FAQ - Progressive Lenses

Single-vision glasses are designed in such a way that they provide clear vision at only one distance. People with presbyopia need at least two pairs of glasses: one to ensure clear distance vision and another to work comfortably at near distances. Increasingly often, however, we also need separate glasses for intermediate distances, such as working at a computer.

Progressive lenses combine the advantages of all the above-mentioned glasses. You choose one pair of lenses that provides clear vision at all distances. The transition between these three zones is smooth and natural, ensuring full comfort when using the glasses and eliminating the need to constantly switch between different pairs.

Progressive lenses have three vision zones: distance, near, and intermediate. The upper part is responsible for clear distance vision. As you lower your gaze, you move into the intermediate zone, while the lower part provides comfortable near vision.

Progressive lenses offer a smooth power transition from distance through intermediate distances to near vision. As a result, you do not have to search for the point of clear vision. By simply lowering your gaze, you gain precise vision of objects that are increasingly closer to you. This is a natural position, because when reading, we lower our eyes rather than our head.

Progressive lenses are recommended for people with presbyopia. Around the age of 40, difficulties with clear near vision begin to appear. This is a natural process that occurs in every person. When we notice the first signs of presbyopia, such as moving text farther away in order to read comfortably, it is worth visiting an optometrist to check whether we need correction for close distances.

However, progressive glasses are not used only by people with presbyopia. Sometimes young people or children with accommodation or binocular vision disorders may also need progressive lenses. Progressive lenses are suitable for almost everyone because they are designed to preserve the natural physiology of vision.

It should be remembered, however, that in some professions there may be a need to use single-vision lenses that provide precise near vision across the entire lens, for example for dentists, electricians, or plumbers. This does not mean that these people cannot use progressive lenses. Outside work, for everyday activities, progressive lenses will often be the best solution. That is why it is so important to explain to the optician what you need progressive lenses for and what your work looks like, so that they can recommend the best solution for your needs.

There is a myth that it is difficult to get used to glasses with progressive lenses. This is not true. Progressive lenses are designed in accordance with the physiology of the eye, which is why the adaptation process is simple and does not require a long period of time.

However, it is very important that the lenses are made correctly. The right powers for distance and near vision must be selected, all parameters needed to produce progressive lenses must be measured properly, and the lenses must be mounted correctly in the frame.

If no mistake has been made at any of these stages and we have informed the optician about our expectations regarding progressive lenses, failure to adapt to them is very unlikely. Most people notice the benefits of using progressive lenses immediately after putting the glasses on.

This is not true. Certain image distortions occur at the periphery of progressive lenses, but they are practically unnoticeable to the eye. These are not areas excluded from vision; they are perceived by the peripheral parts of the retina, which are not capable of seeing detail. This results from the physiology of the retina.

Peripheral image distortions occur not only in progressive lenses. They can also be found in ordinary single-vision lenses. In older progressive lens designs, some users noticed distortions in peripheral vision.

However, modern lens designs that take into account the parameters of the frame and the user are created in such a way that no distortions are noticeable.

This question is closely related to the previous one, because the lens periphery is also important here. As mentioned earlier, older lens designs did indeed show noticeable limitations in peripheral areas.

This was connected with the smooth power transition in progressive lenses. When moving, distortions created the impression that the image was not stable. This is where problems with walking up and down stairs came from. Straight lines were not fully straight, but slightly curved.

The most modern progressive lens designs have virtually eliminated this problem. They are adapted to the user and the parameters of the frame, so straight lines remain straight and walking up and down stairs should not be difficult. At the beginning, we may feel a slight swimming effect, but does something similar not also happen when changing glasses, even single-vision ones?

Progressive lens personalisation is used in the most modern progressive lens designs. It takes into account many more parameters than basic designs. These include: pupil distance and height, frame tilt and curvature angles, frame shape, the way the glasses are worn, the way the head is positioned, and even the way the head and eyes move.

Measurements for personalised progressive lenses are taken using a device specially designed for this purpose. It can be compared to tailoring clothes made to measure. The parameters and characteristics of a specific user are taken into account. In “made-to-measure” lenses, it is the lenses that adapt to the user, not the other way around. They fit perfectly and provide the highest visual comfort without image swimming or distortions.

The difference is visible primarily in the design and quality of progressive lenses. Inexpensive progressive lenses are older, very basic designs. This is where the effect of image distortion at the periphery may appear. They do not offer personalisation and usually have lower-quality anti-reflective coatings.

More expensive progressive lenses are the most modern designs in optical technology. They allow full lens personalisation, completely eliminate the swimming effect, and guarantee the highest quality anti-reflective coatings. They make the lenses easy to clean, reduce reflections, and provide high transparency. It is not without reason that we say the most modern progressive lenses provide perfect vision at every distance.

Progressive lenses can be fitted into almost any frame. There is no limitation regarding the shape; the important factor is the height of the frame. It is better to choose a larger frame so that the transition between zones is smooth and gentle. In shorter frames, this transition will be faster and more abrupt.

The most important thing is that the frame should not be too shallow. If its height is accepted by the optician, all other parameters can be personalised to provide even better vision quality.