I Hate Progressives!

[OldShooter]

My first ones, maybe 25 years ago were a disaster. It was like reading a newspaper through a toilet paper tube. I went back to bifocal, then lined trifocal (which worked well well for airplane instrument panels). Now not flying, a year ago I tried Zenni's premium progressives, advertised as "German" progressives. I don't know if this is code for the acclaimed Zeiss progressives but they are like magic compared to my original experiment. These are so good that I can use them for reading, computer, and distance. For reading and computer, though, I do have single vision glasses, so everything is in the sweet spot. I buy the single vision when the $25 BOGO adverts come along. I am not fussy about frames.

 

[imjustawarrior]

I got my first progressives this year. I absolutely hated them. The field of view was absolutely horrible. I also felt like it was dangerous to drive with them because of the limited field of view.

Fortunately, I purchased them from Costco Optical. I was able to return them for a full refund.

 

[MarieIG]

They are a hard no for me.

 

[YB88]

I'm not even okay with bifocals --- I put glasses on when outdoors or watching TV, glasses come off for everything else, but I occasionally use reading glasses (or magnifying glass) for the smallest print.

It's been so long since I tried --- I think they were progressives. Maybe I didn't give it enough time, but I guess I also felt that if I did adapt to them I would be helpless without them (?). Dunno. Guess I'm following the "if it ain't (too-o) broke, don't fix it" adage.

 

[JoeWras]

What's wrong with Flo and the insurance company?

My favorite is bifocals, with the lower end being computer distance. I'm using them right now?

I like my progressives as a compromise. Keep a pair in the cars and nearby just in case. They can solve a few problems. I don't like walking or hiking with them, though.

And before you ask how I can have a few pair, the answer is Zenni. Incredibly affordable. 4 pair for the price of eye doctor's office version.

 

[Dawg52]

I’ve always liked mine with exception of playing golf in them. But not long ago I forgot my prescription sun glasses so wore my latest pair of progressives with transition tinting and they worked perfectly. No distortion when looking at the ball at address. I’ve got to give Zenni Optical a and at the low cost of $135.

 

[OldShooter]

... And before you ask how I can have a few pair, the answer is Zenni. Incredibly affordable. 4 pair for the price of eye doctor's office version.

Yes. The days of getting ripped off by monopoly Luxotica are over. (Luxottica - Wikipedia)

In addition to the daily wear "German" progressives from Zenni (1 clear, 1 gradient sunglass tint) I have five other pairs. Computer glasses x 2 for lake and city home computers, reading glasses x 2 for lake and city home recliner chairs, and reading glasses x 1 that stays in my travel bag. I use two or three different Chinese stores depending on who is running a two-fer-$25 special. I am not fussy about frames so I can always find something that works. The two single-vision prescriptions are close enough that I get predominately brown/gold frames for the computer prescription and predominately gray/black frames for the reading prescription.

 

[Pointby2]

Reading these posts, I'm glad my brain accepts a monovision prescription for contact lenses. One for near and one for far. A lot of people cannot handle it, but it works so well for me. I can read or drive seamlessly.

 

[OldShooter]

Reading these posts, I'm glad my brain accepts a monovision prescription for contact lenses. One for near and one for far. A lot of people cannot handle it, but it works so well for me. I can read or drive seamlessly.

Interestingly, the FAA does not allow this for pilots. "The use of a contact lens in one eye for near vision and in the other eye for distant vision is not acceptable ... " but "Binocular bifocal or binocular multifocal contact lenses are acceptable ..." Apparently the issue is reduced depth perception.

 

[Flyfish1]

Well, I am encouraged about the Zenni progressives. OldShooter did you get them all using your prescription from the eye doc?

 

[OldShooter]

Well, I am encouraged about the Zenni progressives. OldShooter did you get them all using your prescription from the eye doc?

Well they are cheap enough compared to the potential benefits that running the experiment was a no-brainer for me. Probably for you too.

Going now to the Zenni site I see they have two progressive lense options, both marked "German-engineered lenses," I would without question go with the "premium" offering.

Re scrip yes I started with what I got from the doc. For the single vision reading glasses I started with the base plus the "add" per the scrip. For the computers I used the base plus half the add. IIRC I now have the readers at the base plus the add plus half a diopter. This moves the best focus point a little closer to my face. The single vision glasses are so cheap that IMO it makes sense to make adjustments if the first try isn't quite right. Just use half-diopter steps to move the best focus point towards you (add a half diopter) or away from you (subtract). My astigmatism is very minor, so this simple math works for me. I don't know the degree to which lots of astigmatism might affect the program. Cheap to try, though.

