Hi mrose,

I have progressive lenses that include all my prescriptions, and when I want to see things close up, I need to look through the bottom of the lenses, medium, which I use for my monitor, is in the middle and seems to have the widest field, and for distance, I look through the top. It does take some time to adjust, and it feels kind of weird when I get new glasses (as I just did a couple of weeks ago) because I'm nodding and waving my head around trying to find the "sweet spots". But once I get used to them, as I am now, it becomes natural to look through the right part of the lenses.

I wear my glasses all the time, and really feel that progressive lenses with appropriately placed fields of vision for each prescription are worth the additional cost. But it's a personal choice. My DH wears progressives most of the time, but has a pair of single prescription glasses which he wears when working on his computer.

Personally I would not dispense with the distance prescription because it helps me with driving. Without it I would be able to see well enough, but would have difficulty reading signs. But that's me.

Hope this helps.

eaga - You're right! I was calling it the wrong thing, so I updated my post. Thanks! When you're reading a book, do you have to face forward and look down instead of looking straight at the book? What would be the alternative to progressive? Three individual pair of glasses?

I tried some progressive sunglasses a few years back and absolutely hated them. I don't need glasses for distance though, thanks to having lasix surgery many years ago. I just wanted something for the beach/pool so I didn't have to switch back and forth to read. I felt dizzy wearing them, and the constant head motions just to find the sweet spot annoyed me. Took them back to the doc after a couple of weeks and they didn't replace the lenses. I was really irritated, even though I was very hesitant to buy them and had voiced my concern. I felt like they had talked me into the purchase and told them so.

Ha ha! I must have seen your edited post, and I changed mine thinking I had read it wrong! Great minds think alike :-).

For reading in bed, I need to tilt my head up to see through the bottom part of the lenses. Not optimal, but since reading in bed makes me sleepy I don't have to put up with it for long. When I'm sitting in a chair and reading, it's more in the middle, the same as using my monitor, and I find it very comfortable. What I find most difficult is trying to use the very bottom part to see something up close that I can't move, such as when I'm doing home repairs.

I don't know a lot about the options. I think it really depends on your vision and how much time you spend on different tasks. I personally would not do well having different glasses for different tasks. I also have Transitions-like coatings on my glasses, because I'm in and out of doors a lot when the weather is nice, and I can't be bothered to changes my eyewear each time. Same for me with switching from reading to computer work to distance.

If you can't see well with your new glasses, you should go back and let them know. I don't know what they might do for you, but you should be able to see clearly from near to far if that's what you asked for.

Good glasses can be expensive, but since I wear them on my face all day long, I feel it's worth the cost. When I was a kiddo just starting out in life, I must have mentioned to my parents that I thought I needed glasses but couldn't afford them. I still have the note from my Dad, who never ever wrote notes. He was sending me a check, and the note said something like "Here is money for your glasses. Do *not* neglect your eyes."

I have have progressive glasses for several years, but I have a separate pair of glasses for computer use. The area in progressive lenses that is right for viewing a computer is much too small to use for long periods. Computer glasses are wonderful!

I tried Progressive lenses once, but I have some issues with the vertebrae in my neck so I found some of the positions needed to use them didn't work for me. I keep one set of glasses specifically for computer use.

justgotabme - Do you have insurance? I ended up paying around $450 with insurance, but I didn get a few extra exams since it was my first time. I'm worried that if I went somewhere else, my insurance wouldn't pay for another exam. How were the trifocals any better? It seems like trying to fit three prescriptions into one pair of classes is the problem.

graywings - Are your computer glass a prescription also or something you picked up somewhere else? I'm wondering if I should just go back to my Walmart readers for the computer.

I had insurance that time. You won't need an extra exam as you already paid for that and they have to give you your prescription. I no longer have insurance so I went to Walmart this time and even though I got my glasses through them, they also gave me a copy of my prescription.

