Is It Time to Make the Switch to Progressive Lenses?

Age might bring experience and wisdom, but it can also bring declining vision. Eyeglasses that worked in past decades may no longer be sufficient, particularly when you need to correct both near and far vision. The search for multifocal lenses can feel overwhelming, especially with more options available each year.

Which is the best choice? Reading glasses allow you to spend long periods staring at text, but they must be swapped for a second pair to correct far vision once you have closed the book. Bifocals and trifocals allow reading and gazing into the distance, but having lines cutting across your vision can add discomfort and eye strain.

Progressive lenses allow you to correct both near and far sight with just one pair of eyeglasses by gradually transitioning from near to distant vision—which can be life-changing if you suffer from both myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).

Progressive lenses may prove especially useful for office workers, frequent readers, and individuals living actively. However, they may not be the right solution if you are prone to motion sickness or if you have medical prescriptions that make you prone to dizziness.

How Progressive Lenses Work

Unlike bifocals, progressive lenses gradually shift prescription power, with the strongest prescription at the top and the lowest at the bottom. Changing your gaze lets you see clearly at far, intermediate, and near distances. Look through the bottom of the lens to read a book, through the middle when working at your computer, and through the top when driving. No lines are cutting across your vision, and this more seamless lens design can provide comfort and reduce eye strain.

The Downsides

There are a few trade-offs to keep in mind. For one, there is a learning curve; you must get used to shifting your gaze. Most people find it relatively easy to adapt, but during the adjustment period, they may move their heads as they search for the “sweet spot” in their vision for a given task.

Peripheral vision distortion is also common, especially in the early days of using progressive lenses. Because more than one prescription strength has been used in the lens, at the left and right edges of the lens, these tend to “blur” together, creating slightly blurry vision. Some users have described it as looking through water, as though you are swimming.

For most people, this effect fades after about the first two weeks, but it can cause difficulty if you suffer easily from motion sickness. You can minimize the effect by pointing your nose toward what you are looking at, so you are looking straight through the lens rather than glancing through your periphery.

Progressive lenses can also cost more than other lenses; they incorporate three prescriptions and are more expensive to make than other eyeglasses. However, they do offer a seamless and smooth transition whenever you turn to look at something new, whether near or far.

Making the Switch

If you switch to progressive lenses, ensure that your prescription is accurate and up to date to minimize any risk of blurred vision. Choose the right frames so that your fit can be as comfortable as possible and so that you don’t often have to scoot your eyeglasses further up and down your nose; consistent placement is key to helping you adapt to the new glasses since you will be looking through specific parts of the lens for particular tasks. Get your new glasses fit professionally and test different options before you buy. Finally, allow yourself ample time to adapt as you learn this new way of transitioning from looking at things close up to looking at things far away.