Progressive bifocals "vs" regular bifocals?

[Rockin J]

Laugh all you want but this is a serious question
I'm 49 and got my first bifocal glasses (progressives) at 47
Took several months to get used to them but never completly satisfied
I just got a new progressive prescription and it's starting all over again
A friend of mine said she just learned to deal with the lines of regular
She said the regular are much better for her than dealing with progresives
I'm not too crazy about progressives but have not had regulars
How about some certified gear page opinions?

[Strat335]

I'm 49 also, got my first bifocals at 47 and tried to wear them for two weeks ("will take a while to get used to them")...I finally decided that the prescription must have been the wrong one, I never could stop blurring. I sat them down and never picked them back up. Went back not too long ago and went through the same exact thing again. I can't see that great, but it beats trying to see through bifocals. So far. Maybe I'll give it another shot when my arms get too short and I just absolutely can't read or recognize my family members.

[StJimmy]

What is it about them that make it hard to get use to? I've never had any problems with progressives and thought they were fantastic. They were like little fuzzy lens that zoom in and focus depending on how much you tip your head. The only complaint I've ever heard is problems created when the lens maker misjudges where to start the progressive prescription on your lens (too high or too low on the lens).

[MrMike]

I"m 45 and have had my progressives for about 2 1/2 years. It took me a while to get used to them, and I like them pretty well most of the time. I sometimes find myself looking at my computer screen with my head tipped back, so maybe it's time to get my eyes checked again. At first, I found myself doing what I call "the progressive nod", where you keep tipping your neck up and down looking for the sweet spot in the lenses so you can focus on whatever it is that you're trying to see. I never tried conventional bifocals, so I can't really draw a comparison. The only other option available to me would have been to wear contacts for most things and then carry a pair of reading glasses for close-up work. I spend too much time already looking for my glasses, so hunting high and low for the ones that I would wear occasionally didn't seem to be a workable option.

[Tonefish]

I've recently gone through the same thing. Now I feel like a head bobbing fool when I don't have my glasses on.:rotflmao

but I really like the progressives.

[BluesForDan]

I've had bifocals since I was about 10 or 11, the idea being it would help my lazy eye. To me, they never did any good. If I wanted to read something very small, I looked over my glasses.

My cataracts were operated on this summer, my old cloudy lenses were taken out and new artificial lenses put in. What an amazing difference. However, we had to sacrifice the very near vision. Now I actually have to use bifocals to read. And it is literally a pain in the neck, I have to tilt my head back to read anything.

I don't know if progressives would help, I'm inclined to think of just plain getting a pair of prescription reading glasses so I don't have to look through the bottom of my lenses and tilt my head back. My neck has been creaking something awful the last couple of months.

[Rockin J]

What is it about them that make it hard to get use to? I've never had any problems with progressives and thought they were fantastic. They were like little fuzzy lens that zoom in and focus depending on how much you tip your head. The only complaint I've ever heard is problems created when the lens maker misjudges where to start the progressive prescription on your lens (too high or too low on the lens).I think my right lense is not center to my eye right to left instead of top to bottom. Could be a little of both. Left lense seems OK. I will be taking them in to be checked. I have another pair on order so I will be able to compare them. I can see to the left okay but it blurs immediately when I try to look right, even at just barley off center.

[Midnight Lady]

I've had bifocals for about 10 years - progressives. The "bottom" reading part has NEVER worked for me (probably 5 pairs of glasses - all different). Eye guy doesn't understand why they don't work. I simply can't read with them. I finally convinced him that I need a separate pair of "reading and computer" glasses. Now I can see again!

[Smakutus]

I tried progressives last year and couldn't do it.. I'd wear them all day and then have to come home and take a nap each afternoon because my eyes were so tired. I felt off balance all day.

My wife had no problems with hers at all.

Jeff

[tmaker]

I tried progressives and couldn't deal with them. I would have to actually turn my head side to side to read the computer screen. With regular line bifocals (trifocals now) I can again just move my eyes left and right and see the entire screen. The progressives also made anything to the side look distorted which made it really hard to tell if things were parallel or tapered. I was doing CADCAM work at the time. The lines are no problem. Eyes started to get bad about 40, now almost 54.

[rewog]

I recently got my first pair of progressives, and I have to say I really don't like them.
Having to move your head to look at things, rather than move your eyes is just not normal IMO, and there always seems to be a blurry area waiting to annoy... they're not for me. I'd rather use 2 pairs of glasses than progressives.
A shame I spend about $800 to find that out...:mad:

[Smakutus]

I recently got my first pair of progressives, and I have to say I really don't like them.
Having to move your head to look at things, rather than move your eyes is just not normal IMO, and there always seems to be a blurry area waiting to annoy... they're not for me. I'd rather use 2 pairs of glasses than progressives.
A shame I spend about $800 to find that out...:mad:

I think people that move their eyes to look at things a lot rather than their whole heads are the ones having the problems with them. I think the "reading" area of the glasses was too large on mine. I could tilt my head up and look down to read no problem, but having to tilt my head down to watch TV or just look at things with out the "reading" blur was what bugged me the most.

