1stchoiceoptical Australia

Progressive Lenses Glasses

Have you got questions about progressive lenses? You have come to the right place. This article will attempt to explain what exactly they are, describe their benefits, offer advice on which is best for you, and give an understanding of the different types available. So sit back and relax, it's time to learn!

What is a progressive lens?

We'll start with just a simple lens. The most basic lens type is called a single-vision lens because it corrects one single visual difficulty. This can be distance, intermediate or near vision. To move one up from a single-vision lens, you find bifocals. One of the most common questions is what is a progressive lens vs bifocals. So a bifocal is made up of two corrective powers: the top half clarifies objects at a distance; and the bottom half clarifies objects close up. The two sections of the lens are separated by a line across the middle. This is what gives bifocals the nickname of 'granny glasses', as the line is typically associated with older generations. Next up are trifocals, which work the same as a bifocal, except that there is a third corrective power in the centre of the lens for intermediate distances, such as a computer. Note that in this lens there will be two visible lines intersecting the different prescriptive powers. What a progressive lens does is offer the same three correction powers but without the lines across the middle. The different prescriptions blend into one another seamlessly.

Perks of a Progressive Lens

In comparison with bifocal lenses, there are a few advantages to the progressive lens. The main benefit is the removal of lines across the lens, making the glasses frame generally more fashionable.

The other perk to progressives is that the eye will transition seamlessly from one distance to another. In bifocals, the human eye tends to make an awkward jump between the two distances, which can be very uncomfortable for the wearer. Fortunately, the progressive lens design eliminates this problem, making them much more comfortable.

Another benefit of progressive lens glasses is that they combine up to three pairs of glasses into one. So if you have one pair for reading, a second for computer work, and another for driving, a progressive lens will replace the lot. This can save you both time and effort trying to remember where they all are!

Progressive Lens Disadvantages

Of course, nothing is quite perfect. Although progressive lenses do a lot, they do not achieve 100% across everything. As a result of there being three corrective powers in just one lens, the sides of the lens can become a little confused. You may notice your peripheral vision becoming slightly more blurred. This can take time for the eye to adjust to, but it can be managed when choosing your lens type, such as free-form progressive lenses, but we'll come to that later. It is also worth noting that because three lenses are essentially squeezed into one, you cannot put a progressive lens into any optical frame. You should be wary of smaller frame sizes and slightly wacky designs, as the lenses may not fit. Fortunately, this webpage filters all the frames for you, so that you won't accidentally choose one that isn't compatible with progressive lenses.

The other downside to progressive lenses is that they can take time to adapt to. The eye is not used to making transitions between different distances. As a result, you may notice a few symptoms the first time you wear them, and they can last between seven hours and seven days. You may notice dizziness as a result of changes to your depth perception. You will likely notice this when climbing the stairs. In the worst cases, you may experience the so-called 'swim effect'. This is when everything around you seems like it's moving, which can understandably be slightly unnerving. However, do not worry, it is normal and should subside within a few weeks. If it doesn't, you may need to visit your local optician.

Types of Progressive Lens

There are a few different types of progressive lenses, and they are suited to different people, depending on your visual requirements and lifestyle.

First up is the standard lens, which is usually recommended for those who need the most help with reading. This is because the lens allows the most space for the near-sighted part of the lens.

Next up is a progressive lens with what's known as a short corridor. Unlike the standard lens, this one reduces the space given to nearsightedness. This makes the overall lens smaller, and therefore able to fit into any type of frame. So you can pick the most fashionable frames out there without worrying about your prescription fitting in.

An increasingly popular option is the computer progressive lens. This offers the largest space for intermediate vision, which is mostly used for those working at a computer all day. If this sounds like you, don't forget to add our zFORT blue light filter to the lenses to protect yourself from digital eye strain.

If you are a fashion aficionado, we recommend the premium lens, which is readily available on our website. Similar to the standard lens, it offers more space to close up vision correction, but it should be able to fit in any frame size and shape. This gives you the freedom to go wild with your iconic eyewear fashion statements.

The final lens option is called Deluxe. It offers a wider corridor to provide as clear a vision as possible. The fact that it is digitally surfaced also renders it a superior-quality lens. Select this option at the checkout when you shop with 1stchoiceoptical Australia and your frames will arrive ready to wear!

Who Are Progressive Lenses For?

Progressive lenses are becoming more and more popular every day. With everyone using digital screens more frequently, people tend to need glasses at a younger age, and there is increasingly more demand for multiple vision correction requirements to be met at once. This makes progressive lenses a fashionable choice for your eye care.

Progressive glasses are mainly recommended for those with multiple frames for different purposes. If you spend half your life swapping from distance glasses while on a walk to reading specs to check your phone, you will fall in love with progressive lenses. After all, keeping track of one pair of glasses can be hard enough!

It is also worth considering progressive lenses if you are struggling to see through your single-vision lens. Our eyes develop and change over time, so you may find that where your single-vision lenses are used to cover all bases, they no longer cater to longer-distance vision. In this case, you need to get your eyes checked by an optician, which we should all be doing once every couple of years anyway. The optician may well recommend progressive lenses to solve all your requirements in one pair of frames. In this instance, you know where to come!

Shop with 1stchoiceoptical Australia

We offer thousands of eyeglasses frames, and all the ones on this page are compatible with progressive lenses. You can try them all on with our virtual tool and then purchase with our best-price guarantee. Plus, the progressive lens price at 1stchoiceoptical Australia is equally competitive. Once you have added your new frames to the online basket, simply upload your prescription details or email them to us later. If you have questions at any stage of the process, read up on eye care information in our optical centre, or ask our online opticians a question. The whole team is always happy to help.