Unsteady Steps with Bifocal Glasses: Understanding the Issue and Solutions

Despite having a prescription of 1.75 -0.75 add 2 in both eyes, many wearers of bifocal or progressive lenses might experience unsteady walking. This sensation can be unnerving and uncomfortable, particularly during the initial adjustment period. Understanding the underlying causes and exploring solutions can help address this issue more effectively.

Why You Might Feel Unsteady with Bifocals

Your prescription indicates that you most likely have progressive lenses, which are bifocal lenses designed to gradually change focus from distance to near vision. This is not your first pair, or it could be your very first. In either case, here are some common reasons for the unsteady feeling:

Alignment of Lens Progression

The progression of your lens might be positioned too high. When you look through the lenses parallel to the floor, you might be using the start of the progression, which is not yet optimal. Try lowering your head slightly so that you are looking through a higher part of the lenses. This small change might significantly improve your stability and comfort.

Adjustments and Fit

Often, the issue lies in the adjustments of the frames. If you have metal frames with nosepads, these can be easily adjusted to get the correct position for your lenses. A small tweak in the frame alignment can make a big difference in how you feel while wearing the glasses. It is highly recommended to return to your optometrist to get your glasses correctly adjusted.

Getting Used to Progressive Lenses

If this is your first pair of progressives, it might just be a matter of adjusting to them. Many individuals find that it takes a few weeks to get used to the changing focus. You might be looking more down than you should be, using the starting point of the progression, which is not the most comfortable position. It's also possible that you didn't receive a brief orientation on how to use these lenses effectively. If that's the case, a short lesson from your optometrist could ease the transition.

Presbyopia: An Insight into the Condition

Presbyopia, a natural part of the aging process, affects everyone, albeit at different rates. The lens of the eye is composed of the same types of cells as skin and continues to produce more cells throughout life. However, it must maintain a certain level of flexibility, which is why it hardens, leading to the loss of near vision at a predictable rate.

Starting around the age of 45, the lens stiffens, and the near point of vision retreats to about 30 cm. At this point, people start to need reading glasses or lenses for near vision. This gradual loss of near vision is a condition known as presbyopia. As the lens continues to harden, the near point retreats further, eventually leading to the appearance of cracks and splits, which is termed cataract when it interferes with vision.

Consult Your Optometrist

Despite the detailed explanations, diagnosing and solving the problem requires a professional's assessment. Your optometrist is the best person to help you understand the specific issue and correct it. They can check the fit and alignment of your lenses, as well as provide guidance on how to use your progressive lenses more effectively.

Remember, the key to comfortable and effective use of progressive lenses is proper adjustment and a bit of time to get used to the lenses. With a little bit of help from your optometrist and a bit of practice, you should be able to walk with confidence and comfort.

Conclusion

Feeling unsteady with bifocal or progressive glasses is a common experience, but it doesn't have to be a permanent one. By making small adjustments to how you use your glasses, returning for necessary adjustments, and understanding the underlying conditions like presbyopia, you can improve your walking stability and overall comfort.