What Are Progressive Lenses? How Do They Work? - Della Optique

I think it’s safe to say that the world is constantly changing, and with this change the traditional ways we do work and take on tasks evolves.

Over the past few decades as computers and electronic devices have become ubiquitous parts of daily life, our need for clear and comfortable near vision has become that much more relevant.

On the topic of reading glasses, there is a wide variety of technologies and lenses to correct for your reading visual needs. In this blog post, I will be giving a thorough breakdown of what progressive lenses are and how these can benefit you in your daily life.

What Are Progressive Lenses?

Progressive lenses—also referred to as multifocal lenses, varifocal lenses, or no-line bifocals—are corrective lenses that are used in eyewear to correct vision disorders. What makes progressive lenses special is that they include three prescriptions in one pair of glasses, allowing the user to see a range of distances clearly.

How Do Progressive Lenses Work?

Progressive lenses have multiple layers: the top part of the lens is for distance, the middle is for mid-range vision, and the bottom is for reading. They correct multiple eyewear prescriptions with just one pair of glasses.

What Do Progressive Lenses Do?

The purpose of having a good pair of progressive lenses is to correct the wearer’s vision problems at all distances; that means near, far, and intermediate distances. Without progressive lenses, the wearer may need to carry multiple pairs of single vision eyeglasses; one pair specific for distance tasks, and another specific for near tasks

Having progressive lenses resolves that problem. It is an ideal lens to solve the concerns of a patient who is tired of switching between glasses or needing to remove their reading glasses for distance work.

Imagine an architect on a site who goes from near visions (drafts, permits, plans) to distance vision (builds, structures, materials). Progressive lenses would likely suit this lifestyle with much more convenience than single vision lenses. With a proper custom fit pair of progressive lenses, a person with changing distance needs can have his or her glasses on all day long.

Following a comprehensive eye examination with your optometrist, an updated glasses prescription would typically be provided. For an overview of how to read your updated glasses prescription, visit our guide to understanding your eye prescription post.

Progressives vs. Bifocals

Progressive lenses allow for multiple prescriptions in one lens. These lenses will ultimately incorporate your distance prescription, your intermediate prescription, and also your up close near vision prescription (known as the ADD power).

Bifocal lenses on the other hand are the lenses that you’ve probably seen, with a visible line near the bottom of the lenses. These were an older type of lens and they are not very beneficial in this day and age. The reason for this is because a good portion of our day involves looking straight ahead at a computer screen, which we call our intermediate vision.

Bifocal lenses only correct for distance and close near vision; they do not correct for our intermediate vision. On the other hand, progressive lenses differ because they include the added benefit of a no-line lens which gradually changes power as the user looks on down towards the bottom of the lens; while also correcting for the intermediate vision of the patient. Intermediate vision is used for tasks when you are looking straight ahead, such as computer usage or looking at the dashboard in your car while driving.

Progressives vs. Trifocals

Like progressive lenses, trifocal lenses also have three prescription layers; however, unlike progressive lenses, trifocals have distinct horizontal lines on the lenses that separate the prescriptions. These lines on the lenses can cause unpleasant image jump during transitions from looking at objects close up and then far away.

With progressive lenses, the three prescription layers are actually blended which creates a smooth transition for the wearer when they are looking at far away objects and want to transition quickly to look at nearby objects. Progressive lenses make your eyesight feel more like your natural vision and drastically reduce eye fatigue.