Not all no-line bifocals, or Progressive Addition Lenses (PAL’s) are the same.
I have a lot of patients that are confused with the technology of progressives. They will come into my office and ask, “Which progressive should I choose?” or tell me, “I wore progressives before and it didn’t work”.
What you might not know about progressives is that there are over 100 different models and designs of progressive lenses, made by many different companies.
Progressives are very similar to shoes! When you purchase shoes from a store, you need to find the right brand, quality and meets your needs. You wouldn’t buy high heels for running right?
In the same way that you wouldn’t feel comfortable in a low quailty progressive lenses that didn’t meet your needs.
Most optical stores will not tell you the model or brand of PAL they are selling to you, or how those lenses compare to others. Also be careful of
what some chains or online stores call a “premium lens” – it may only be considered premium in comparison to other poor-quality lenses they carry. You might be buying the right brand, but it might be an older generation technology. For example, you might get a nice brand like Essilor Lens or Nikon Lens but the model might be from 1990′s instead of from 2011.
If you have a bad experience with progressives or are trying your first pair, make sure you ask a lot of questions, do some research and make sure you talk about your needs and expectations. Some progressives have wider intermediate zones for computer use, some can fit into smaller frames, and some are made
with newer computerized technology that gives you High Definition quality.
If you choose the right high quality progressives for your needs, you will have a great experience and be happy in your new lenses. If you have
any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at Avenue Eyecare
Sherman Tung, OD FAAO drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Special Thanks to Dr. Harvey with this blog