Are my progressives as good as can be expected?

Hello!

About five and a half years ago I posted asking for help with my
progressives purchased from LensCrafters. The problem I had was that
the "reading portion" of the progressives were particularly narrow which
made it difficult to read (I had to either move my head from left to
right in order to read a book or move the book from left to right).

The gist of the advice I received was to go to an independent optician
rather than a chain like LensCrafters because most of the chains used
cheaper lenses, and these cheaper lenses could be the cause of my
dissatisfaction. I was cautioned that a good pair of progressive lenses
would cost considerably more.

Well, I got a recommendation from a trusted source who bought a pair of
progressives and bought a pair myself. I paid $500 (which included an
eye exam), compared to LensCrafters' charge of about $300 (but no eye
exam, which I'd already got from an ophthalmologist). The lenses are,
according to the receipt, Varilux's Physio 360.

The result is that while these glasses are certainly better than the
pair from LensCrafters, they're not perfect especially when it comes to
medium distance vision (such as looking at a computer screen).

Distance vision is pretty good (say eight of ten), though when I
maintain my focus on a particular point while moving my head back and
forth, the image "stretches" from diagonal corners and blurs a bit.

Reading vision is about the same, though I must precisely position the
book in order to avoid blurring on the edges (particularly from my right
eye). Also, I can now read very small type (with some difficulty) such
as is often found on product packaging, which I was not able to do with
either the LensCrafters progressives or the bifocals I got to replace
them.

Medium distance vision is, as I said, the problem. For example, I have
a 19" (diagonal) flat panel LCD display which is almost 15" across. If
I focus on something at screen center, with my eyes just about two feet
from the screen, anything to the left and right becomes progressively
(no pun intended!) blurry, moreso as the distance from center
increases. I estimate I can clearly see approximately one third of the
screen. I don't mean to say that I can't necessarily read the other
parts of the screen - it's dependant upon the font size, but except for
the center third of the screen, things are either slightly or very
blurry.

I've had these glasses for almost a month. The first week was pretty
bad, but after some kind of adjustment, as well as time for me to
adjust, the reading and distance vision are good enough.

I don't know what kind of adjustment he made but the optician took my
glasses in the back of the store for about 15 minutes and I saw him
hunched over them; IAC, they certainly fit better now.

So, I guess my question boils down to: am I being too picky and is this
the best I can expect from progressives, or must there be some kind of
change made to the lenses in order to improve the medium distance
vision? The optician tells me there's nothing he can do about it.

My prescription is:

SPHERICAL CYLINDRICAL AXIS
O.D. p1 -1.50 30
O.S. +1.25 -0.75 175

O.D.
O.S. add +2.25

My previous prescription was:

SPHERICAL CYLINDRICAL AXIS
O.D. p1 -1.25 30
O.S. +0.50 -0.75 170

O.D.
O.S. add +1.50

The doctor told me that my prescription hasn't changed much.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my
life there.
--Charles F. Kettering

War is good for business - invest your son.
--antiwar bumper sticker from the 1960s
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Negron from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Joe Negron wrote:

> So, I guess my question boils down to: am I being too picky and is this
> the best I can expect from progressives, or must there be some kind of
> change made to the lenses in order to improve the medium distance
> vision? The optician tells me there's nothing he can do about it.
>
> My prescription is:
>
> SPHERICAL CYLINDRICAL AXIS
> O.D. p1 -1.50 30
> O.S. +1.25 -0.75 175
>
> O.D.
> O.S. add +2.25

I've got a much nastier prescription than you do and I have no problem at all
with my 23" monitor and single-vision glasses. Isn't the central portion of
progressives sort of hourglass-shaped?

