarized.

Have you looked into monovision correction? It's where you have one contact lens for closeup and the other for distance and then you don't need glasses. I know a couple of people who do this and it took a little time to get used to but they're not fumbling around with multiple pairs of glasses.

 

[diznygirl]

I tried and couldn't get adjusted so I switched back to single vision. Then I tried again, with larger frames/larger lenses. I adjusted quickly to those.

But I'm still taking off my glass to see close. lol I don't know if it's habit or the close spots aren't in the right spot. It's time for another dr. visit so we shall see.

 

[teller80]

I think it only took me a day or so to adjust.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have progressive contacts and adjusted very quickly, but I do find my eyes get tired a little earlier in the evening, and I have to switch to my glasses then.

 

[Disney Doll]

Need a fairly large lens.
Point your nose in the direction that you want to look.

 

[Distinkt]

I have worn glasses since 2nd grade, and I am nearsighted. I wear progressive lenses. I would not do anything else. Contacts weren't a good fix for me. Anyway, the last pair of progressives I got were a problem, I thought. I got two pairs of glasses at two different opticians with the same prescription in each and was sure that the prescription was totally messed up. However, after about a week I was fine. I don't know what the issue was, but its all good now. It may take a bit but it is much better than pushing your glasses up on your head or taking them off, or holding a menu up to your nose or at arm's length!

 

[kirstenb1]

I have progressives and have worn them for 4 yrs. Got used to them immediately, within a day. I also have progressive contacts, but my vision is less sharp than them, than with the glasses. My glasses are fairly small, so you don't need a large lens. I would tell you to choose frames that you really like, because then you can just swap your lenses. I have done this once already. I do wish I had given more thought to the frames, because I like them, but don't love them. However, since I only wear them occasionally, they're fine.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Went to the eye dr this week. It was through Costco. Beyond impressed. The puffer test was not traumatic and I didn't have to get my eyes dilated. Instead, they took this high tech photo that shows my whole eyeball.
Lately, I've been taking off my glasses to read close. I need them for distance, but I'm constantly on and off with the glasses. Dr says I can either do single vision or go progressive lenses. I had to take my glasses off so much yesterday that I'm leaning toward the progressive lenses with single vision sunglasses.
Can anyone tell me what the adjustment period is like with these things? Thank you!

It's my understanding that the people who adjust the best to progressive lenses are those who have not worn glasses prior to getting them, and those who had single vision glasses prior to getting them. People who already have adjusted to "regular" bi or tri focal glasses do the worst.

When I got glasses (never had them before) I got the progressive lenses (mostly a similar issue - distance vision didn't require much correction in one eye and none in the other, but close up vision really needed correction). The doctor said if he was only prescribing for distance correction, he wouldn't even give me glasses, but the close up required it. And I didn't want to be in the "where are my glasses" group because I was constantly taking them off and on.

I adjusted pretty well. Only issue I really had was getting used to the spots of light that reflected off the lenses at night. Until my brain learned to not "see" them. Took about 2 weeks total. But part of that was getting used to even wearing the stupid things all the time (being a new glasses wearer).

My husband went from single vision glasses to progressives with absolutely no issues. Like there was no difference to them.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Ive been wearing progressives for a few years. My advice is to get the digital lenses. I have had no problems adjusting to them. They are a little more money but worth it if you wear glasses for everything like I do.

 

[design_mom]

I have had them for 3+ years now. It took me a LONG time to adjust to my first pair. For the first 3 months, stuff looked weird in my peripheral vision and I kept going back saying "something's wrong." I finally adjusted to them and I am happy I have them. I have gotten two new pairs since the first, and I have not had adjustment issues with the other pairs. It was worth it, but it was a difficult adjustment on the first pair.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

The thing that I wish could be better in progressives is the sacrifice of sharper & more clear distance vision in the make up of the lense to include close up clarity.

I have a very high index distance prescription and the trade off for the convenience is frustrating to me.

On days that i know I won't be doing allot of things that need the close up vision... I wear single vision glasses that are so much clearer for my distance vision.

Bifocal contacts seemed to work better for me. But there are allot of days I just want the convenience and ease of glasses...

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Went to the eye dr this week. It was through Costco. Beyond impressed. The puffer test was not traumatic and I didn't have to get my eyes dilated. Instead, they took this high tech photo that shows my whole eyeball.
Lately, I've been taking off my glasses to read close. I need them for distance, but I'm constantly on and off with the glasses. Dr says I can either do single vision or go progressive lenses. I had to take my glasses off so much yesterday that I'm leaning toward the progressive lenses with single vision sunglasses.
Can anyone tell me what the adjustment period is like with these things? Thank you!

Progressives can be tricky, we have an old thread laying about somewhere, lol.

I had to change my optometrist of 15yrs+ because they could NEVER get my lenses correct when I switched to progressives. I tried TWICE.

Eventually I REALLY needed them and went somewhere else. They made them perfect. Figure that one out.

So make sure you know what the policy is if the glasses do not work out.

I do recommend getting progressive sunglasses but maybe not right of the gate. See how you handle the progressives and if the place does a good job get your sunglasses progressive. (Yes, I regretted THAT decision.)

 

[tvguy]

Depends. Took me about a week to get used to them. I had to be careful with stairs then.
As others have posted, not everyone likes them.
However, at least among the folks I know who didn't like them, they didn't allow more than a day or two to get used to them. That is not enough time.

 

[ols386]

I've never had a problem with my progressive lenses. Probably adjusted to them in an hour.

 

[Drnifer]

The two most important factors when getting progressives are frame size and brand. With smaller frames a compact lens has to be used which gives you a faster progression from distance to near, and a more narrow range. Progressives are also one of the items where you get what you pay for. Cheaper brands have a more narrow range and more peripheral distortion. Digital lenses are great because they're designed specifically from your eye measurements and standard lenses are a set measurement. It may take a week or two to adjust to them. Good luck!