Progressives for Pilot

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

rck - 20 Aug 2005 19:09 GMT

Hi,

I am looking for a recommendations for progressive lenses (by brand and
model)

By day, I am either reading from paper or computer screen (about 50/50)

I am also a pilot, which involves near vision (For charts),
intermediate vision (for instruments) and distant vision. It also calls
for reasonably good peripheral vision (especially for landing).

I am hoping that one or more of the newer progressive lenses can handle
these chores, while providing reasonably good peripheral vision.

To date I have been wearing single vision distance glasses and bifocal
computer glasses.

Prescription is:

-2.50 -0.50 100
-2.75 -0.25 85

add 2.25
+1.25 computer add

Can anyone recommend a specific lenses that would be good (or should be
avoided)?

Thanks

Reply to this Message

GeorgeB - 20 Aug 2005 21:14 GMT

>I am looking for a recommendations for progressive lenses (by brand and
>model)
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>Can anyone recommend a specific lenses that would be good (or should be
>avoided)?

Your vision is similar to mine, and I'm about 90% satisfied. I cannot
find anything with decent peripheral close vision. That 2.25 add is
the problem, I'm told. While I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, I'm told that if I
only had 1.75 add then everything would be much wider.

Only your optician and some trials will tell you if that is enough;
I'm 99% sure it would be for me as I like to read at 24" or so. I'll
try to talk him into it next exam.

Lens ... my first were Essilor (Varilux) Panamic, their "premium"
product. I absolutely hated them. The problem is partially that
their optimization and my desires conflict ... they try, I think, for
pretty good everywhere, and in doing so peripheral SUCKS. My optician
also mounted them too high.

For MY desires, I would have single vision in a top area like the
top/bottom executive grind, with progressive in the lower third;
AFAIK, that doesn't exist. We switched to Essilor Liberty, not well
known (and their entry level, lower cost in Europe) product (same
price as Panamic, I was told, here in the good ol' USA) I have
satisfactory distance and peripheral, and marginal mid and near;
marginal for almost total lack of peripheral, not for center
sharpness. They are wider than the Panamics, however.

I've heard plus and minus on the AO b'Active; it gives much that I
want, and may be exactly; the available literatuer is lacking, and my
optician has no experience, nor good input from her lab. I may gamble
and try it.

Be sure the frame you select are pretty tall; mine, at 34mm, are too
short. When I do it again, 38mm will be my minimum.

Reply to this Message

Sibirer - 21 Aug 2005 08:07 GMT

In progressives, wide near and intermediate sharp vision tends to produce
more peripheral distortion. The inverse is also true. The trick is finding a
particular manufacturer's blend of the two that strikes that balance for
you. VERY hit and miss. Ask ALOT of your fellow pilots about their
progressives and get to know their general personalities. This will help
narrow down the field to a few possibilities. Be careful that Varilux (the
name brand) is tossed around in common consumer use as casually as Kleenex
or Styrofoam with no real regard as to the actual manufacturer or specific
product.

Asking around and knowing the general personalities of the people you are
asking will reveal a few designs that may spark your interest. More
importantly, it might reveal an optician in your area that specializes in
your particular needs.

The lined alternative for occupational use ( if you can't use any
progressive available,) would be a 12x40 trifocal. Just make sure that the
near is set to your chart reading distance and angle, the instrument panel
will fall in line just fine for most commercial aircraft.

The Sola Smart Seg also worked for some pilots. It has a distance lens with
a segment that changes between intermediate and near. It's not as wide as
the 12x40, unfortunately. Newer cockpit displays may have rendered that
issue less important.

Make sure the doc and opticain know what distances you need to see to be
safe, and what widths you need to prevent getting a sore neck or missing a
critical element. There is no perfect lens for your occupation, but there
are many that can give satisfactory results for a large number of people.

Carl

>>I am looking for a recommendations for progressive lenses (by brand and
>>model)
[quoted text clipped - 53 lines]
> Be sure the frame you select are pretty tall; mine, at 34mm, are too
> short. When I do it again, 38mm will be my minimum.

Reply to this Message

rck - 22 Aug 2005 15:37 GMT

Thanks Carl,

I am in the Milwaukee area. If anyone can recommend an optician with
progressive experience with pilots around here I would appreciate the
referral.

Reply to this Message

Mark A - 22 Aug 2005 20:05 GMT

> Thanks Carl,
>
> I am in the Milwaukee area. If anyone can recommend an optician with
> progressive experience with pilots around here I would appreciate the
> referral.

