Progressive lenses feature a smooth, seamless and a progressive transition providing vision corrections for distance, near, and everything in between. They are typically ideal for those age 40 and older and their 3-in-1 vision correction all but eliminates the need for other glasses like reading glasses.
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses are a multifocal eyewear lens that feature seamless multifocal depths across the entire lens from top to bottom. The distance vision correction area is located at the top of the lens and is the largest area (See image above. This portion is essentially the same as a single vision lens and is used the most throughout the day.
From the distance portion of the lens, they progress down (hence the name) to their narrowest point where the intermediate vision is found. This area would typically be used when working on a computer or anything that is about an arm’s length away.
The bottom-most portion of the lens aids with near vision and can be thought of as the reading glasses area. This portion opens up a little more from the intermediate region as you will likely use the reading glasses portion the second most to the distance portion.
Last, you’ll notice the peripheral vision areas of the lenses are labeled as distorted in our example above. While this may appear to be a big inconvenience, it is necessary to ensure a truly seamless transition from one zone to the next. Of course, this creates some adverse side effects which are explained in more depth further on.
The 3-in-1 lens provides near, mid, and long distance vision correction.
Eliminate the need to switch between multiple pairs of glasses (i.e., Reading glasses).
No visible lines on the lens for a seamless progression between the 3 zones.
Cons
An adjustment period is necessary to train yourself on using the three different vision areas.
New users can experience dizziness or even nausea until they get used to them.
They are considerably more expensive than single vision & bifocal lenses.
Best For
Anyone that desires discrete vision correction for distance, near, and everything in between.
Those that desire a seamless transition between vision depths with no visible lines in the lens.
Someone who requires reading glasses but doesn’t want to purchase & carry a second pair.
Costs
Typically $50 – $500 more than single vision lenses depending on type, brand, & prescription.
Advantages of Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses are virtually the Swiss Army knife of prescription eyewear lenses. Their 3-in-1 characteristics offer the ultimate in versatility by aiding vision correction for distance, mid-range, and close up (reading) needs.
Their most significant advantage is correcting vision for multiple depths with a seamless appearance. Unlike bifocal lenses which feature a noticeable line and half circle lens for reading, progressive lenses are entirely smooth and virtually indistinguishable from conventional lenses. This is incredibly beneficial as you won’t need to worry about the “aging” effect you tend to get from bifocals.
Another advantage of progressive lenses is their ability to eliminate the necessity for multiple pairs of glasses. No longer will you need to fumble for those reading glasses to peruse a menu at your favorite restaurant or more likely, your smartphone. Aside from the added convenience, you will recoup some of the added costs of progressive lenses by no longer needing to purchase reading glasses.
Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses
increased cost when compared to single vision and bifocal lenses. We think the seamless transitions are worth it for most people, but it does come at a substantially larger price. It isn’t unusual to find progressive glasses costing anywhere from $50 -$500 more than standard prescription glasses.
Another negative feature worth noting is their inherently poor peripheral vision qualities. As we touched on above, these areas are necessary to ensure a seamless transition without any visible lines like those found in bifocals and trifocals. However, these areas become dead areas of the lens and require users to “learn” how to wear progressive lenses.
This learning period means progressive lenses requires some getting used to for nearly everyone that tries them. It isn’t uncommon for new users to experience dizziness and nausea-like side effects while getting familiar with the lenses of multifocal properties. Learning how to use these lenses correctly means turning your head to view things instead of shifting your eyes.
Different Types of Progressive Lenses
Standard Progressive Lenses
As the name suggests, these are the bog standard progressive lenses that can be found just about anywhere prescription glasses are offered. It should be explained that these lenses are plenty capable and are likely the best fit for most people looking for progressive lenses. They are also the least expensive progressive lenses available, but still come at a considerable cost, typically $50 – $500 more than single vision lenses.
Additionally, they produce a higher level of lens distortion compared to the premium options and typically take a few weeks to get used to wearing.
Short Corridor Progressive Lenses
Short corridor lenses are specifically designed to fit into shorter or vertically smaller frames. Having a larger selection of frames to choose from is a significant benefit ensuring you won’t be limited in your choice of frame size and style. They all but eliminate the need to worry about the minimum height of a frame to fit progressive lenses.
That said, the costs associated with short corridor progressives will usually be higher than standard progressive lenses due to fitting the same technology into a more compact package. With that said, these progressives are an excellent option for anyone wanting to make sure they can fit progressive lenses into a fashionable pair of glasses.