 

[Ian S]

I've decided that for me, progressives are inappropriate for situations where I'm mobile i.e. walking, etc. I'm convinced that a fall that caused a rotator cuff tear some years back was caused at least in part by the progressives I was wearing. Now I avoid wearing them when I'm not stationary. Fortunately, after cataract surgery my vision is good enough when I'm out an about but not quite good enough for driving. Oh well, I'm not going to trip and fall when I'm driving my car!

There apparently is evidence that progressives can increase the likelihood of falls in some seniors.

 

[JoeWras]

Well they are cheap enough compared to the potential benefits that running the experiment was a no-brainer for me. Probably for you too.

Going now to the Zenni site I see they have two progressive lense options, both marked "German-engineered lenses," I would without question go with the "premium" offering.

Re scrip yes I started with what I got from the doc. For the single vision reading glasses I started with the base plus the "add" per the scrip. For the computers I used the base plus half the add. IIRC I now have the readers at the base plus the add plus half a diopter. This moves the best focus point a little closer to my face. The single vision glasses are so cheap that IMO it makes sense to make adjustments if the first try isn't quite right. Just use half-diopter steps to move the best focus point towards you (add a half diopter) or away from you (subtract). My astigmatism is very minor, so this simple math works for me. I don't know the degree to which lots of astigmatism might affect the program. Cheap to try, though.

What Old Shooter said. I have astigmatism and it still works. I also bought some readers in the past and they are super cheap. I also experimented with the NV-Add for computer distance. It is nice to have readers that also have astigmatism correction.

The "premium" gives a wider field of view. I tried one of the standard options before and it was bogus. Also, choose a frame that is BIG. Going with some small stylish little lens will limit your viewing a lot. I chose this $7 frame. It is doing well, and when it breaks some day, just get a new one.

Search Result | Zenni Optical

www.zennioptical.com

Here's a few screenshots.

My order. 2 pair for a little over $100 when they had a deal:

 

[DrRoy]

Have had them for 20+ years with no problems. They can be poorly made, though. Don't go to one of the cheap places.

 

[Flyfish1]

Took the progressives back to the Optician today, tried some adjustments to the frame and was offered another try in a different frame. I opted to go with a bifocal, and I may try the much cheaper Zenni approach. The lady said I was just not adjusting, to me it's seems like an eye thing or a physics thing with the lenses. But she said , it's probably more of a brain thing. Which I don't understand, my brain has always achieved very high high rankings. I think last time it was ranked as AB Normal.

 

[homestead]

It took me a couple weeks to adjust once I switched to progressive lenses many years ago.
Later I got a new set and it felt like I was in a tunnel always turning my head to see clearly.
Went back to my eye doctor and he gave a new prescription that fixed it,
Lately have been going to Costco for frames/lenses and they just get it right.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Here's a few screenshots.

My order. 2 pair for a little over $100 when they had a deal:

I would dream of having this prescription. Are you sure you need glasses?

(I suppose for astigmatism, maybe.)

 

[JoeWras]

View attachment 55059

I would dream of having this prescription. Are you sure you need glasses?

(I suppose for astigmatism, maybe.)

Yes, astigmatism. I can see pretty well long distance, just a bit fuzzy. I easily pass the driving test without glasses. Wearing astigmatic correction at night while driving helps with the glare a lot. Believe me, I can tell the difference despite the low sphere correction. For most other activities, I don't wear glasses. That's why I have pairs sitting in my different cars. Interestingly, it used to be more like 0.50 and 0.75, but has gotten better in recent years.

For reading, having the astigmatic correction on my readers is huge. It makes all the difference over a flat lens with the same corrective power.

 

[big-papa]

I have progressives and have for a while. Mainly I use those glasses for driving and the progressives help me see the instrument panel much better. I also keep them on when I go out and about so I can shop, see price tags, read labels and such. Other than a weird sensation of feeling taller when I first started using them, I haven't had any major issues. I do, however, prefer readers for books and computer work. The field of vision on my progressives just isn't large enough for me for prolonged close-up activities to suit me.

Cheers.