I've pretty much resigned myself to switching among 4 pair of glasses (plus
varying powers of cheap readers when I wear my contacts) depending on what I'm
doing. I can see why people would choose lasik, but that would probably be
screwed up too :-(

--
Cheers, Bev
***********************************************
"A complete lack of evidence is the surest sign
that the conspiracy is working." -- Tanuki

On Sep 3, 2:58*pm, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
> .
> >
> Distance *vision *is *pretty *good *(say *eight *of *ten), though when I
> maintain my focus on a particular point while moving my *head *back *and
> forth, the image "stretches" from diagonal corners and blurs a bit.

Yup, that happens with progressives. The advice for using
progressives is to "point your nose at what you want to see", don't
move your head while keeping the eyes in one spot.


> Medium *distance vision is, as I said, the problem. *For example, I have
> a 19" (diagonal) flat panel LCD display which is almost 15" across. * If
> I *focus on something at screen center, with my eyes just about two feet
> from the screen, anything to the left and *right *becomes *progressively
> (no * pun *intended!) * blurry, *moreso *as *the *distance *from *center
> increases. *I estimate I can clearly see approximately one third of *the
> screen. * I *don't *mean *to say that I can't necessarily read the other
> parts of the screen - it's dependant upon the font size, but except *for
> the *center *third *of *the *screen, *things are either slightly or very
> blurry.

Yup, that happens with progressives. They are clear for the centre,
where you are looking, don't expect the whole screen to be clear,
especially the edges where you aren't looking

If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
distance from the screen.

Judy

On 2009-09-04, The Real Bev <bashley101+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Joe Negron wrote:
>
>>So, I guess my question boils down to: am I being too picky and is this
>>the best I can expect from progressives, or must there be some kind of
>>change made to the lenses in order to improve the medium distance
>>vision? The optician tells me there's nothing he can do about it.
>>
>>My prescription is:
>>
>> SPHERICAL CYLINDRICAL AXIS
>> O.D. p1 -1.50 30
>> O.S. +1.25 -0.75 175
>>
>> O.D.
>> O.S. add +2.25
>
>I've got a much nastier prescription than you do and I have no problem at all
>with my 23" monitor and single-vision glasses.

it's such a hassle to carry an extra pair with me that I'm really trying
to make these progressives work.

>Isn't the central portion of progressives sort of hourglass-shaped?

Yes, it must be as that would explain my problem.

>I've pretty much resigned myself to switching among 4 pair of glasses (plus
>varying powers of cheap readers when I wear my contacts) depending on what I'm
>doing.

Four pair? I think carrying one extra pair is a major inconvenience!
Then again, I don't carry a purse (which I suppose you do).

>I can see why people would choose lasik, but that would probably be
>screwed up too :-(

I considered lasik but after reading of some relatively rare but serious
complications, and that it may only reduce not eliminate my need for
glasses I figured I'd be better off with glasses.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If my husband would ever meet a woman on the street who looked like the
women in his paintings, he would fall over in a dead faint.
--Mrs. Pablo Picasso

War is good for business - invest your son.
--antiwar bumper sticker from the 1960s
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Negron from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY, USA

On Sep 4, 1:54*am, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
> On 2009-09-04, The Real Bev <bashley101...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>So, *I guess my question boils down to: am I being too picky and is this
> >>the best I can expect from progressives,
>
> I considered lasik but after reading of some relatively rare but serious
> complications, and that it may only reduce not *eliminate *my *need*for
> glasses I figured I'd be better off with glasses.

LASIK wouldn't solve your problem anyway; it corrects your distance
vision but not your computer or near vision.

Judy

On 2009-09-04, Dr Judy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>On Sep 3, 2:58*pm, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
>
>>Medium *distance vision is, as I said, the problem. *For example, I have
>>a 19" (diagonal) flat panel LCD display which is almost 15" across. * If
>>I *focus on something at screen center, with my eyes just about two feet
>>from the screen, anything to the left and *right *becomes *progressively
>>(no * pun *intended!) * blurry, *moreso *as *the *distance *from *center
>>increases. *[...]
>
>Yup, that happens with progressives. They are clear for the centre,
>where you are looking, don't expect the whole screen to be clear,
>especially the edges where you aren't looking
>
>If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
>then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
>distance from the screen.

