Buying progressive lenses online makes your life easier. It’s fast and convenient, and you can complete the whole process without leaving your couch.
The trick is getting the right measurements. Progressive lenses need to be positioned correctly to provide clear vision at different distances. But finding the right pair doesn’t have to be complicated.
Here’s what’s involved…
At a Glance
- Progressive lenses have different viewing zones, so you can see close, intermediate, and distant objects more clearly. The lens is seamless with no lines.
- While you can find progressive lenses online, they need to be super-accurate to work properly.
- Veero is an AI-powered fitting tool that helps measure your PD, with segment height measurement coming soon on EZContacts.
- For frames, progressive lenses need to fit perfectly; otherwise, viewing zones (such as the reading zone) could be clipped.
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses combine multiple prescriptions in one lens. These typically include distance, intermediate, and reading prescriptions.
Progressive lenses are often prescribed to people with presbyopia. This is an age-related condition that can make close-up vision more difficult. An eye doctor can determine whether they’re right for you.
Unlike bifocals and trifocals, progressive lenses have no visible lines separating the viewing zones. This helps create a seamless transition between prescriptions.
Understanding progressive lenses on your prescription
If you see “ADD” on your prescription with a number listed under it, you may benefit from progressive lenses.
“ADD” (short for addition) refers to the additional lens power needed to help you see clearly up close.
The ADD value appears as a plus number on your prescription, often ranging from +0.75 to +3.00, although values outside this range are possible. It’s often the same for both eyes.
Is Buying Progressive Lenses Online a Bad Idea?
Some people might say that buying progressive lenses online is a big gamble. The reason is that these lenses typically require very precise physical measurements.
But it’s not impossible to get right. It depends on the technology and approach of the company you’re ordering your lenses from. With the right process, you can get perfect progressive glasses delivered to your door.
What Are the Challenges of Buying Progressive Lenses Online?
One of the biggest challenges of buying progressive lenses online is getting the segment height right.
Single vision lenses typically only require your Pupillary Distance (PD), whereas progressive lenses also need the vertical measurement. This is otherwise known as the segment height (often called seg height). This measurement refers to the distance, in millimeters, from the bottom of the lens to the center of your pupil.
Accuracy matters here. Even a small error can shift your reading zone too high or too low, which could cause eye strain. Generic or automated measurement methods may not account for how your eyes line up with your specific frames.
At EZContacts, we’re implementing Veero, a tool designed to take the guesswork out of measuring for progressive lenses. You can already use Veero to measure your PD on EZContacts. Soon, you’ll be able to use it to measure your seg height as well.
Veero acts like a virtual optician, and it calculates your pupil placement in relation to the frames you choose.
Because every frame fits differently, the position of your pupils within the lenses can vary. Some rest lower on the nose, while others have larger lenses that change where your pupils align. Veero is designed to account for those differences.
How Does Frame Size Affect Progressive Lenses?
The thing that makes progressive lenses so beneficial (that they have three viewing zones) also makes accuracy a big deal.
If you pick a frame with a lens height that’s too short, part of these zones could get cut off. This could leave you with lenses that don’t work as intended.
At EZContacts, our frames are cataloged automatically so you won’t mistakenly buy a frame that can’t support your progressive lenses. You can filter by progressive or bifocal lenses and find frames that are a great fit.
Do Progressive Lenses Take Time to Adjust to?
If you’re a first-time progressive lens user, it will usually take your brain some time to adjust (usually a week or two). Why? Because you have to get used to looking through the top of the lens for distance, the middle for computer use, and the bottom for reading.
If your vision seems unusual at first, it’s easy to wonder whether something is wrong with your lenses. In many cases, though, it’s simply a matter of getting used to your new prescription.
You might find wearing them all day a little strange at first, but generally these lenses just require persistence and not switching between your old and new glasses. But if you have major discomfort that lasts for weeks, get in touch with your eye doctor.
When shopping online, it’s also a good idea to choose a reputable retailer with an experienced optical team. At EZContacts, prescriptions are fulfilled through an authorized optical lab, and our customer service team is available by email or phone if you have any questions or concerns.
FAQs
Can I buy progressive lenses online?
Yes. Technology like Veero is making it easier by measuring your pupil placement in relation to your chosen frames, so your lenses line up with how you’ll actually wear them.
Is it cheaper to buy progressive lenses online or in store?
Buying progressive glasses online can be more affordable. At EZContacts, we don’t have physical stores, so we don’t have huge markups on the eyewear we sell. This is why you’ll find a lot of frames at more affordable prices than brick-and-mortar stores.
We also have an authorized lab, so we can produce precision progressive lenses for less than many optical shops.
What are some signs I need progressive lenses?
Presbyopia is one of the most common reasons that people need progressive lenses. Even if you’ve never worn glasses, you may benefit from them if you’re over 40 and struggle to see your phone or book at a normal close-up distance. Here are some other signs:
- Relying on both reading and ‘normal’ glasses.
- Having clear distance vision but struggling with objects closer to you.
- Needing more light than before to read.
- Temporary blurry vision when your eyes shift focus from a screen to another object in the room.
However, the only way to truly know if you need progressive lenses is to visit your eye doctor.
