How to Get Used to Wearing Progressive Lenses

Posted on: 11 February 2016

If you're switching to using multi-focal progressive lenses for the first time after wearing regular glasses, you may find that it takes a few days for your eyes to get used to seeing through this type of lens. The following tips may help make the transition process easier.

Get to Know Your Lenses

Unlike regular lenses, which work on a single vision basis, progressive lenses cover different types of vision in each lens. According to Optometry Australia, the top of the lens covers long distance, the middle covers middle distance and the bottom covers close distance.

While this technically allows you to use one pair of glasses to correct your vision at all distances, it can take a while to get used to the zones in your lenses. You need to practice using each part of the lens to focus. You may find this easier if you move your head to physically shift the lens position rather than your eyes, at least to start with.

Work Through the Blur

You may get a bit of a shock when you first try out progressive lenses. The world may look weirdly blurry; the slightest movement of your head may make your vision go a bit wonky. The easiest way to get rid of this issue is to stick with wearing your glasses. Your eyes and brain need time to get used to the way the lenses work and, if you can persevere with them, you should find that these effects start to wear off. Things may improve in a few hours but may take a few days to settle completely.

Take Extra Care

The fact that you can't always focus correctly or immediately with progressive lenses means that you should be careful what you do until your eyes get used to them. For example, you may have issues with stairs, steps and slopes while you try to get used to using the different distance zones on the lenses. It's worth approaching any of these obstacles carefully and slowly to start with.

It's also important to listen to any advice your optician gives you when your prescription glasses are fitted. For example, you may be advised not to drive until your eyes are used to the lenses and you can gauge distances correctly. If this is the case and you need to drive, it may be worth switching back to using your old glasses for driving until you're confident with your new ones.

Tip: Some opticians give deals on progressive lenses, allowing you to change back to regular lenses at no extra cost if you just can't cope with multi-focal lenses after a few days. If you're worried about how you'll get along with new lenses, ask your optician if you have any options to switch later without paying extra.

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