The Tricky Journey of Finding the Perfect Progressive Lenses
The Tricky Journey of Finding the Perfect Progressive Lenses
Dealing with astigmatism, myopia, and wearing progressive lenses can indeed be challenging, especially when it feels like you've hit a dead end in finding the right pair for you. This often frustrates individuals who have tried multiple pairs, only to find that some make their vision clear, while others leave them feeling dizzy. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind this frustration and provide some guiding tips to help you find the perfect fit.
Why Finding Progressive Lenses is Difficult
Progressive lenses are designed to correct multiple vision issues, one of which is myopia and astigmatism. However, their effectiveness largely depends on their alignment with your specific eye conditions and facial structure. Precise positioning and orientation are critical for these lenses to work effectively, which is why it can be so hard to find the right pair. Here are some key factors:
Matching Optics with Eye Position
Progressive lenses ensure that near and distance vision are seamlessly blended. The success of these lenses depends on the exact position and angle of the lens with respect to your eye. They only work optimally when they naturally sit on your face in the correct alignment, ensuring clear vision at all distances. This requires a perfect match between the lens design and your facial structure.
Prescription Accuracy and Lens Cutting
For progressive lenses, not only does the prescription need to be correct, but the lens must also be rotated, positioned, and cut absolutely correctly for that particular frame. This alignment is crucial, especially for any individual who has been through smile surgery, as it can add additional complications to finding the right pair. Interpupillary distance, or the distance between the centers of the pupils, can vary, and exact central alignment is often not achieved due to subtle differences in nose shapes and sizes.
Optician’s Role in Alignment
Post-casting, an optician plays a vital role in ‘tweaking’ the frame to ensure the glasses sit correctly. This involves adjusting the nose pads and arms to align the lens properly on your face. A poorly fitting frame can disrupt the natural alignment of the lenses, leading to defocused vision and other discomforts, especially with more complex prescriptions.
What to Do When You Experience Dizziness with Progressive Lenses
When you experience dizziness with progressive lenses, it could be due to a variety of reasons. Here are some potential causes and steps to take:
Proper Frame Fit
It could be that the problematic pair just needs a small adjustment. Have your glasses checked by an eye doctor or an optician to ensure they are properly aligned. Sometimes a mere millimeter adjustment to the lowering of the reading zone can make a significant difference.
Incorrect Prescription
If the exact prescription is correct for the working pair, the issue might lie with the measurements or the lab that produced the lenses. Miscalculations in the power or height of the progressive surface can cause dizziness. It’s important to verify that the prescription and measurements were done accurately, and that the lenses were manufactured correctly.
Similar but Different Frames
Even if the frames are described as ‘similar’ in appearance, subtle differences in the placement of the hinges and the distance between the lenses can affect the fit and alignment. These small variations can lead to incorrect lens positioning, resulting in dizziness or other discomforts.
Power Misalignment and Other Symptoms
The prescribed power must be correct. If it isn’t, no lens will suit your needs, as incorrect power can increase ambient brightness, making it uncomfortable to wear. To check if the power is correct, visit the Eyesight and You space. Search for questions related to incorrect lens power and the symptoms it can cause. This can help you identify if the dizziness might be due to an incorrectly powered lens.
In conclusion, finding the perfect progressive lenses requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the factors involved. Proper alignment, correct prescription, and an expert optician to fine-tune your glasses can make all the difference. If you’re experiencing issues with your progressive lenses, don’t hesitate to seek professional help and double-check any steps in the manufacturing and fitting process.