Progressive lenses

To produce a successful pair of progressive lenses, we take into account all your focusing requirements, including understanding your work environment and whether you drive. Screens in electric cars can be quite challenging so we’ll consider this as well. We’ll go through feedback from previous glasses – successful or otherwise – and simulate computer screens at different distances, along with paperwork on a desk. For musicians, we have sheet music and stands to determine precise visual angles.

We even keep a golf club handy to measure head rotation and position when looking at the ball, ensuring that it’s clear.

By the way, the word multifocals is an umbrella term for lenses with more than one focus, including bifocals which have two focuses* and a dividing line or curve between them. There’s still a place for bifocals, but the norm nowadays is varifocals. 

The term progressives is essentially the same as varifocals, but also includes occupational lenses, which are sophisticated lenses usually designed to provide clear vision for computer distance (typically 60cm) to hand-held distance (typically 40cm) but can be completely customised for any required working distance.

Lenses with just one focus are simply called single focus.

* Properly foci, but please ignore this unless you’re as pedantic as I am.

Optimum lens selection is chosen following discussion during the visual analysis. There are subcategories of progressive lenses: some that range from computer distance to closeup, others specific for driving and the dashboard, perhaps for a music stand at 80cm and to see the conductor as well. Or a good all-rounder.

We use ZEISS lenses by default, but can provide lenses from other lens companies too.

In recent years there have been many innovations in progressive lens design – using 3D computer-aided design, lenses are designed with minimum distortion and have wide zones of clarity to reduce any visual discomfort. In parallel with improved design is improved manufacturing – using nanotechnology, lenses can be made with accuracy measured in microns. 

ZEISS iScription technology takes this to a new level of accuracy with seamless focus progression such that after adaptation, you should be unaware of any focus shift or distortion.

We use the ZEISS iTerminal to measure the precise location of the pupils within the frame so that the lenses can be positioned optimally, accurate to 0.25mm. Where necessary, we will measure reading distance, computer distance and height, dashboard distance and neck angle.

Inaccurate pupil centre measurements are the most common cause of dissatisfaction with varifocal lenses.

An often overlooked step, the cutting of the lenses is critical to ensure that the lenses are positioned exactly as intended.

We only use independent labs or prescription houses with the latest digital technology to ensure glazing accuracy.