Progressive glasses were invented in 1950s. Having been developed for more than half a century, its performance acts better and better. Generally speaking, progressive glasses are mainly suitable for the elders. However, with the development of technology in progressive glasses, now it can also be used to prevent and control myopia on youngsters.
It is reported by Essilor International that, in France, eighty-four percent of the elders wear progressive glasses. But in United States, the rate is fairly low. Few elders have enjoyed the convenience brought by progressive glasses in US. It is probably due to the following two reasons.
Firstly, some elders think the price of the progressive glasses is so high that they can’t afford it. Generally speaking, the price of a pair of ordinary progressive glasses in the entity shops is four hundred US dollars or more. Most of the elders think that just a pair of glasses is not worth so much money. Is there any way to enjoy the convenience of wearing progressive glasses but also cost less money at the same time? It is suggested by some experts that they can buy one in some e-shops such as bigeyeoptical.com. In these e-shops, the price of the progressive glasses is generally less than one hundred dollars. Besides, most of the owners of the e-shops pledge that consumers could ask for exchanging or replacing a purchase at their pleasure within five days from the day they receive the glasses.
Secondly, the ophthalmology and prescription of the progressive glasses needs high and new technology, so lots of medium and small-sized glass shops can’t afford much investment in the technology. Therefore, right now, there are not many glass shops supplying the progressive glasses in the market.
According to a professional ophthalmologist, the progressive glasses are very suitable for the following two kinds of people.
First: people who are more than forty-five years old, and have need in watching objects constantly in near distance, medium distance and far distance with a long history of wearing glasses. The last point, a long history of wearing glasses is very important, for the long-time wearers have already been used to the image difference caused by glasses, while the new wearers feel uncomfortable even by wearing glasses with no strength, not to mention the progressive glasses.
Second: teenagers whose strength of myopia increases at the speed of more than one diopter per year. It is proved by scientific experiments that the degeneration of their eyesight could be controlled and the condition of their myopia could be improved after they wear the progressive glasses.
The professional opthalmologist also remind that it is better for the following three kinds of people not to wear the progressive glasses.
First: people whose refractive difference between two eyes is more than ±2 diopters and strength of astigmatism is more than ±2 diopters. The eyes of these people are in a special condition in which the refractive power of one eye differs from that of the other, so they aren’t able to put up with the prism effect caused by focusing of eyes.
Second: people who have need in enjoying a broad sight in medium and near distance. Therefore, drivers, library screen-watchers, accountants, etc. should not wear progressive glasses.
Third: people who are able to see objects in far distance clearly, never wear glasses before and hope to select a pair of glasses that can be applied in watching objects in near, medium or far distance. The glasses they want are commonly called the progressive glasses with no strength on the up part but with the effect of presbyopia lenses on the down part. Briefly speaking, these kinds of people are particular about their glasses, so they can hardly select a suitable pair of progressive glasses.