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Medical Forum / General / Vision / January 2007progressive non-aspheric lenses availability
I am transitioning from single-vision non-aspheric lenses to bifocal glasses. I have been a full-time glasses wearer for more than 40 years. 4 years ago, unknowingly I received single-vision aspheric lens. After 2 weeks of blurry vision, eye-strain and headaches, the provider agreed to have single-vision non-aspheric lenses made. The blurry vision, eye-strain and headaches all went away. I am led to believe I have always worn non-aspheric lenses. Since I work full-time at a computer, it has been recommended that I get progressive lenses that include intermediate. My new perscription is: Sphere Cylinder Axis Prism Add OD -7.25 -050 169 + 1.25 OS -7.75 -075 053 + 1.25 Does anyone in this group know of any lens manufacturers and providers that can make this perscription non-aspheric? So far, I have questions into Varilux (for Comfort) and Hoya (for Hoyalux GP Wide). I would like to understand any progressive options before I compromise by getting non-progressive lenses. Thank you, Mark Sabiers Fort Collins, Colorado >I am transitioning from single-vision non-aspheric lenses to bifocal > glasses. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Mark Sabiers > Fort Collins, Colorado All progressives by definition are aspheric because of the add power for reading, and the transition between distance and reading powers. Some progressives are fully aspheric in the distance portion and some are not, which is probably what you mean. Some lenses are atoric, which means that they have the power ground on both sides of the lens. The reason you had problems with the aspheric lens is that they were not fit properly for your frames and lenses. The optical center of the lens must be centered (left/right and up/down) on your pupil (except for a small offset factor that we will not discuss here). Do not purchase new lenses from the same person who tried to fit you with aspheric lenses in the past. For your rather high power Rx, you probably would want a fully aspheric progressive lens from a premium lens manufacturer and design. This automatically rules out Lenscrafters, Pearle, Sears, and a host of other large optical chains who sell mediocre lens designs. Almost all premium progressive lens models are aspheric or atoric. The Varilux Comfort is a fairly old design and might be OK for someone with a relatively weak Rx, but I doubt you would be happy with them The Varilux Panamic or Varilux Pyhsio will be much better for a strong Rx. There are also other premium lens designs available from Zeiss, Rodenstock, Hoya, etc. The key is to get an experienced optician to fit your frames and lenses. Preferably someone is over 40 with a lot of years in the optical business should fit you (and who also wears progressives). You might want to consider computer glasses instead. This will give you good vision at computer and reading distance, plus a little bit of vision up to about 10 feet. But you cannot use these for driving (just use you existing lenses for that). One other thing that can make a very big difference is the lens material (each with its own index of refraction). Most lenses come in a range of materials (indexes). Someone with your strong Rx should avoid polycarb (1.59 index) like the plague. You would probably want 1.67 or 1.60 index lens material. If you don't care about the aesthetics of thick edges, then 1.60 would give you better optical quality. If your optician recommends polycarb, immediately go somewhere else. Be forewarned that like any new progressive wearer, you will be freaked out when you first put them on, but if they are a good design and fit properly you will adapt to them in a few weeks. If you don't adapt, then almost all manufacturers will remake them in a non-progressive design, bi-focals, etc at no extra charge. > The key is to get an experienced optician to fit your frames and lenses. > Preferably someone is over 40 with a lot of years in the optical business > should fit you (and who also wears progressives). BTW, in the Denver area I would recommend Europtics as optical shop that has some very good opticians. 4 locations in Denver area, but it may be a drive from Ft Collins. http://www.eoptics.com/ > >I am transitioning from single-vision non-aspheric lenses to bifocal > > glasses. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Mark Sabiers > > Fort Collins, Colorado Thank you for sharing the details. This helps consumers like myself to understand better. > All progressives by definition are aspheric because of the add power for > reading, and the transition between distance and reading powers. Some > progressives are fully aspheric in the distance portion and some are not, > which is probably what you mean. Some lenses are atoric, which means that > they have the power ground on both sides of the lens. Can the distance area of the lens be non-aspheric by being atoric? If I pursued progressives, would I request progressives with atoric for distance? I'm trying to determine what is reasonable to request of an optician/lens manufacturer/lens grinder vs. what is nonsense. > The reason you had problems with the aspheric lens is that they were not fit > properly for your frames and lenses. The optical center of the lens must be > centered (left/right and up/down) on your pupil (except for a small offset > factor that we will not discuss here). Do not purchase new lenses from the > same person who tried to fit you with aspheric lenses in the past. Ok, that explains my experience, thanks. > For your rather high power Rx, you probably would want a fully aspheric > progressive lens from a premium lens manufacturer and design. This [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Preferably someone is over 40 with a lot of years in the optical business > should fit you (and who also wears progressives). Thanks for the other lens recommendations. Yes, now to find an experienced optician in or near Fort Collins. > You might want to consider computer glasses instead. This will give you good > vision at computer and reading distance, plus a little bit of vision up to > about 10 feet. But you cannot use these for driving (just use you existing > lenses for that). Interesting thought. Good vision is the top priority. I admit to having a preference for one pair of glasses. > One other thing that can make a very big difference is the lens material > (each with its own index of refraction). Most lenses come in a range of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > would give you better optical quality. If your optician recommends polycarb, > immediately go somewhere else. I believe my current SV lenses are 1.60 index and I have been happy with them until presbyopia kicked in at 48. > Be forewarned that like any new progressive wearer, you will be freaked out > when you first put them