Computer Progressive Lenses
Computer progressive lenses are also referred to as intermediate progressives as they don’t feature a distance portion at the top of the lens. They essentially work as seamless bifocals with an intermediate portion (for working on a computer or things at arm’s length) instead of distance and a near vision portion for reading.
These lenses are best for someone who spends a lot of time working in front of the computer but also needs vision correction when reading things closer to their face. The elimination of the distance viewing area makes way for a much larger intermediate viewing potion specifically for visual distances of 12′ – 16′ away from your eyes.
Computer progressive lenses are becoming increasingly popular and are found at many online eyewear retailers. In fact, a few companies are specializing primarily in computer eyewear to help fight eye strain and fatigue caused by overexposure to computer and smartphone screens.
Premium Progressive Lenses
Premium progressive lenses are often referred to as high definition lenses for their increased clarity and diminished distortion. Lens distortion will always be present in progressive lenses to some degree, but premium progressives are engineered to reduce the effects significantly.
Their unique digital surfacing ensures a considerably broader distortion free area of the lens which also makes the adjustment period when transitioning to progressive lenses much shorter.
Of course, these added benefits don’t come cheap, and you’ll find the cost of high definition progressive lenses is quite extraordinary, typically around $500-$800.
Transitions® Progressive Lenses
Adding Transitions® progressive lenses to your glasses would basically turn them into a 4-in-1 lens. Transitions® lenses work by automatically tinting the lenses dark when exposed to UV light. This means your progressive glasses essentially turn into sunglasses whenever you are outdoors because of the Transition® lenses.
Of course, it’s important to note that Transition® lenses tend to only last the lifetime of your prescription. Eyewear prescriptions are typically only valid for two years which puts a relatively short lifespan for Transitions lenses considering the cost. Of course, the actual life of your lenses will be determined depending on the amount of UV exposure you encounter over that two year period. On top of this, they are very expensive, which makes their added cost an even tougher pill to swallow.
Photochromic Progressive Lenses
Photochromic lenses are simply the non-branded technical term for Transitions® lenses. They behave exactly the same when exposed to UV light and provide a less expensive alternative to their branded competitors. With that, not all photochromic treatments are created equal. This means your tint changing lenses could last longer than Transition® lenses or shorter depending on the quality.
How to Use Progressive Lenses
While getting used to them, you will notice you can no longer move your pupils to view things as you once did. Scanning vertically through the three zones will require you move your head up and down to make sure your eyes are looking through the appropriate area. This ensures you are looking through the appropriate area of the lens to match the field of depth of your object.
Additionally, your peripheral vision will be all but gone with the inherent distortion areas needed to maintain a seamless transition across the lenses. This means you will need to get used to turning your entire head to view things side to side as opposed to just shifting your gaze with your pupils as you did in the past.
It may appear daunting at first, but learning to use progressive lenses will happen faster than you anticipate. The human brain is incredibly powerful, and the eyes are incredibly adaptive. Your mind will work with your eyes to quickly train them to work in harmony with your new lenses.
Getting Used to Progressive Lenses
Regardless of which progressive lens you choose, a conditioning period will be required for you to get used to them. It is recommended to start wearing them only 2-3 hours a day to minimize the effects of feeling dizzy or nauseous. Of course, these side effects of progressive lenses hit everyone differently, so you may need to adjust your time accordingly.
How to Use Progressive Lenses For Computer Work
It’s very common for people to experience blurred or distorted vision while wearing progressive lenses in front of the computer. There is a reasonably simple reason for this. Working on a computer falls under the intermediate viewing depth for nearly everyone. With standard progressive lenses, this is the most under-represented portion of the entire lens.
If you look at the image above, you’ll notice how narrow the field of vision gets on standard progressives right around the intermediate area. It’s challenging to maintain your focus in this narrow band for an extended period, especially while working on a computer with an illuminated screen.
While it can be done, the most simplistic solution is to look into purchasing computer progressive lenses, often referred to as intermediate progressives. As discussed above, these lenses eliminate the distance portion of the standard progressive lens. As a result, this extends the intermediate portion from the middle of the lens all the way to the top.
Computer progressive lenses enable you to keep your work in focus much easier with considerably less distortion. They remain an excellent alternative and can be found from numerous retailers and brands online.
