So, you just got your first prescription for “progressive” lenses so you can see up close again AND be able to drive or see the TV. Now what? If you’ve done any shopping at all, you may be confused by all the choices, price points, and options.
First and foremost – and unfortunately, most technical and confusing – is the actual lens design. Let’s say you are car shopping, and have the choice between a 2010 Ford Fusion and a 1985 Ford Tempo. Say they are both brand-new, with the original price tags. They will both get you from point A to point B; however a lot will be radically different - safety (I really like the idea of 7 air bags), maintenance requirements (who misses having to have lube jobs and tune-ups every 20k?), reliability (no more engine rebuilds at 100k) and comfort (LOVE keyless remotes, electric seats, A/C, etc). Science and engineering has made gigantic strides in automobile design in the last 25 years!
It is the same with lens design. Yes, you can buy 25 year old lens designs, or you can invest a bit more for measurably better visual performance. For example, power has been ground on prescription lenses for around 700 years. All of that recently changed with the introduction of digitally surfaced lenses, which are able to make your lenses 10 times more accurate! Even better, the best digital designs are custom designed for the frame you select, the angle the frame is at on your face, your prescription, your visual needs – even how much curve the frame requires to match your facial features!
What can you expect from this level of sophistication for lens design?
Virtually distortion free peripheral vision (more usable vision at the edges) Significantly wider intermediate viewing areas (especially helpful on the computer)
Larger near vision zones (less head movement while reading)
Precise linear viewing (horizontal lines no longer curve down at the edge of the lenses)
Unprecedented prescription accuracy (vision is sharper and crisper)
OK, lots of jargon there, but it translates into the sharpest, most usable, and easiest to adapt to lenses ever made. There are lots of choices awaiting your decision. Ask your vision care professional questions about the lenses they sell or recommend. How old is the lens design? Do they offer a more advanced lens? How did they determine which lens was best for you?
If YOU have questions about lens design, please ask me in the comment section.
Diagram courtesty of Hoya Vision
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