I love the trifocal. I was able to see again and I barely notice the lines. The pair in the profile photo is the first ones I got, this time I decided to go with a larger lens. I no longer have to lower my glasses when driving. I just took pictures of both glasses. I'll load them and share them so you can see them.

I have worn progressives for years. They were difficult to get used to in the beginning but I was used to them within a week, including the last pair I got 2 months ago where my prescription had changed a bit.

I'm not sure I understand the "extra cost to use the machine" to measure your eyes you mentioned. My measurements have always been done by hand with a small ruler. I've always gone to small, independent optical places with good reviews........never a chain. Chain stores are ok for single lenses but I'm not sure I'd trust them with progressives where measurement has to be precise.

I've never had issues with distance, middle or closeup. I sat at a computer for work everyday for ten years....no mid range problems. Occasionally if I have been staring at my iPad for too long and then look up at the TV across the room it is 1-2 second adjustment.

Wore them for years, my first pair made me dizzy so I went back and they measured my distance again and made new glasses which I wore until I had cataracts removed, I don't have to wear glasses now. Go back and tell them you can't see properly, they will cover the cost if they're a reliable business.

Joanie, this was the first time I ever had my eyes measured by a machine too. The optician was inside a WM, but he was independent of them, and very thorough as where his technicians.

Here's a picture of my glasses MsRose, so you can see how they look. The two lower prescriptions are divided in somewhat of a circle with the top being the distance. I have a laptop, so when typing I'm closer to the screen so I used the bottom lens, when I sit back in my chair to read and look at pictures I use the middle lens. When walking or driving I use the upper lens.
There was a small difference in my prescription this time so between that and the over all lens size being different it too a bit to get used to. The first few days I thought I'd need to go back to a smaller lens, but I also knew from changing prescriptions in the past, even when the lenses were the same size, that it still took a bit of time to get used to. I believe I was a given a week or two return time so I could adjust to any changes.

Your brain will adjust to the glasses and get you looking through the right spots. Takes more time for some than others. DH got used to his within days. Took me a month or more which was annoying but I stuck it out. In the long run it was worth the short term annoyance.

justgotabeme - Thanks for posting a picture. When you first posted it, it looked smaller and I couldn't see the details, but now the picture is bigger and I can see the circles. I'm assuming the progressive lenses have those same circles, but you just can't see the lines, so I wonder why one works better for you. I know there has to be more to it than that.

I just got back from the optometrist and she said the part for reading and seeing the computer were down too low, so she's having the lenses remade. She was very nice about it, so I was glad I didn't have any problems.

Now I have another question. I didn't mention it to the optometrist, because it's more about the glasses I picked than anything they did wrong. My glasses slip on my nose a little bit. Is there anything I can do to keep them from sliding, at least while I'm sitting at my computer working?

If I understand correctly the lenses on Progressive glasses get progressively smaller with the bottom vision area being quite narrow.
Before posting I decided to Google and see if I could find a picture showing where each vision area on Progressive lenses were. Not sure if the picture will show up or if you have to click on the link, but here goes.

That didn't work so I'll use their linking system. I was hoping the picture would show up like on fb.
Division of prescription areas on Progressive lenses.

Msrose - Have them check the fit when you go back. They may have to adjust the bows (arms) so your glasses don't slide down. An easy fix.

I have worn progressives for years. As most people have said, it takes some time for your brain to get used to the lenses. What should have been told to you is that the first time you get them, you should have frames that are perhaps a little larger so that you can have a wider range for the reading and computer. My first ones were pretty big, kinda oval in shape. As I got new scrips and styles changed, I went to rimless and smaller more rectangular shape with narrower "sweet spots". So, if your frames are on the small side, it may take you awhile longer to get used to them. My husband tried them and had issues using the computer monitor. I don't really have an issue for some reason. I wouldn't want to have to change glasses to use the computer. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my clip on sunglasses!