Jeff

[rewog]

I think people that move their eyes to look at things a lot rather than their whole heads are the ones having the problems with them. I think the "reading" area of the glasses was too large on mine. I could tilt my head up and look down to read no problem, but having to tilt my head down to watch TV or just look at things with out the "reading" blur was what bugged me the most.

Jeff

I think you're right Jeff.
It seems to me that by forcing you to stop looking "with eye movement" it must weaken the muscles that move our eyeballs over a period of time - can't be a good thing.

I also find that with the progressives I have to drive with my head tilted slightly forward from my normal posistion... even after the Optometrist made adjustments... and try watching TV or a movie while lying in bed.
You can't have your head back against a pillow, but have to tilt it onto your chest.

[fullerplast]

Not all progressives are equivalent.

Try Varilux if you have trouble with some of the others. They felt normal to me after a half day of use and I can jump back and forth to non-progressive sunglasses with no trouble at all.

[frostbitefalls]

What is it about them that make it hard to get use to? I've never had any problems with progressives and thought they were fantastic. They were like little fuzzy lens that zoom in and focus depending on how much you tip your head. The only complaint I've ever heard is problems created when the lens maker misjudges where to start the progressive prescription on your lens (too high or too low on the lens).

+1; I've been in progressives for over 10 years now, and wouldn't consider anything else. I lost a pair overboard fishing, and in a hurry to replace them as a backup pair (going on vacation) had a set made at a reputable "quickie"- type place. There was no comparison; it is absolutely critical where the "sweet spot" is located, and the quickie pair were about useless due to misalignment, although the prescription seemed to be proprly ground. I would highly recommend progressives, but also recommend you use your eye doctor and his staff; the extra price is money well spent (also, my OD gave me a hefty discount ordering two pairs at once; there ended up being little price difference between his product/service and the quickie joint.)
As to eye movement, it seems to me your eyes still focus countless times daily with progressives, maybe more so than with line bifocals. The real difference is in peripheral vision; you really have to turn your head to look (focus) to the side; looking out the corner of your eye is not a do-able deal with progressives, but really isn't much better with glasses of any kind.

[jzgtrguy]

My experience is that it depends on how much correction you need. If it is mild then progressives are great. When I first got glasses that is what I had. Then the doctor doubled my prescription then when I got my progressives I experienced the following.

1) I had to read with my nose meaning there was a definite sweet spot in the middle of my glasses right in the center but the surrounding area was blurry. So I could not read with my eyes only any more and to literally move my head from side to side to read. bugged me a lot driving especially at night as only the gauge directly in front of me was focused everything else was blurry.

2) I had to tilt my head back to look at a computer screen. Really, really annoying.

Other than that they were great

[s2amps]

My job until 5 weeks ago was to design progressive lenses and write the software that manufactures them for the largest eyeglass lens manufacturing company in the world. Now my job is in Bangalore where PALs (progressive addition lenses) are apparently much better designed for pennies on the dollar, but that's a different topic altogether.

Anywho, progressives fit into about 8 neat categories. It is very common for a wearer to be prescribed a category that is not compatible with his or her vision or one that is close, but not there. This is a phenomenon we refer to in the business as "McTician Error." That's becaue they worked at McDonald's one day and in a dispensary the next thanks to lax regulation (at least in TX).

Now, I'm not saying that PALS are for everyone. They certainly are not. For example, my father loves his and my mother wears flat tops instead. This is obviously a little strange considering what I do (or used to do) for a living, but my mother is definitely suited for a type of lens other than a PAL. Trying to switch her over would be counter-productive.

What I am saying is there are roughly 1500 variations on the basic designs on the market today and just because you haven't bonded with a design yet, doesn't mean there isn't one out there for you.

[PaulE]

I have them and don't like them at all.
Constantly find my self doing that old man thing where you tilt your head back and look down -I'm 46 and not quite ready for that sort of stuff.

[twinrider1]

My dad tried the progressives when they came out. He couldn't stand them; they just about made him dizzy. Maybe they've improved since then, but he said the transition area made everything look like had a wave rolling through it.

[s2amps]

My dad tried the progressives when they came out. He couldn't stand them; they just about made him dizzy. Maybe they've improved since then, but he said the transition area made everything look like had a wave rolling through it.

They have improved a TON over the past 15 years that I've been in the business. The 1st ones were basically crap.

[Midnight Lady]

I think the biggest problem I had was with the computer. In order to read that tiny grey print that websites seem so fond of these days, I had to tilt my head back --- if you do this for a few hours a day, you're automatically got neck problems -- your neck isn't SUPPOSED to go in that direction!

[Lotis]

I've used them for many years. When I first got them after a week I went back and said no way....they said stick with it your brain is on a learning curve. They were right and after a month or so it was all good. The reading part is very small so it takes a bit of patience. Good luck!

