Understanding Vision

How do I find the right progressive lenses?

No problem: four types of progressive lenses make it easy to select the right one for your needs

16 October 2021

Progressive lenses are optical masterpieces which offer smooth vision from near to far via what is known as the progression corridor or the transitional zone. But not all progressive lenses are the same. Your progressive lenses should match your requirements, lifestyle and, of course, your budget. They should provide you with natural, comfortable vision. It is important for you to understand exactly how your new progressive lenses work. Using over 100 years of experience in the production of precision spectacle lenses and after detailed market research, ZEISS has now created four different types of progressive lenses.

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#1

Simply enjoy good vision again with your new progressive lenses

If you simply want to enjoy good vision again with your progressive lenses, this is the right lens type for you.

Maybe you are not fully aware of how the digital age has dramatically changed the demands made on our vision in recent years. When you use a smartphone or a similar digital device, your reading distance is different from that required for reading a book or newspaper. This means the near vision zone of your lenses must be designed accordingly.

Even the first level of ZEISS progressives lenses takes this into account – by incorporating Digital Inside^® Technology.

Then you are Progressive Lens Type 1 = Precision Pure

All you want is to be able to read better with your new progressive lenses.
And you read not only books, newspapers and magazines, but also a mobile phone or smartphone.
You also want thin and light lenses.

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#2

You want progressives that match your style

Frame trends do not generally change as quickly as general fashion trends, but one thing is clear: larger frames are definitely becoming more popular again. If you want to follow this trend, this could be a problem for your progressive lenses.

Experienced wearers of progressive lenses know that not every progressive lens design fits every frame. The result: you may need to compromise the quality of your vision, as areas of the progressive lens may be removed when your lenses are being inserted in the frame. You may also have adaptation problems if you switch from a small to a larger frame as you will have to relearn how to move your eyes through the various ranges of vision. The near vision zone is suddenly lower down the lens! This is something your eyes have to get used to.

No problem. With the aid of FrameFit^®+ Technology and world´s first Adaptation Control Technology from ZEISS, your optician can have the lenses optimised for your new frame so that important zones on the lens are no longer removed – and you will not have to change your visual habits.

And needless to say, this type of ZEISS progressive lens is also optimised for the digital age! (see Type 1)

Old progressives

Vision with your old progressives in a smaller frame. Your eyes have learned to look through the marked area (yellow dot) for near vision.
Conventional

With your new, larger frame and conventional progressives you look through an area (red dot) which is positioned much lower down the lens and requires you to change your visual behaviour.
Optimised

The optimised progressive lens allows you to enjoy comfortable near vision again (blue dot). There is no need for you to re-adapt.

Then you are Progressive Lens Type 2 = Precision Plus

You are fashion-conscious, and also when it comes to new frame designs. But this does not mean that you are prepared to accept compromises in the quality of your progressive lenses.
You certainly don't want to have go through an irritating re-adaptation process with your new frame.
And, of course, you also use digital devices such as smartphones and want to read the display with the same ease as reading a book.

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#3

Somehow standard progressive lenses never quite meet your needs

No two faces are alike. And no two eyes, noses or ears are alike. Not even the right and left-hand sides of our faces are symmetrical. If this individuality of your face is not taken into account in the production of a progressive lens, you may not be able to fully benefit from the optical performance of the lens.

Or perhaps you need high prescription powers for distance vision and have been wearing spectacles since you were a child.

Then you should ensure that your new progressives are exactly tailored to the personal parameters of your face.

Generally speaking, the better the progressive lens is adapted to the anatomy of the wearer and the more personalised it is, the better the utilisation of three-dimensional vision and enhanced distance performance. FaceFit Technology makes it all possible.

How come?

By taking into account the exact facial anatomy of the wearer, e.g. how they look through the frame and how the frame sits on their nose and ears, the progressive lenses produced provide precisely the visual support needed.

As a comparison, imagine looking through a telescope. Like progressive lenses, this is an advanced optical system, but if you don't have the telescope at the right distance from your eye, then things will look blurred.

Needless to say, this Progressive Lens Type also offers the benefits of Types 1 and 2.

Full vision experience when looking through the progressive lens without compromise
Compromised vision experience when looking through the progressive lens
Three-dimensional vision potential cannot be utilised
Full vision experience without visual compromises when looking through the progressive lens, as the lens is optimised for the face
Full utilisation of three-dimensional vision and enhanced distance perception for the wearer

Then you are Progressive Lens Type 3 = Precision Superb

You want progressive lenses that provide you with excellent optical quality and take into account your facial anatomy.
You have already had some bad experience with progressive lenses.
Outstanding wearer tolerance is one of your top priorities.
You need very good, comfortable vision.
You need high prescription powers or have special problems with your vision.
And, of course, you also use digital devices such as smartphones and want to read the display with the same ease as reading a book.
And you are very receptive to new trends in frame fashion.

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#4

You want progressive lenses that take your personal visual habits and lifestyle into account.

There are many different facets to our lives these days, each of us having unique habits, activities and, of course, job. We are the sum of all these things, and we need progressive lenses that incorporate all of these different factors. Maybe you spend a lot of the day at a drawing board, if you are an architect, for instance, or at a computer. Or do you look after your grandchildren on a regular basis, and your eyes need to move constantly between near and far? Or perhaps you are a registrar and have to switch your gaze between the papers on your desk and the bride and groom in front of you.

And different progressive lenses are required for this? Yes, the design of your progressive lenses and the position of the vision zones can be exactly tailored to your main daily activities.

The IndividualFit^® Technology makes this all possible. Your progressive lenses therefore combine all technological possibilities in one lens and offer you natural, comfortable vision – almost like in the days before you needed spectacles.

In addition, ZEISS Progressive Lens Individual 2 incorporates the individually measured reading distance and the individual wrap angle within the lens design.

Then you are Progressive Lens Type 4 = Individual 2

Your life is full of special situations requiring the utmost from your eyes.
You want progressive lenses that provide you with excellent optical quality and take into account your facial anatomy.
You have already had some bad experience with progressive lenses.
Outstanding wearer tolerance is one of your top priorities.
You are totally reliant on very good, comfortable vision.
You need high prescription powers or have special problems with your vision.
And, of course, you also use digital devices such as smartphones and want to read the display with the same ease as reading a book.
And you are very receptive to new trends in frame fashion.

In general:

Seek the advice of your optician for your new progressive lenses, and find the solution that is best for you. First-time progressive wearers and wearers with special vision needs in particular should have a closer look at the possibilities offered by leading-edge progressive lens technology. Progressive lenses are an investment in better vision, and one well worth making. After all, our eyes are our most important sense organs. We perceive almost 80% of our surroundings with our eyes.