This wouldn't be a bad solution, as I wouldn't have to carry them around
with me. The only problem is that I paid $500 for the progressives and
had hoped that that would be the extent of my investment in this issue.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
He who has imagination without learning has wings and no feet.
--Joseph Joubert

War is good for business - invest your son.
--antiwar bumper sticker from the 1960s
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Negron from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY, USA

On Sep 5, 10:34*am, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
> On 2009-09-04, Dr Judy <mpac...@rogers.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
> >then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
> >distance from the screen.
>
> This wouldn't be a bad solution, as I wouldn't have to carry them around
> with me. *The only problem is that I paid $500 for the progressives *and
> had hoped that that would be the extent of my investment in this issue.

The good news is that single vision readers for the computer are
inexpensive. And the progressives are still useful for everything
else.

It's a common solution, look around and you will find quite a number
of people with progressives for most tasks and a pair of SV for the
computer.

Judy

Dr Judy wrote:

> On Sep 5, 10:34 am, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
>> On 2009-09-04, Dr Judy <mpac...@rogers.com> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
>> >then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
>> >distance from the screen.
>>
>> This wouldn't be a bad solution, as I wouldn't have to carry them around
>> with me. The only problem is that I paid $500 for the progressives and
>> had hoped that that would be the extent of my investment in this issue.
>
> The good news is that single vision readers for the computer are
> inexpensive. And the progressives are still useful for everything
> else.

99-Cents-Only Store. Wide selection of sizes and frames.

> It's a common solution, look around and you will find quite a number
> of people with progressives for most tasks and a pair of SV for the
> computer.

I'd jump for joy if all I needed for the computer were cheap readers!

--
Cheers, Bev
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" """""""
"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again
incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.

In article <h7v60c$e2n$(E-Mail Removed)>,
The Real Bev <bashley101+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Dr Judy wrote:
>
> > On Sep 5, 10:34 am, Joe Negron <jneg...@XsonicX.invalid> wrote:
> >> On 2009-09-04, Dr Judy <mpac...@rogers.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
> >> >then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
> >> >distance from the screen.
> >>
> >> This wouldn't be a bad solution, as I wouldn't have to carry them around
> >> with me. The only problem is that I paid $500 for the progressives and
> >> had hoped that that would be the extent of my investment in this issue.
> >
> > The good news is that single vision readers for the computer are
> > inexpensive. And the progressives are still useful for everything
> > else.
>
> 99-Cents-Only Store. Wide selection of sizes and frames.

That assumes that the prescription for both eyes is the same (mine
wasn't), that there is no astigmatism (I had considerable in one eye)
and that the amount needed is in the range sold OTC (mine was a *very*
strong minus).

SV prescription glasses are *much* cheaper than progressives, but
nothing like 99 cents!

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
(E-Mail Removed)

In article <h7tstg$v14$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Joe Negron <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On 2009-09-04, Dr Judy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> >If you really need the entire 15" screen to be clear edge to edge,
> >then consider a single vision pair of computer glasses, set for the
> >distance from the screen.
>
> This wouldn't be a bad solution, as I wouldn't have to carry them around
> with me. The only problem is that I paid $500 for the progressives and
> had hoped that that would be the extent of my investment in this issue.

This is all personal preference, as far as I am concerned. Some people,
like my wife, want one pair of glasses that go on in the morning when
she gets up and come off when she goes to bed. She doesn't want SV
computer glasses, even though she could buy OTC glasses that would work.

I like to use individual tools, because they usually work better for
their one task, and you can buy all the tools you need for less than the
cost of one all-purpose tool.

Of course, it depends also quite heavily on how and how much you use
your computer. If you are switching between talking to somebody,
reading and using the computer, SV glasses won't work. If you just use
the computer by itself, for long periods, SV makes more sense.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
(E-Mail Removed)