Progressive lenses
Definition of progressive lens
Progressive lenses are also called multifocal lenses. These are corrective lenses for correcting eyesight at all distances. Your field of vision is variable to adapt to reading from near or far. This field of vision is distributed over the entire height of the lens.
But who needs progressive lenses? Generally, progressive lenses are intended for people with presbyopia, a natural visual condition that occurs around the age of 40 to 45 years. Your ophthalmologist will therefore prescribe progressive lenses for you.
The different areas of vision
Progressive lenses offer a variable field of view that extends across the height of the lens. The main advantage of this type of glasses is that you can use the same glasses for all kinds of activities throughout the day. Driving and reading a book can be done with the same glasses. Real comfort! How does it work? The lower half of the progressive lens offers you an ideal correction for close distance, i.e. about forty centimetres. The top half of the lens provides a correction for your distant vision. Between these two fields of view is the course corridor, which makes it possible to connect the two viewing distances: those of the near ones and those of the far ones. This part of the glass corrects the mediator's vision, which generally corresponds to the distance from a computer, a work surface and musical notes. Progressive lenses offer you the opportunity to see from afar and up close with just one pair of glasses, without having any interruptions.
Progressive lenses therefore correct several viewing distances on the same lens. This differentiates the geometry from single vision lenses: the progression track causes so-called distortion zones on the sides. Depending on the type of varifocal lens chosen, the mean viewing corridor is wide, and these distortion areas are pronounced.
The different generations of progressive lenses
At Visionet we offer three types of progressive lenses.
What mainly distinguishes the different types of glass will be this famous progression channel. That's why Vision Standard progressive lenses offer an excellent price-performance ratio. Next come Vision Large progressive lenses and finally Vision Extra Large progressive lenses with a very wide progression channel to provide excellent vision in every situation.
Which progressive lens should I choose?
The choice of your progressive lenses depends on your budget, but also on your activities and your correction. At Visionet, we advise you to opt for high-quality progressive lenses in the event of a strong correction, as these offer you an optimized profile channel geometry. If your correction is minimal, and you also have a small budget, you can choose entry-level progressive lenses without hesitation. You will not feel any complaints. In addition, the optical technologies are so advanced that even inexpensive glasses offer higher performance. However, for people who are very active in everyday life and who often use their near vision (reading, computers, do-it-yourself), we recommend that you choose a large or a particularly large field of vision. Your eyes will find better visual comfort for longer working at close range.
Which treatment for progressive lenses?
Since progressive lenses are worn every day, they benefit from the same treatments as single vision lenses. You can therefore choose the type of treatment that suits your glasses. At Visionet we offer you the hardened treatment (resistant to micro scratches), the anti-reflective coating, the Max UV anti-reflective coating or the anti-reflective filter + against blue light. All varifocal lenses are offered with these treatments, including entry-level lenses.
More options for progressive lenses
Depending on how you use your progressive lenses, there are options that may interest you. This way, you can tint your progressive lenses to get your own glasses that meet your visual needs. This allows your glasses to effectively filter out UV rays. If you are a big fan of mountain sports, cycling, hiking, you know that you can equip your progressive lenses with a photochromic or polarized treatment.
For people with strong corrections, note that progressive lenses can be made in different thicknesses. We therefore find standard lenses 1.50 but also progressive lenses 1.60, 1.67 and even 1.74. At Visionet we would be happy to advise you based on your recipe.
Adapt to progressive lenses
Misunderstandings die hard. We often hear that progressive lenses hurt your head, require a lot of adjustment time, etc. Don't hesitate to ask your Visionet optician for advice on how to find out all about these glasses. Progressive lenses do need a certain adjustment time, but this is relatively short, and the comfort achieved is worth a detour. In fact, your eye and brain must now coordinate quickly to adapt to different areas of vision as quickly as possible. Progressive lenses today benefit from the latest technologies that consider natural vision and the physiology of the eyes. It is therefore not necessary to change your posture in order to be able to see with varifocals. But on the contrary. You must maintain a natural posture to enjoy it comfortably. Of course, when you use your glasses with varifocal lenses, look up to see into the distance and down to see closer. To look at an intermediate distance, your gaze is naturally directed towards the centre of the glass.
Small tips for progressive lens wearers
- Correct posture in front of a computer to relieve neck pain
- It is better to start immediately after recognizing the presbyopia, this makes the adjustment easier.
- For the first glasses wearer, our Visionet opticians recommend that you wear your glasses several hours a day in the first weeks after purchase.
- Pay attention to some situations that require minor adjustment:
To descend the steps, you need to keep your head a little lower so that your eyes are visible in the glass and not nearby, which distorts the distance from which they can see the floor
If you watch TV in a half-lying or lying position, your eyes may not be in the correct area of the glass. So, adjust your position to find a comfortable view - choose a nice frame, a frame you like, to make sure you are serious about your glasses and to make it easier to adjust.
Do not hesitate to equip yourself with a second pair of glasses to be more relaxed, because once you get used to progressive lenses, it is difficult to return.
