Progressive lenses, also known as multifocal lenses, help you see clearly at any distance: near, intermediate, and at distance. The transition from one area to another is smooth, progressive, without any annoying jumps from one diopter to another.
Progressive contact lenses treat several ophthalmological disorders, the most common being presbyopia and myopia.
What are progressive lenses?
Progressive lenses are multifocal lenses that correct vision. “Multifocal” means they have more than one focus area, so you can see clearly at different distances:
- For near use (e.g. when writing or reading)
- At intermediate distance (e.g. when watching a movie)
- At distance (e.g. when driving)
Progressive lenses work similarly to bifocal and trifocal lenses, except there are no lines on the lenses to delineate where the diopter changes. Moreover, bifocal lenses can create issues at intermediate distances because this area does not exist in the lens; there is only the zone for near and at distance vision. The advantage of progressive lenses is that they can be adapted to correct almost any refractive error.
Who needs progressive contact lenses?
Most commonly, progressive contact lenses are used to correct presbyopia. This vision problem occurs with aging, usually after the age of 40. The elasticity of the lens decreases, as does the diopter strength. Initially, it manifests as blurry near vision, and then also at a distance.
Progressive lenses have also proven useful for other ophthalmological diseases that affect the ocular muscles or focusing power: myopia, amblyopia (lazy eye), diplopia (double vision), hypermetropia, and astigmatism.
Types of progressive lenses
Depending on your vision problems and daily activities, there are several categories of progressive lenses you can choose from:
- Transition progressive lenses. These automatically darken when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
- Progressive lenses for computer use. Also known as “near variable focus lenses” they are useful for people who spend more than 4 hours a day in front of the computer.
- Progressive lenses for ground vision. People who look at the ground often can benefit from this type of progressive lenses (e.g., golf players).
- Short corridor progressive lenses. If you want a smaller frame, you will need this type of progressive lens. The viewing zones are smaller, which can create minor vision problems.
Progressive Lenses: Pros
Progressive contact lenses have more advantages than disadvantages:
- You need only one pair of glasses /contact lenses to see at multiple distances.
- You need only one pair of glasses/contact lenses in a day when you have multiple activities to do (e.g., driving, reading, working on a laptop)
- Progressive contact lenses have an aesthetic advantage: they are invisible. This aspect is essential for many patients, especially for children embarrassed to wear glasses.
- You no longer tire your eyes. The sudden image jumps that occur when you change the diopter with bifocal or trifocal lenses, tire the eye. With progressive lenses, you no longer have this problem.
Progressive Lenses: Cons
Progressive lenses do not present risks or complications, but there are some disadvantages:
- The price of progressive lenses can be quite high. It is higher than that of bifocal and trifocal lenses, but the good part is that a pair of glasses with progressive lenses costs you less than buying three different pairs of glasses.
- You have fewer options in terms of shape and size of the lenses. Progressive lenses must have prescriptions in very small and precise limits.
- You might experience unclear peripheral vision.
- You will need time to get used to them. Typically, specialists recommend looking straight ahead for distance vision, slightly below eye level for intermediate vision, and a bit lower for close-up activities. The adaptation process takes 1-2 weeks and may cause dizziness or nausea.
Progressive lenses: Price
The price of progressive lenses depends on several factors: the values and differences in diopters, the technology used, the lens material, applied treatments, and the degree of customization required. In addition, the cost is also influenced by the brand of the lenses. The biggest names in the industry are Essilor, Hoya, and Zeiss, and their prices reflect this, due to decades of innovation in the field of progressive lenses, which promise quality.
The price of progressive lenses or glasses with progressive lenses is usually determined in a specialized store, following an ophthalmological examination. Depending on the patient’s conditions and needs, they can choose their progressive lenses, glasses, and their frames. The approximate cost can start from lei 400 and can go up to several thousand lei.
If you are dealing with refractive errors or if you already have glasses, but bifocal or trifocal lenses do not fully satisfy you, learn more about progressive lenses. Schedule an ophthalmological examination at one of the Dr. Holhoș clinics and find out how you can regain clear vision.