I MAX Optics

What Are Progressive Lenses?

A Progressive lens is one that corrects multiple vision requirements in one lens. Therefore, one pair of glasses can be used for correcting your distance, intermediate, and near sighted requirements. In real terms, this means the top of the lens is adapted for distance vision, and gradually diminishes in power towards the bottom, which is designed for reading or other “close up” tasks, like checking a price tag or using your smartphone.

In the past, progressive lenses were used to correct only two different eye prescriptions, and so were referred to as ‘bifocal lenses’. Bifocals were easy to spot because they had a line dividing the lens in two; with the upper half for distance vision, and the lower half for near vision. For many people, these were considered ugly and could even be less convenient than two separate pairs of glasses, as wearers would suffer from “image jump” when their focus flickered between the two halves of the lens.

Modern progressive lenses, however, eliminate this uncomfortable jump by having a smooth and consistent gradient between differing lens powers. This is why they are also sometimes referred to as “multifocal” or “varifocal” lenses, because they offer all of the advantages of the old bi- or trifocal lenses without the inconveniences and cosmetic drawbacks, and gradually diminishes in power towards the bottom, which is designed for reading or other “close up” tasks, like checking a price tag or using your smartphone.

Do I Need Progressive Glasses?

If you have multiple prescriptions for different distances, are juggling your life between two or three pairs of glasses, or are beginning to find that no single prescription is correcting your vision to a high enough standard for all daily activities, then progressive lenses could be the answer.