I've gone thru a few pairs of progressives. First pair was so bad I couldn't walk without tripping - everything looked all wonky. Everyone told me to wait it out that I'd get used to them - never did and went back to my reading glasses for a while. Next pair made everything up close look slanted. I took those back right away and it turns out they had the wrong prescription. Next pair, I got a wonderful lady helping me and explained the problems I'd had in the past. She said doing this or that with the measurements would help. Also recommended a better (and more expensive of course) type of lens with a wider field of vision. These ones are fine. I'm dreading when my prescription changes and I have to go thru this all again.

I find it interesting to read all these comments since I just got my latest pair of progressive lenses two days ago. I have worn progressive lenses for at least 15 years now. Prior to wearing progressive lenses I wore contacts. When I started needing correction for close up I wore one contact for close up and one for distance. I didn't have trouble with the two different contacts until I started having to do more and more of my work on a computer. I gave up using 2 different contacts and just wore regular contacts and used reading glasses for close up and computer. I hated putting the reading glasses on and off all the time so decided to just go with the progressive lenses. I have never had a problem with my progressive lenses. But I must say my optometrist is very meticulous about getting the prescription just right and helping me choose frames/lenses that will handle the progressive prescription perfectly.

My latest pair of glasses with progressive, non glare, high index lenses would have been $582 without insurance. Of that amount the frames themselves were $98 so actually inexpensive compared to many of the designer frames. With insurance I paid $182. My insurance allows for an eye exam and new glasses every year. I sometimes only get new glasses every other year though. I don't know off hand what the family plan premium is for the insurance but feel sorry for those without insurance because glasses really are expensive.

Mrsrose, I think you really need to go back to the place where you got your glasses and tell them them either the prescription or the lenses are not correct and see if they will redo them.

I have progressives. I hate them. I only use them while substitute teaching or in church. The rest of the time I use my readers for the dollar store. I will go in for my yearly eye exam soon and I am going to use my benefit this time for contacts. I will be fitted for one contact, one eye sees distance, and one sees close. I know it will take some time to get use to it, but I'm hoping I will like it better than progressives.

Wow! I don't even know if I will be able to find this link to check for any comments or responses (my first time chiming in on any forum discussion.) I just wanted to say that I just turned 50, I have also been buying gradually stronger readers since I turned 44, I can no longer see the subtitles on the TV (yes, apparently I'm also going deaf) and street signs are, now, only a distant memory. I too got progressive lenses, and, having never worn actual prescription glasses before, I appear to be a bit befuddled. To say the least. I can see fine at a distance, computer (middle section of the lenses, I guess) is a big fat no see zone, and reading is okayish, but I keep suppressing the feeling that I will have to make an effort to see the pages, or ingredient labels God forbid, in order to see as well as I did with 2.75 Target readers.

But the most alarming aspect of these lenses is that I feel sunken into the ground, if not also a tad wide, as if I were very short and slightly fat. When I am driving, it's the same thing: I feel like I am behind the wheel of a Ferrari instead of an SUV. Mind you, a Ferrari with none of the joys that accompany it, rather with the horsepower of a tug boat.

I will go back to the store and ask wtf is going on here, but I haven't seen anyone online that has had the same experience, and I hope that the store will have an idea of what is causing it.

:-)

Fserenissima that was my experience too. The middle range, which was most of my daily tasks, was useless with the progressives. I just took mine back. Back to the drawing board.

I've posted to excess about my eye problems --and while some of them are unique to me, this problem with getting the right range for progressives is not. Please see my post to pink mountains thread about "computer progressives" they changed my life. Literally.

Funkyart - This is an old post, but the problem still persists. I've still been wearing my readers (instead of my expensive progressive lenses) and have to change to a different reader when I want to read something other than the computer screen. Am I understanding correctly that the computer progressive have two prescriptions...one for the computer and one for up close reading? That sound like it's exactly what I need.

I know it's an old post-- but the current posters were writing about the same problem. Sorry, i was mobile and wasn't completely clear.

