Tips For Adjusting To New Progressive Lenses

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If you've worn single-vision glasses for some time and have to make the transition to a progressive bifocal lens, you're going to be in for a bit of an adjustment. It will take you some practice to adjust to looking through the proper area of your lens for the clearest possible vision, because there are three distinct focal areas. The initial transition can come with some awkwardness due to the presence of some visual distortions in your field of vision and the direct, specific movements required. Over time, it will become more natural, but knowing how to get through those first few weeks can be important. Here are a few tips to help you adjust.

Choose Properly-Fitting Frames

You need frames that fit your face securely. If the lenses move around on your face or slide off your nose, it's going to move your key focal area, making it hard for you to adjust to using the lenses. Make sure that the earpieces wrap tightly around the back of your ears to keep the frames in place, and opt for nose pads that don't slip on your nose. That way, the lenses will stay where you put them, which is important for consistency in your vision.

Test Your Focal Range

The first time you test your progressive lenses, select a single object to focus on. It should be somewhere around 10-20 feet away so you can test the vision adjustment of the standard focal field. If the lenses are cut properly and your prescription is correct, you should be able to see the item clearly. If you can't see it clearly or there's visible distortion in the middle of the lens, you're going to need to have the lenses cut again.

One of the things you should expect, though, is some visible distortion on the sides of the lenses. If you shift your eyes to look at something out of one side of your lens or the other, you're likely to see distortion in your vision. Your peripheral vision isn't limited by the use of progressive lenses, but it won't be as clear as it is with single-vision lenses. This is because the clear, progressive vision adjustment area of the lens is typically in the center, with some drop-off of the correction as you look to either side.

Turn Where You Want to Look

Since the core of the focal adjustment is in the middle region of your lens, you'll need to turn your head in the direction of anything you're trying to look at. Shifting just your eyes will leave you looking through the distorted portion of the lens area, which won't give you clear, corrected vision. You'll have to make a conscious effort to move your head in the direction of everything you want to see. In fact, if you simply aim the tip of your nose toward anything you are trying to see or read, it will keep your eyes in the right place on the lens.

This is particularly important to remember the first few times you walk up and down stairs with your new lenses on. Keep in mind that the shortest focal section of your lenses, the reading portion, is made to focus clearly at a comfortable reading distance, or arm's length. If you try to look through that area to see your feet, your vision won't be clear, and you may fall. Instead of looking down directly to your feet, look at the steps by shifting your entire head the same way you would if you were looking at anything else at a normal distance. This is the easiest way to stay safe and avoid tripping due to depth-perception problems.

The transition to a progressive lens can be a challenging one, particularly if you're not familiar with how the lenses work. With the tips presented here, you'll be better prepared for the changes ahead. For more tips about adjusting to progressive or bifocal lenses, talk with your optician today or click here.

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14 March 2016

Finding Better Glasses

After I realized that I was going to be traveling a lot for work, I realized that I didn't want to wear my contact lenses 24/7. Instead of suffering with dry, itchy, irritated eyes, I decided that it might be best to work with an eye doctor who could help me to find a pair of frames that would look great on my face. I wanted to find glasses that were just as attractive as I was, so I started looking around. I visited a great optometry office, and the doctor helped to guide me towards glasses that were perfect for my face shape. This blog is all about finding a better pair of glasses.