How Can a First-Time Wearer Adapt to Progressive Lenses?

Progressive lenses are an alternative to bifocal and trifocal lenses. They offer a seamless transition between different vision zones, leaving no visible lines on the lenses. Progressive lenses have three vision zones: Near, intermediate and far. Learn more about how progressive lenses work. However, adapting to these lenses can be challenging for first-time wearers. Keep reading for some helpful tips to adjust to your new progressive lenses.

How Long Does It Take to Adjust to Progressive Lenses?

Adjustment periods vary, but most people adapt within a few days to a few weeks. This can feel strange at first as you’ll need to train your eyes and brain to adjust to the new visual zones within the lens. Progressive lenses require you to move your eyes and head differently to find the right focus area for different distances. This takes some time to get used to and can feel strange or uncomfortable.

What Can I Do to Make the Adjusting to Progressive Lenses Easier?

Here are some tips to help you adapt to your new progressive lenses:

Wear Them All the Time:  Consistency is key. The more you wear your progressive lenses, the quicker your eyes will adjust. Avoid switching back to your old glasses, as this can prolong the adaptation period.

Move Your Head, Not Just Your Eyes: To find the right focus zone, move your head instead of just your eyes. This helps in adjusting to the different lens strengths more effectively.

Practice finding and looking through the different zones of your lenses: Just sit down and pick three objects you can see that are roughly close up, intermediate and far away. Look through the respective zones in your lenses and practice focusing on these objects,  moving back and forth through the different visual zones.

Practice with Everyday Tasks: Engage in everyday activities like reading, watching TV, or using the computer to practice focusing through the different parts of your lenses.

Give It Time: Patience is essential. Allow your brain and eyes to adapt at their own pace without rushing the process.

What If I Experience Discomfort or Dizziness?

It’s normal to experience some initial discomfort, such as dizziness, headaches, or a feeling of distortion, especially when looking down or to the sides. This usually diminishes as you adapt. If the discomfort persists beyond a few weeks, consult your optician to ensure your lenses are correctly fitted and the prescription is accurate.

How Can I Ensure My Progressive Lenses Are Perfectly Fitted?

Before you order progressive lenses, make sure you have an accurate PD measurement. This is essential, otherwise the lenses will be missaligned with your eyes and can be extremely difficult to use. Once you have an accurate PD, you’ll want to select frames that match this PD, having frames that are too small or too big can impact lens thickness and comfort. It’s important to visit an optician and update your prescription, PD and maybe even your glasses before getting your first progressive lenses.

When Should I Seek Help with my Progressive Lenses?

If after a few weeks you still feel uncomfortable or find it hard to adjust and see through your new lenses, it’s important to seek professional assistance. Your optician can make necessary adjustments  to your frame fit, double check your prescription or suggest alternatives if progressive lenses aren’t the best for you.

About The Author:

Will Benjamin is an advocate for independent eyewear and one of the driving forces behind Project Spex. With a passion for unique, collectible, and limited-edition eyewear, Will aims to inspire people to build their own collections through Project Spex, while supporting the success of independent opticals.