Progressive vs Non-Progressive lenses

[HOUSTON RICK]

Well for the last few decades I listened like a good patient and bought progressive lenses for all my glasses. Last week, I bought some non-progressive prescription sunglasses for driving with my regular prescription glasses and WOW what an improvement in vision over the progressive lenses. Has anyone else preferred non-progressive lenses when told otherwise by the experts? Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnRippert]

Progressives can narrow the focus down to just about any point just by moving your head, but you lose focus on the periphery. For driving and sunglasses I prefer regular bifocals as they give a wider field of view in focus.

 

[Onomea]

That's interesting about progressives and driving.

Is there any point to bifocals at all with driving? (I'm thinking why do you need the ability to read while driving?)

 

[TJm15.38]

My personal preference is the standard non-progressive lenses. When I first found out I needed glasses (mainly for reading), USAF issued me bifocals. This was about 25 years into my flying career. I never needed much correction for distant vision; I just needed help for close up reading of small print, especially at night. I got used to the standard bifocals and have never wanted progressive lenses.

 

[johngross]

Has anyone else preferred non-progressive lenses when told otherwise by the experts?

Progressives can be a pain (I've been wearing them for 35 years), but I do have the advantage of being able to wear just one pair of glasses for everything. The other option is one pair for close-up, another for distance, and maybe a third for midrange viewing.

Driving my car for example, with progressives I can easily switch from looking ahead long distance and glancing at my dashboard gauges with a simple shift of my eyes. I couldn't do that with single vision lenses.

It probably depends upon on how bad your eyes are. People who require corrective lenses with a "mild" prescription could probably get by easier without progressives then someone who (like me) who has a very "strong" prescription.

 

[johngross]

(I'm thinking why do you need the ability to read while driving?)

For people like me, who requires a very strong prescription to see long distance, the strength of the prescription makes it very difficult to see objects which are closer, i.e. the dashboard gauges, GPS, etc.

 

[Mercury]

Is there any point to bifocals at all with driving? (I'm thinking why do you need the ability to read while driving?)

Nowadays and depending on the vehicle, you have to read the control screen to adjust the radio, set navigation, read warning lights, etc. Bifocals allow me to do that.

Gone are the days when you could find your favorite radio station by feeling for the buttons. I don't understand why manufacturers continue to reduce the tactile interfaces and force the driver to take his eyes off of the road to make changes.

 

[SMSgt]

My wife and I both tried progressives--once. Neither could ever get used to them.

 

[GypsmJim]

30 years ago I tried both and found the progressives were an awesome addition to my sight. Have had them ever since. I could not imagine driving without them. I can see BOTH the dashboard and the road. Without them I can't read the dash.

Maybe it takes getting used to them. But for me it was instant success.

 

[NYlakesider]

As both a welder and user of open sighted guns I definitely prefix fixed lenses. To me its quite important to get the right perspective. Of course I wear bifocals for closer help, but I know where they are in the main lenses and it helps out a lot.

For 40 year they have tried to talk me into progressives. Personally I think the eye glass sellers like that as it generates more money for them.

Just for the record I'm 78 years old and have been wearing glasses since I was 5 YO.

FWIW getting the cataracts taken care of a bunch of years ago went a long way in how or what I can see. I did not need glasses except for reading at that point. As I have said before wearing glasses that long I felt naked and vulnerable without glass/plastic in front of my precious eyes. Also I spent a lot of time looking for my reading glasses.

I then went back to full time glasses with the 2X cheater lenses and just a slight prescription in the main glass. Your results might be different, works for me!

 

[Onomea]

For people like me, who requires a very strong prescription to see long distance, the strength of the prescription makes it very difficult to see objects which are closer, i.e. the dashboard gauges, GPS, etc.

Rereading the thread on shooting glasses, and reading this one this morning, makes me realize that vision problems are various and what works for some of us will not work for others.

While I wear bifocals, I usually remove them for reading or if working on something small that I need to see very clearly. I need to hold the book or item fairly close, but I can actually see more clearly without the bifocals. (I can also see my front sight well without bifocals.)

I should check, but my guess is that I can see my car dash and instruments well without bifocals.

Ya know, writing this, I'm thinking that while I have been wearing bifocals now for 15 or 20 years, what the heck am I wearing bifocals for...?

Since our eyesight changes over time, maybe they made sense for my earlier but no longer do? I think next time I visit an optometrist I am gonna bring this up...

 

[NYlakesider]

Rereading the thread on shooting glasses, and reading this one this morning, makes me realize that vision problems are various and what works for some of us will not work for others.

While I wear bifocals, I usually remove them for reading or if working on something small that I need to see very clearly. I need to hold the book or item fairly close, but I can actually see more clearly without the bifocals. (I can also see my front sight well without bifocals.)

I should check, but my guess is that I can see my car dash and instruments well without bifocals.

Ya know, writing this, I'm thinking that while I have been wearing bifocals now for 15 or 20 years, what the heck am I wearing bifocals for...?

Since our eyesight changes over time, maybe they made sense for my earlier but no longer do? I think next time I visit an optometrist I am gonna bring this up...

Interesting, with most people they start out with 1 prescription in their glasses. As time goes by normally around age 40 they upgrade to bifocals. The next come progressives! Do check with you eye care doctor!

 

[IAM Rand]

regular glasses are progressive and sun glasses are just regular Rx, no progressive

 

[dave1918a2]

I tried progressive lenses several years ago on the advice of My eye Dr. Wore them for a few weeks and went back and asked if I could trade them in. I didn't like having to turn My head to see periphieraly or like nodding My head to see the speedometer. Then I tried shooting Sporting Clays. Talk about disaster. Doc said no trade in, so I popped the lenses out and threw them in the trash can. Been wearing bifocals ever since. Couldn't give (or pay) Me a pair of progressives.

 

[375hh1973]

That's interesting about progressives and driving.

Is there any point to bifocals at all with driving? (I'm thinking why do you need the ability to read while driving?)

Texting

Looking at gps

Watching a movie on a long highway drive

 

[snowman]

My doctor prescribed progressives (with my lady friend's encouragement) maybe 10 or so years ago. As I recall just a few days or less after having them, I was stopped at a somewhat busy and hazardous intersection nearby, which I use at least several times a week. After looking carefully in both directions, I proceeded with my left turn. Upon turning I happened to glance in the mirror and someone behind me was right on my tail in nearly an instant! Because the progressive lense wasn't wide enough to provide me with clear peripheral vision I wasn't able to see the oncoming vehicle. The next day I contacted the doctor and he replaced them with trifocals, which I've been using ever since without incident. Just my experience.

Regards,
Andy

 

[JohnRippert]

That's interesting about progressives and driving.

Is there any point to bifocals at all with driving? (I'm thinking why do you need the ability to read while driving?)

I have the two parts of my driving sunglasses set up for distance and the dashboard.

 

[NFrameFred]

I had to give up my progressive lenses . . . I kept veering into the left lane . . . .

 

[sophie]

Well I see some for and some against the progressive type lenses. I like them and have been wearing the Varilux Comfort progressive type lenses since 1982. Once I got used to the Varilux Brand progressive type lenses, I never looked back. There are many different brands and models of progressive type lenses to choose from.

 

[GypsmJim]

Progressives and peripheral vision? I don't understand. Maybe mine are a different brand or something. Mine have simply made me see better.

I can see the front sight clearly (never could before). I can also see the target awesomely well. My problem is I can't see both at the same time.