I have progressives that only cover a limited range.. from reading to about 12 f away. These don't serve ALL my needs but they allow me to look up from my computer and see a person talking to me.. or to be in a meeting and read my laptop as well as the projected screen and the person sitting down the table. Two months ago, i had a pair of near glasses for my laptop and a far pair for the projection screen. I had nothing that would allow me to clearly see someone acrossthe table from me. I couldn't clean my house well because i couldn't see the floor well.

My other (unrelated) eye issues prevented me from getting progressives right away so suffered through it for a year.

I sat with my optician (my prescription was in hand from my ophthalmologist) and we talked about my needs and priorities. For ME, i was 1. I really needed the computer range -- to be dead center/looking ahead (my work monitors are set at exactly this height. Yours may vary) and at arm's length. 2. I needed to be able to lead a meeting while projecting on a screen. I needed to be able to SEE the screen and read small text on it.. and i needed to be able to look at each person around the table and see them clearly. 3. I needed to be able to read my notes/text on paper on the desk. This was the lowest priority because most of my reading is on a screen.

Based on my prescription -- which is just like yours. A prescripion with a correction for near. (I think that's what it is.. my actual prescription is at work). It was my optician and the lab that used that to determine what focal lengths were where on my lenses to best fit my needs.

Two other factors were important: 1. Lens Choice - my optician spent a lot of time finding the right lens -- lots of manufacturers make them but they have different ranges. Mine needed to give me the most range for my office needs. It also had to accomodate my prescription which is tricky 2. Digital Lab - it costs more but using the digital lab to combine my prescription needs AND to determine the graduation of the prescription (which is what makes them progressive) was highly recommended to me.

It paid off. I had zero adjustment period. I was immediately able to see and adjust to where i needed to look for what. I was amazed that it wasn't just a top down progression, it also had lateral range. I could look off to my side and STILL see clearly. This was very important to me as i work on two monitors and i always have smeone sitting to my side.

I use these glasses 85% of the time-- they work great at work and at home. I cannot walk about in them as well (though i can walk about).. and i can't drive with them.

The lenses they used for me are Shamir (I don't know which model). They may not be the best for you but they were the best for my needs and my tricky prescription. I don't know what lab they used -- but it wasn't one of the mall eyeglass shops so it was an independent lab.

Hope this helps give you hope.

Thank you for all this great info. It sounds as if I need a pair of glasses for every task: driving, watching TV, computering (has it become a verb yet?), reading ... but definitely not sex, I would say. I am snapping a pic of this fantastic lens you talk about, and show it to the eye place. I will chalk my irritation up to menopause and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Now back to choosing blues for the NE facing dining, in my new NE home, into which I will be moving from the drought infested Los Angeles. I have to go back and find that discussion, which is originally how I stumbled into my vision problems---admittedly, not nearly as important as the blues :-)

PS; is it weird to talk about our glasses on Houzz? Loving it actually.

@ fserenissima, "...I need a pair of glasses for every task... but definitely not sex,"

LOL! https://www.glamour.com/story/keeping-your-glasses-on-during-sex

fserenissima - That's what the conversation side is for. You wouldn't believe all the good, non-decorating advice I've gotten here :)

Men often make passes at girl's who wear glasses if the dame's got good frames. My mother's version.

Thank you! Very interesting. I have since gone back to the store, they suggested I have a second optician examine me, perhaps tweak the astigmatism curve and do what was suggested above (I took a picture of that comment and showed to them) ... and take it from there. While I am at it, I will look into the possibility of making the transitional part work with greater range (much darker when in the sun and totally clear when in the shade.)

What you say here makes me wonder if another possibility might not be possible, of making the long distance progress to a mid range computer distance, which actually the bottom ribbon dedicated to reading, would indeed satisfy. Anyway, the reading part is weak now, and would not be strong enough to read labels. Perhaps I can save that for reading only and use these for driving and working at the computer.

mbvhomdecor -Thank you so much! I will ask for this when I go for my next exam.