[twinrider1]

My dad tried the progressives when they came out. He couldn't stand them; they just about made him dizzy. Maybe they've improved since then, but he said the transition area made everything look like had a wave rolling through it.

They have improved a TON over the past 15 years that I've been in the business. The 1st ones were basically crap.

It was a long time ago, probably almost 20 years ago that he tried them.
He also tried contact lenses when they first came out. He was living in Chicago then. They were hard lenses and they were HUGE.

[mge80]

They definitely took some adjusting to, but for my job at the time, I needed progressive lenses. I needed to be able to read things close, things several feet in front of me, and see out the window for miles.

Now, I don't even notice that I wearing them.

[percepeid]

the key to success with progressive lenses is a great and patient Optician. Also a willingness and patience on your side. They are a finicky lens. Like any device that serves multiple purposes.
There is an advantage over FT (lined) bifocals in that a progressive provides multiple corrections (Distance, Intermediate, Near) versus the distance/near of a lined bifocal.

I could go on forever. I consider myself a progressive lens expert (as a licensed dispensing optician in a fairly strict state - Mass)

[RGB]

I also thought "no way" after getting them. Went back a few times and they did some creative bending of the frames which did not help. I made the mistake of taking the cycle to pick them up and had a fun ride home!

The moving my head instead of my eyes thing was very hard to get used to, but they told me to take 2-3 weeks and see how it goes. Surprisingly, they were right. I've managed to get used to them pretty well in the past year. I don't really like having to move my head instead of my eyes, but at least the "swimming" has all but stopped and I can see pretty well these days. I used to have to wear a computer prescription at work and my regulars the rest of the time, but now I can wear just the one pair for everything. Tried the monovision contacts which were hopeless for me, and also the bifocal contacts which didn't work either.

You'd think there would be a better answer these days with all of the advances in technology, but I guess it is what it is.

[ChickenLover]

I just had the 'my arms got waaaayyyy shorter' phenomenon not too long ago (I'm 44). I didn't get bifocals or progressives at my last eye exam...I told them I wanted to wait. So I've just been carrying around one of the lenses for magnifying visors (http://www.telesightmagnifiers.com/catalog/i66.html)...which is fine if you have a free hand to hold it.

But I gotta say that soldering is bitch now! I now have to stand up and solder at a full arms length and I have to have very good lighting. Then I have to get the magnifier to inspect the solder joint.

Oh well, when it comes to the trials of getting old I guess this one isn't that bad...relative to some others.

[Go Cat Go!!]

I've got progressives at 43. My difference in my eyes isn't bad so I really didn't have a hard time adjusting. However, I wear contacts 90% of the time. I have one prescription in one eye and another prescription in the other eye. It took me about a day to adjust. Thank goodness my sight is pretty close in both eyes or I would have major headaches.

[blueserv]

I'm using monovision now, and I'm pretty happy with it. I use a bifocal contact in my right eye & it's real natural. You can also wear readers over the contact and see extremely fine detail.

I tried progressive lenses when my near vision started going (about 8 years ago). I tried them for about a year. I hated them - they gave me headaches. I just couldn't deal with the reduced field of vision (having to point your nose at everything you want to see). Driving was the worst - not being able to see clearly when you'd shift your eyes. I'd never buy another pair of progressive lenses. I'd go with a lined bifocal first.

[Boomer]

I got progressives about fifteen years ago.

Those of you who are having problems with computer vision and tilting the head, etc., ask your eye doctor to prescribe a set of computer lenses. He/she will want to know how far away, in feet and inches, your head is from your monitor and they can then make a set of single vision lenses that will make looking at your screen a pleasure. I can't live without my computer glasses anymore! Just be sure to get frames different enough from your regular glasses that you remember to change when you leave your desk. They are fine for mid-distance but you wouldn't want to wear them all day by accident ... as I do much too often!

[NyteOwl]

When I got my first pair of bifocals I found them very difficult to get used to. It was much easier for me to take them off altogether in order to read than to tilt my head all the time, but what really killed them for me was wearing them while playing guitar. The "line" was right along the neck of my guitar, effectively blurring it out entirely. Bye bye bifocals. Nowadays the only thing I wear glasses for is driving. I don't need them to see my computer monitor, and I use a cheap pair of drug store magnifiers to read really small print.

[scottlr]

I've been doing the progressives for several years. The first time I tried them, I took them back after about 3 days. By the next year's exam, I couldn't see shit anymore except distance with my regular glasses, so back to the progressives. This time, I got used to them fairly quick. But I hate glasses. I can clean the damn things and in 5 minutes they are dirty again, and even though there's supposed to be a medium distance part, I have a hell of a time looking at my monitor. Up close, I see way better without them at all than I do with the close up portion. I'd almost rather they were just for distance and medium, and I'll just do what I do now to read up close... take them off or look under or over them.

[Derwood]

I've had progressives for a few years now. Haven't had much problem, although I am due for a stronger prescription.
They made me nauseous (sp?) for the first several days and peripheral vision while driving was not good at first. Also stairs were difficult.
But fine since, except for the occasional neck ache from the computer....