Buying Progressive Lenses Online
As we have stated, you can easily find progressive lenses online from many online retailers. That said, we always recommend you get an eye exam before committing to an expensive lens purchase. If you are confident in your current prescription, we highly recommend you fully understand any given retailers warranty and return policy on lenses before clicking the buy now button.
Are Progressive Lenses Right For You?
This answer may come down to budget for many people, but we implore you to give progressive lenses a try. The added benefits and versatility have most people that try them wondering why they didn’t make the switch sooner. Again, if you constantly need to carry mutliple pair of glasses with you wherever you go, you we recommend you look into the versatility of progressive lenses.
To find the best progressive lenses available check out our review of the best places to buy prescription glasses online. We break down some of the industries best retailers and online brands to help you find the best glasses for your needs and budget.
*While it’s possible to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) reading glasses without a prescription, we still recommend getting an annual eye exam to ensure you are maintaining proper vision health.
Also, note that OTC reading glasses should only be used with a lens magnification of +3.00 or less. Anything stronger and we recommend visiting your eye doctor to get their recommendation before purchasing.
Tony worked for the better part of a decade in the optical industry for one of the largest independent eyewear companies in the United States. He was intimately involved with the digital, print, and product design working in concert with the development of many of the frame designs. He continues his love of eyewear through his writing and design work found right here on eyeweargenius.com!
5 replies to “Progressive Lenses & Glasses – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2021”
Carmen Colon
This has been the best article I’ve read explaining these differences. I’m wondering if there’s anything to be done for a monocular person with limited neck mobility.
I’ve worn glasses or contacts most of my life when script was about-7.25. Due to a number of factors I’m now about +9 or so and need bifocals. I tried progressives and kept complaining that I couldn’t see to the sides. Nobody explained & I switched to single vision which hasn’t really helped. I must move pupils as my neck is difficult and painful. Wondering if maybe contacts could work better?
Thank you sooooo much for this article. I helps me understand what I need to ask for. The last time I got progressive lenses, the reading portion was so tiny that it is almost useless. They must have put me in a Short Corridor lense without telling me what I was giving up by choosing the glasses that I did. I will choose a deeper lens next time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Hi Wendy, Thank you so much for your comment! What you’re describing is what we hear from our readers all too often. What it comes down to is communication; when in doubt, ask, ask, ask questions!
Wow this was the best article explaining the different types of progressive lenses. I’ve worn progressives for years and found that the quality and visibility varied with each different provider I’ve used. Now I know why. So before buying my next pair of glasses, I’ll know what to ask and be able to compare products and stores. Thanks for your help!
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Progressive Lenses & Glasses – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2021
Progressive lenses feature a smooth, seamless and a progressive transition providing vision corrections for distance, near, and everything in between. They are typically ideal for those age 40 and older and their 3-in-1 vision correction all but eliminates the need for other glasses like reading glasses.
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses are a multifocal eyewear lens that feature seamless multifocal depths across the entire lens from top to bottom. The distance vision correction area is located at the top of the lens and is the largest area (See image above. This portion is essentially the same as a single vision lens and is used the most throughout the day.
From the distance portion of the lens, they progress down (hence the name) to their narrowest point where the intermediate vision is found. This area would typically be used when working on a computer or anything that is about an arm’s length away.
The bottom-most portion of the lens aids with near vision and can be thought of as the reading glasses area. This portion opens up a little more from the intermediate region as you will likely use the reading glasses portion the second most to the distance portion.
Last, you’ll notice the peripheral vision areas of the lenses are labeled as distorted in our example above. While this may appear to be a big inconvenience, it is necessary to ensure a truly seamless transition from one zone to the next. Of course, this creates some adverse side effects which are explained in more depth further on.
Featured Topics:
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive Lenses Pros & Cons
Advantages of Progressive Lenses
Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses
Different Types of Progressive Lenses
How to Use Progressive Lenses
Getting Used to Progressive Lenses
Using Progressive Lenses With Your Computer
Buying Progressive Lenses Online
Are Progressive Lenses Right For You?
Progressive Lenses Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Best For
Costs
Advantages of Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses are virtually the Swiss Army knife of prescription eyewear lenses. Their 3-in-1 characteristics offer the ultimate in versatility by aiding vision correction for distance, mid-range, and close up (reading) needs.
Their most significant advantage is correcting vision for multiple depths with a seamless appearance. Unlike bifocal lenses which feature a noticeable line and half circle lens for reading, progressive lenses are entirely smooth and virtually indistinguishable from conventional lenses. This is incredibly beneficial as you won’t need to worry about the “aging” effect you tend to get from bifocals.
