If you are over 40 and having difficulty with your vision close-up and at arm’s reach, chances are you are experiencing presbyopia. Progressive lenses are our best solution to presbyopia, giving you sharp vision at any distance.
Like bifocal lenses, progressive multifocal lenses enable the user to see clearly at different distance ranges through one lens. A progressive lens gradually changes power from the top of the lens to the bottom, giving a smooth transition from distance vision to intermediate/computer vision to near/reading vision.
Unlike bifocals, progressive multifocal lenses do not have distinct lines or segments and have the advantage of offering clear vision over a large range of distances, not limiting you to two or three distances. This makes them a popular choice for many people.
Even though a progressive lens allows you to see near and far distances clearly, these lenses aren’t the right choice for everyone.
Some people never adjust to wearing a progressive lens. If this happens to you, you may experience constant dizziness, problems with depth perception, and peripheral distortion.
The only way to know if progressive lenses will work for you is to try them and see how your eyes adjust. If you don’t adapt after two weeks, your optometrist may need to adjust the strength in your lens. If problems continue, a bifocal lens might be a better fit for you.