Your vision connects you to the world around you. As you grow older, it may change, and you may have trouble reading or seeing objects up close. You try store-bought readers, but they do not resolve the problem. You decide to see an eye doctor, and they suggest you get progressive lenses. Here is a look at what they are and who should wear them.

What Are Progressive Lenses?

There are different types of eyeglasses. There are single vision lenses that have one power over the whole lens. Then, there are bifocal and trifocal lenses which are types of multifocal lenses. That means they have multiple strengths in one lens. 

Multifocal lenses may have multiple strengths that allow you to see at various distances. However, they have a visible line separating the different powers and prescriptions. Progressive lenses have no demarcating line and have a seamless look. Sometimes, people refer to them as no-line bifocal or trifocal lenses. 

Who Should Wear Them?

Progressive lenses can serve a wide variety of people with vision problems. Due to their multifocal nature, they can aid in correcting different vision issues. So, who should wear them?

People Over 40

These people show signs of age-related vision problems and have trouble seeing objects up close. They may need to hold their favorite books up to their faces when they read. You may also see them hold their work up close. Age causes vision blurs, and progressive lenses will help those over 40 overcome the issue. They will help them read and see objects without worry.

Progressive Lenses for Children

Children are another category that can benefit from progressive lenses. Pediatric eye doctors may recommend them to slow down myopia progression. In this case, the doctor will prescribe two prescriptions that adjust between seeing near and distant objects. Thus, they will correct myopia in the child and slow down the elongation of the eyeball.

Single vision lenses will focus peripheral light to a point behind the retina. It encourages the eyeball to keep elongating. However, progressive lenses have a center portion that corrects myopia and focuses light on the retina. The outer part focuses peripheral light in front of the retina. This way, the lenses slow the growth of the eyeball.

Benefits of Progressive Lenses

The most obvious is that you will not need more than one pair of eyeglasses. Hence, you do not need to keep changing between regular eyeglasses and reading glasses. It may take time before you adapt to them.

But when you do, they will seem natural. When driving, they will allow you to look at the road and switch to the dashboard without problems. You can also sew, watch television, or read and look up at your children playing.

The unsightly line in traditional multifocal lenses can make you look old. However, progressive lenses will keep you looking young and modern since there is no visible line.

For more information on progressive lenses, visit Sturgeon's Optical at our Barboursville, West Virginia office. Call (304) 733-0101 to book an appointment today.