Robert Martabello (sp?) of Roberts Optical is one of the best opticians in
the US, especially for progressives. I believe he is located near Milwaukee.
He is a frequent contributor to this newsgroup.

Reply to this Message

rck - 22 Aug 2005 15:34 GMT

Thanks for the tips.

I had not heard of the AO b'Actives and can't find much about them
except their marketing claims so far.

I've heard plus and minus on the AO b'Active; it gives much that I

> want, and may be exactly; the available literatuer is lacking, and my
> optician has no experience, nor good input from her lab. I may gamble
> and try it.
>
> Be sure the frame you select are pretty tall; mine, at 34mm, are too
> short. When I do it again, 38mm will be my minimum.

Reply to this Message

A Lieberman - 20 Aug 2005 21:19 GMT

Hi rck,

> I am also a pilot, which involves near vision (For charts),
> intermediate vision (for instruments) and distant vision. It also calls
> for reasonably good peripheral vision (especially for landing).

I don't have any tips for lenses for pilots, as I will leave that to the
professionals in this newsgroup.

Only thing I want to do is to forewarn you to disregard any postings from a
person named Otis. He is not in the medical profession and not in any
position to give medical advice.

Allen
(A fellow ASEL IA pilot)

Reply to this Message

Dennis Roark - 11 Sep 2005 22:10 GMT

[posted and mailed]

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Thanks

I went through a search for a progressive with a similar prescription
about a year ago. My add is also 2.25. I settled on the Johnson and
Johnson Definity design:
http://www.ecp.definity.com/patient_benefits.htm#zone

They have a very smooth and broad transition through the intermediate
zone, a broader than usual channel width, and are much better than the
Essilor lenses I wore previously. Although I am not a pilot (I am a
teacher who uses the computer a great deal) once I was satisfied with
the Definity the optometry lab where I got them prescribed a pair for a
pilot and report that he is quite satisfied. They cannot be made
locally, but your eye doc will have to send the prescription to the
Virginia J&J plant. They must also be fitted precisely, centered over
the pupil. In the first pair the fitting was a little off so I had them
remade. The second were "perfect." I understand that Essilor is in the
process of buying Definity from J&J, I just hope they don't wreck the
design or manufacturing process of this great lens, since IMO it is
better than anything Essilor makes itself. BTW, I first thought that I
might get another pair optimized for computer use. But the Definity
work so well with the monitor that I decided against a separate pair of
computer glasses. I had to get the Definity lab and my eye doc in
contact since no one in my area previously worked with Definity. It was
worth doing this.

Signature

Dennis Roark

denro@sio.NOSPAMmidco.net
Starting Points:
http://sio.midco.net/denro/www

Reply to this Message

rck - 12 Sep 2005 03:24 GMT

Thanks Dennis,

I have some progressives being made for me right now and I will report
on my degree of sucess with them when I get some experience with them

Reply to this Message

Ben Fullerton - 12 Sep 2005 15:00 GMT

: Thanks Dennis,

: I have some progressives being made for me right now and I will report
: on my degree of sucess with them when I get some experience with them

I just went through this for the first time myself.

Got my first pair of "progressives" two months ago - and they were, for
me, a disaster! The distortion at the sides was such that when turning my
head from side to side - as at a stop sign and checking for oncoming
traffic to the sides - was so bad that it gave me a mild vertigo!

I would be extremely nervous to be flying with a pilot who was wearing
these lenses for the first several times.

I returned them for "lined" trifocals, and found them to be perfect for
driving - far distance sharp, instrument panel sharp, and (when stopped)
close range for maps also perfectly sharp. Peripheral vision is good, with
the same grind as the top (distance) area.

The down side is that they are useless for reading or close work because
they involve constant head turning for even slight 'side glances'. (I use
my peripheral vision a lot.)

The answer, for me, was to keep my old 'close-up' glasses for general
bench work and most reading (but they are now fuzzy at closer than about
18 in.).

I have no idea who the lens supplier was, but I bought them through Sears
Canada's "Sears Optical" division.

From reading this thread, I can only suggest that you shop very carefully
AND try to get a "full value return" for any that are unsatisfactory.
(Sears Canada Optical allowed one return, but no price difference refund
for the lower cost 'lined trifocals'.)

I will continue to follow this thread for more very useful information!

Ben Fullerton

Reply to this Message

Dr. Leukoma - 12 Sep 2005 20:26 GMT

Oh, I don't know. I've made a number of progressive lenses for pilots.
Many of them have fairly mild prescriptions anyway.

DrG

Reply to this Message