How to Select Good Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses help with presbyopia, a near vision correction that begins to affect people about the age of 40. Also called no-line, invisible or PAL bifocals, progressive lenses have prescription reading power that changes, or progresses, from the middle to the bottom of the lens. Knowing specific things in advance helps in selecting good progressive lenses.

Instructions

• 1

  Use a frame big enough to hold progressive lenses. Because of their design, progressive lenses require a measurement of at least 15 to 20 mm from the bottom of the pupil to the inside of the bottom of the frame. Your optician can verify this measurement.

• 2

  Consider how you will be using your lenses. If you do a lot of close and intermediate work and have a larger frame, you may want a lens called a soft design, which has a wider corridor, the part of the lens where the power changes. These lenses are one of the most versatile progressive styles and work well for all ages.

• 3

  Chose a hard design, also called a short corridor lens, if you use your lenses more for distance or have a smaller frame. This style of lens works best for people who are first-time wearers, younger than 50 years old and have a lighter reading prescription power.

• 4

  Choose the right material. Lenses are available in glass, plastic, high index and polycarbonate. Glass lenses are the most scratch-resistant but are heavier. Plastic is lighter than glass but scratches more easily. High-index lenses are available in plastic or glass and work well for stronger distance prescription power. Polycarbonate is the lightest and most shatter-resistant material.

• 5

  Pick a premium lens style to get a good progressive. Many companies make progressive lenses and the price usually reflects the quality and benefits of the bifocals. The more expensive lenses are most often the more comfortable lenses. Eye doctors and optical retail stores will offer a selection of lower-, midrange- and premium-priced progressive lenses.