Progressive Glasses

A progressive lens corrects multiple vision requirements in one lens. Therefore, one pair of glasses can be used for correcting your distance, intermediate, and nearsighted requirements. In real terms, this means the top of the lens is adapted for distance vision, and gradually diminishes in power towards the bottom, which is designed for reading or other “close up” tasks, like checking a price tag or using your smartphone.

In the past, progressive lenses were used to correct only two different eye prescriptions, and so were referred to as ‘bifocal lenses’. Bifocals were easy to spot because they had a line dividing the lens in two; with the upper half for distance vision, and the lower half for near vision. For many people, these were considered ugly and could even be less convenient than two separate pairs of glasses, as wearers would suffer from “image jump” when their focus flickered between the two halves of the lens.

Modern progressive lenses, however, eliminate this uncomfortable jump by having a smooth and consistent gradient between different lens powers. This is why they are also sometimes referred to as “multifocal” or “varifocal” lenses because they offer all of the advantages of the old bi- or trifocal lenses without the inconveniences and cosmetic drawbacks.

If you have multiple prescriptions for different distances, are juggling your life between two or three pairs of glasses, or are beginning to find that no single prescription is correcting your vision to a high enough standard for all daily activities, then progressive lenses could be the answer.

Most people start needing reading glasses after the age of 40. This is when the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects, also known as presbyopia. Presbyopic patients greatly benefit from progressive lenses, compared to traditional bifocals and trifocals.

Depending on your vision needs, there are a variety of progressive lenses available to you. There are lenses designed specifically for whether you have a greater need for distance, intermediate, or near vision correction.

Broadly speaking, there are four types of progressive lenses:

Standard progressive lenses
With these lenses, you will have a large portion of the lens given to the near-vision part of your prescription. However, they are less adaptable when it comes to choosing your preferred glasses frames as they require a certain amount of lens space to achieve a smoother transition between distance and near vision prescriptions.

Short Corridor Progressive Lenses
These lenses were designed to fit into small, more fashionable glasses frames. The corridor refers to the space given to your nearsighted prescription. It can be fairly narrow, so they take some time to adapt to. You should keep this in mind if you know you need to read or use your smartphone often and therefore require progressive lenses reading glasses.

Computer Progressive Lenses
Designed specifically for tasks that use your intermediate vision prescription, these lenses give a lot of space to the intermediate area of your prescription. They are often used by those who work with computers daily.

Premium Progressive Lenses
Premium progressive lenses are usually totally customized to the wearer's needs and so are compatible with any frame shape or size. They also provide a much larger near vision area.

For all detailed optical and lens queries it is always recommended you ask your optician. They will be able to advise you on what lenses are best for you and answer any queries you may have that pertain to your specific optical needs.

At Optical4U you can buy progressive lenses online with your favorite pair of designer frames. You can check out our range here.