Anyone can adapt to wearing progressive lenses. It takes patience and a bit of sacrifice, but we promise that wearing progressive eyeglasses is totally worth it!
As we age, our vision naturally changes. Even if you always had 20/20 vision, at some point in life, you will need glasses to read.
Sometimes, your vision will change so much that you’ll need glasses to see close, near, and far.
Also read: This is how long it takes to adapt to progressive lenses
Photo: ShutterstockIf, on the other hand, you’re nearsighted and have been wearing glasses for most of your life, you may find that you suddenly need your mid- and close-range vision corrected as well.
In the past, that meant you had to switch to bifocal or trifocal glasses. But bifocals and even trifocals have long been associated with “old people.” Today, you have other options. The most important among them are progressive lenses.
Progressive lenses, called varifocals in the UK, allow you to see far away, mid, and close-up, through a single lineless lens. That’s right. Unlike bifocals or trifocals, there is no line separating the different prescriptions.
It’s a pretty awesome innovation, but since you will see differently through the top, middle, and bottom of the lens, it can take some getting used to. Here are four tips to help you adjust.
1. Keep your progressive glasses on
When you first put on a pair of progressive glasses, you might feel disoriented. It will be tempting to switch back to your old glasses to get a break from the feeling of discomfort you get from progressives. You should keep the progressives on.
Trust me, the more you wear your progressive lenses, the quicker you’ll get used to them. A gradual approach will not work. It will just take much longer to get used to them. Remember: practice makes perfect.
2. Don’t just move your eyes
Constantly moving only your eyes from one part of the lens to the other will only cause eye strain, which can lead to headaches and eye discomfort. Plus, you won’t be able to see through the correct prescription.
Get in the habit of moving your whole head, especially when looking through your far and mid-range prescriptions. You will have to move your eyes down to access your reading prescription.
Also read: Best alternatives to reading glasses
3. Position your glasses correctly
As with any pair of glasses, proper positioning can make a huge difference in how comfortable you are and how well you see through them. This is especially the case when you first wear progressives.
Be sure to keep your glasses positioned high up on the bridge of your nose and close to your eyes to increase visibility as much as possible.
If you have any issues with where the prescriptions are on the lens, visit your optician and request that they help you set up your glasses properly or redo the prescription.
4. Be patient
If you’re diligent and stick with your new progressive glasses, you will train your brain to see properly through the different areas of the lens as necessary, and pretty soon, this will become a habit.
It may take a few weeks, but you’ll get it. Before you know it, it will be far easier than switching between two pairs of glasses.