on, but if they are a good design and fit properly > you will adapt to them in a few weeks. If you don't adapt, then almost all > manufacturers will remake them in a non-progressive design, bi-focals, etc > at no extra charge. This is the key question. I have been assuming that a lifetime of wearing non-aspheric lenses has caused the visual portions of my brain to be adjusted to the distortion that non-aspheric lenses have so that I will not be able to adjust to aspheric lenses. Are there people that never can adjust or is the real issue what you mentioned above: proper frame and lens fit to my eyes? About the adapting period - what is considered tolerable symptoms during those couple of weeks? A couple of weeks is how long I previously tried with SV aspheric lenses before I gave up and was able to revert to SV non-aspheric. How might one tell if one is going to adapt vs. never adapt? Thank you again for your response, Mark >This is the key question. I have been assuming that a lifetime of >wearing non-aspheric lenses has caused the visual portions of my brain >to be adjusted to the distortion that non-aspheric lenses have so that >I will not be able to adjust to aspheric lenses. Aspheric lenses do not improve the visual acuity, they only allow the use of flatter curves, which would normally increase oblique astigmatism and power error when you look away from the lens center. Asphericity by itself, except for reduced magnification in moderate to high plus, is beneficial visually only in very high plus Rxs, probably above about +10D. >Are there people that never can adjust It's rare, occurs mostly in lower powers, and that's usually associated with internal and back reflections, easily remedied with the use of AR coatings. >or is the real issue what you mentioned above: proper >frame and lens fit to my eyes? Bingo. With your Rx, objects should be clear from about 25" to infinity through the distance portion of the glasses, so there's probably no need for an "intermediate" or separate glasses. Robert Martellaro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optician/Owner Roberts Optical Wauwatosa Wi. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr I am led to believe I have always worn > non-aspheric lenses. probably true, since aspheric single vision lenses are a fairly new phenomenon. > Since I work full-time at a computer, it has been recommended that I > get progressive lenses that include intermediate. My new perscription [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > OD -7.25 -050 169 + 1.25 > OS -7.75 -075 053 + 1.25 It might work, and might not. Progressives have narrow intermediate zones and might not be suitable for computer use. In addition, if aspheric single vision lenses bother you, progressives probably will too. > Does anyone in this group know of any lens manufacturers and providers > that can make this perscription non-aspheric? Only in lined bifocals and trifocals. All progressives are aspheric. So far, I have questions > into Varilux (for Comfort) and Hoya (for Hoyalux GP Wide). I would > like to understand any progressive options before I compromise by > getting non-progressive lenses. The Varilux Comfort has a very narrow intermediate zone. The GP wide is a bit better, but I'd consider the Hoya ECP or the Varilux Physio if you must have one pair of glasses that does everything. If you go this route, you might not like how they work for computing and may end up with a 2nd pair of computer glasses (SV non-aspheric of course). w.stacy, o.d. Thank you for your response. This helps clarify for consumers like myself. > > Since I work full-time at a computer, it has been recommended that I > > get progressive lenses that include intermediate. My new perscription [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > zones and might not be suitable for computer use. In addition, if > aspheric single vision lenses bother you, progressives probably will too. Understood. When the optometrist drew a diagram showing that progressives have an intermediate zone that is only the center area of the lens, I started wondering whether it would feel like looking through a tunnel. Yes, I am trying to determine whether I will adjust to progressives (if lenses and frames are properly fit) or I am one of the few people that will never be able to adjust. Are there any statistics for this? > > Does anyone in this group know of any lens manufacturers and providers > > that can make this perscription non-aspheric? > > Only in lined bifocals and trifocals. All progressives are aspheric. Ok, so asking for non-aspheric progressives is nonsensical - thanks. > So far, I have questions > > into Varilux (for Comfort) and Hoya (for Hoyalux GP Wide). I would [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > route, you might not like how they work for computing and may end up > with a 2nd pair of computer glasses (SV non-aspheric of course). Thank you for the lens recommendations. I will pursue these locally and hopefully find an all-purpose solution. Right now, I have moved my monitors back a couple of inches to temporarily deal with the focus and eye strain issues. > w.stacy, o.d. > Yes, I am trying to determine whether I will adjust to progressives (if > lenses and frames are properly fit) or I am one of the few people that > will never be able to adjust. Are there any statistics for this? nationally, I'd guess about 10% don't or can't adjust to them. My stats are a little better than that because 1. I'm very careful in fitting them, 2. I only use premium progressives, and 3. I talk a lot of people out of them before they even try them. So my non adapt rate is about 5%. Still way too many, but thankfully there's always a non-adapt free remake available for at least 90 days. w.stacy, o.d. > Yes, I am trying to determine whether I will adjust to progressives (if > lenses and frames are properly fit) or I am one of the few people that > will never be able to adjust. Are there any statistics for this? FWIW, I attempted to adjust to bifocals for about a year without success - I couldn't get used to the abrupt change when shifting from the distance correction to the reading correction - however the first time I put on my progressives I immediately knew they would work because of the smooth transitions. It only took a few days for my brain to forget that there were different corrections in different regions of the lens. I've been wearing a Hoya progressive lens for a few years which my OD recommended in part because I was hoping to be able to wear them while using the computer (wider mid range channel). The quality of my vision is excellent with this lens, but I cannot wear them for computer work - the mid-range channel is too small. I doubt that any progressive would be adequate for computer work. Separate single vision glasses for the computer are the best solution IMHO. |
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