Another advantage of progressive lenses is their ability to eliminate the necessity for multiple pairs of glasses. No longer will you need to fumble for those reading glasses to peruse a menu at your favorite restaurant or more likely, your smartphone. Aside from the added convenience, you will recoup some of the added costs of progressive lenses by no longer needing to purchase reading glasses.
Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses
increased cost when compared to single vision and bifocal lenses. We think the seamless transitions are worth it for most people, but it does come at a substantially larger price. It isn’t unusual to find progressive glasses costing anywhere from $50 -$500 more than standard prescription glasses.
Another negative feature worth noting is their inherently poor peripheral vision qualities. As we touched on above, these areas are necessary to ensure a seamless transition without any visible lines like those found in bifocals and trifocals. However, these areas become dead areas of the lens and require users to “learn” how to wear progressive lenses.
This learning period means progressive lenses requires some getting used to for nearly everyone that tries them. It isn’t uncommon for new users to experience dizziness and nausea-like side effects while getting familiar with the lenses of multifocal properties. Learning how to use these lenses correctly means turning your head to view things instead of shifting your eyes.
Different Types of Progressive Lenses
Standard Progressive Lenses
As the name suggests, these are the bog standard progressive lenses that can be found just about anywhere prescription glasses are offered. It should be explained that these lenses are plenty capable and are likely the best fit for most people looking for progressive lenses. They are also the least expensive progressive lenses available, but still come at a considerable cost, typically $50 – $500 more than single vision lenses.
Additionally, they produce a higher level of lens distortion compared to the premium options and typically take a few weeks to get used to wearing.
Short Corridor Progressive Lenses
Short corridor lenses are specifically designed to fit into shorter or vertically smaller frames. Having a larger selection of frames to choose from is a significant benefit ensuring you won’t be limited in your choice of frame size and style. They all but eliminate the need to worry about the minimum height of a frame to fit progressive lenses.
That said, the costs associated with short corridor progressives will usually be higher than standard progressive lenses due to fitting the same technology into a more compact package. With that said, these progressives are an excellent option for anyone wanting to make sure they can fit progressive lenses into a fashionable pair of glasses.
Computer Progressive Lenses
Computer progressive lenses are also referred to as intermediate progressives as they don’t feature a distance portion at the top of the lens. They essentially work as seamless bifocals with an intermediate portion (for working on a computer or things at arm’s length) instead of distance and a near vision portion for reading.
These lenses are best for someone who spends a lot of time working in front of the computer but also needs vision correction when reading things closer to their face. The elimination of the distance viewing area makes way for a much larger intermediate viewing potion specifically for visual distances of 12′ – 16′ away from your eyes.
Computer progressive lenses are becoming increasingly popular and are found at many online eyewear retailers. In fact, a few companies are specializing primarily in computer eyewear to help fight eye strain and fatigue caused by overexposure to computer and smartphone screens.
Premium Progressive Lenses
Premium progressive lenses are often referred to as high definition lenses for their increased clarity and diminished distortion. Lens distortion will always be present in progressive lenses to some degree, but premium progressives are engineered to reduce the effects significantly.
Their unique digital surfacing ensures a considerably broader distortion free area of the lens which also makes the adjustment period when transitioning to progressive lenses much shorter.
Of course, these added benefits don’t come cheap, and you’ll find the cost of high definition progressive lenses is quite extraordinary, typically around $500-$800.
Transitions® Progressive Lenses
Adding Transitions® progressive lenses to your glasses would basically turn them into a 4-in-1 lens. Transitions® lenses work by automatically tinting the lenses dark when exposed to UV light. This means your progressive glasses essentially turn into sunglasses whenever you are outdoors because of the Transition® lenses.
Of course, it’s important to note that Transition® lenses tend to only last the lifetime of your prescription. Eyewear prescriptions are typically only valid for two years which puts a relatively short lifespan for Transitions lenses considering the cost. Of course, the actual life of your lenses will be determined depending on the amount of UV exposure you encounter over that two year period. On top of this, they are very expensive, which makes their added cost an even tougher pill to swallow.
Photochromic Progressive Lenses
Photochromic lenses are simply the non-branded technical term for Transitions® lenses. They behave exactly the same when exposed to UV light and provide a less expensive alternative to their branded competitors. With that, not all photochromic treatments are created equal. This means your tint changing lenses could last longer than Transition® lenses or shorter depending on the quality.
How to Use Progressive Lenses
While getting used to them, you will notice you can no longer move your pupils to view things as you once did. Scanning vertically through the three zones will require you move your head up and down to make sure your eyes are looking through the appropriate area. This ensures you are looking through the appropriate area of the lens to match the field of depth of your object.
Additionally, your peripheral vision will be all but gone with the inherent distortion areas needed to maintain a seamless transition across the lenses. This means you will need to get used to turning your entire head to view things side to side as opposed to just shifting your gaze with your pupils as you did in the past.
It may appear daunting at first, but learning to use progressive lenses will happen faster than you anticipate. The human brain is incredibly powerful, and the eyes are incredibly adaptive. Your mind will work with your eyes to quickly train them to work in harmony with your new lenses.
Getting Used to Progressive Lenses
Regardless of which progressive lens you choose, a conditioning period will be required for you to get used to them. It is recommended to start wearing them only 2-3 hours a day to minimize the effects of feeling dizzy or nauseous. Of course, these side effects of progressive lenses hit everyone differently, so you may need to adjust your time accordingly.
How to Use Progressive Lenses For Computer Work
It’s very common for people to experience blurred or distorted vision while wearing progressive lenses in front of the computer. There is a reasonably simple reason for this. Working on a computer falls under the intermediate viewing depth for nearly everyone. With standard progressive lenses, this is the most under-represented portion of the entire lens.
If you look at the image above, you’ll notice how narrow the field of vision gets on standard progressives right around the intermediate area. It’s challenging to maintain your focus in this narrow band for an extended period, especially while working on a computer with an illuminated screen.
While it can be done, the most simplistic solution is to look into purchasing computer progressive lenses, often referred to as intermediate progressives. As discussed above, these lenses eliminate the distance portion of the standard progressive lens. As a result, this extends the intermediate portion from the middle of the lens all the way to the top.
Computer progressive lenses enable you to keep your work in focus much easier with considerably less distortion. They remain an excellent alternative and can be found from numerous retailers and brands online.
Buying Progressive Lenses Online
As we have stated, you can easily find progressive lenses online from many online retailers. That said, we always recommend you get an eye exam before committing to an expensive lens purchase. If you are confident in your current prescription, we highly recommend you fully understand any given retailers warranty and return policy on lenses before clicking the buy now button.
Are Progressive Lenses Right For You?
This answer may come down to budget for many people, but we implore you to give progressive lenses a try. The added benefits and versatility have most people that try them wondering why they didn’t make the switch sooner. Again, if you constantly need to carry mutliple pair of glasses with you wherever you go, you we recommend you look into the versatility of progressive lenses.
To find the best progressive lenses available check out our review of the best places to buy prescription glasses online. We break down some of the industries best retailers and online brands to help you find the best glasses for your needs and budget.
Tony worked for the better part of a decade in the optical industry for one of the largest independent eyewear companies in the United States. He was intimately involved with the digital, print, and product design working in concert with the development of many of the frame designs. He continues his love of eyewear through his writing and design work found right here on eyeweargenius.com!
5 replies to “Progressive Lenses & Glasses – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2021”
Carmen Colon
This has been the best article I’ve read explaining these differences. I’m wondering if there’s anything to be done for a monocular person with limited neck mobility.
I’ve worn glasses or contacts most of my life when script was about-7.25. Due to a number of factors I’m now about +9 or so and need bifocals. I tried progressives and kept complaining that I couldn’t see to the sides. Nobody explained & I switched to single vision which hasn’t really helped. I must move pupils as my neck is difficult and painful. Wondering if maybe contacts could work better?
Wendy
Thank you sooooo much for this article. I helps me understand what I need to ask for. The last time I got progressive lenses, the reading portion was so tiny that it is almost useless. They must have put me in a Short Corridor lense without telling me what I was giving up by choosing the glasses that I did. I will choose a deeper lens next time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Tony Parrish
Hi Wendy, Thank you so much for your comment! What you’re describing is what we hear from our readers all too often. What it comes down to is communication; when in doubt, ask, ask, ask questions!
Jody
Wow this was the best article explaining the different types of progressive lenses. I’ve worn progressives for years and found that the quality and visibility varied with each different provider I’ve used. Now I know why. So before buying my next pair of glasses, I’ll know what to ask and be able to compare products and stores. Thanks for your help!
Tony Parrish
Hi Jody, we appreciate the feedback! We strive to provide the best information we can to make navigating eyewear purchases as easy as possible!
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