Adapting to progressive lenses: what ‘symptoms’ do I experience?

The period of adjustment to your new progressive lenses may initially cause some unpleasant but temporary sensations. Some of the most common ones are :

Blurred areas around the edges of the lenses
Impaired depth or distance perception
Headaches
A feeling of dizziness or imbalance
A sensation of pitching

These sensations last until your eyes are perfectly coordinated with the correction fields of your lenses.

Why do progressive lenses take time to adapt?

With the latest generation of progressive lenses such as Varilux® X Series, your adaptation time is reduced.

However, progressive lenses can be a change in visual behaviour that the brain has to get used to. Why? Unlike single vision lenses which have the same correction over their entire surface, and which correct visual defects such as myopia for example, lenses for presbyopes include not one, but several correction powers on their surface. This means that they correct your vision both at a distance and up close by following the natural movements of the eye.

Your eyes and brain need time to get used to switching from one area to another in a completely natural way. So any sensations or discomfort you experience the first time you wear your glasses are perfectly normal and temporary.

Without you noticing, your brain will need less and less effort. The comfort you will get from your progressive lenses will be well worth the adjustment. You will no longer have to juggle two pairs of glasses or remove your glasses to see clearly both near and far.

How long does it take to adapt to progressive lenses?

This varies from person to person and according to the degree of presbyopia. It can range from just a few hours to three weeks. The vast majority of progressive lens wearers manage to get used to them after this short period.

For a better adaptation, choose recent generation lenses for a more natural head carriage.

Choosing the right progressive lenses to adapt easily

Because each of us is different, there are many progressive lens ranges designed to fit the wearer's lifestyle. Your optician is familiar with the latest innovations and will be able to guide you towards the right choice of geometry according to your use. It is on this geometry that the characteristics and performance of the lens will depend. This choice will have an impact on your adaptation time and your daily comfort of vision. If you spend a large part of your day on the road, for example, you will need lenses that offer a wide field of vision.

In addition to the choice of lens, your optician's expertise is also crucial to ensure that your lenses are measured and centred correctly, which will facilitate your adaptation to progressive lenses. Your optician will also help you choose a frame adapted to progressive lenses, high and wide enough to cover the entire visual field. Note that some progressive lenses are specially designed to fit small frames.

Our advice on how to adapt quickly to your progressive lenses

It is possible to adapt to progressive lenses regardless of your age and degree of presbyopia. Here are a few tips on how to get comfortable with your vision as quickly as possible.

Has your ophthalmologist identified presbyopia? Don't wait to visit your optician. Once you've been issued your pair, wear them immediately and continuously throughout the day. If you change progressive lenses, do not put your old pair back on.
Remember to place the objects you are looking at facing you or point your nose in their direction. This way you will not be bothered by blurred areas around the edges of the lenses.

When looking into the distance, for example when driving, look through the top of your lenses. Similarly, when walking down the stairs, for example, lower your chin so that your eyes are in the upper part of your lenses.
To read on your computer screen, use the central part of your lenses (intermediate zone).
To look at an object less than 50 cm away, such as reading on your telephone, use the lower part of your lenses.
Your optician can also fit progressive lenses to your sports glasses. To get used to them, wear them every session. If you are a cyclist, for example, use the upper part of your lenses to see the road and the lower part to read the speedometer attached to your handlebars.

Your optician: essential expertise to support your transition to progressive lenses

The role of your optician is essential in your adaptation to progressive lenses: the quality of his measurements and the centring of the lenses he makes are decisive in this. Progressive lenses are in fact entirely personalised according to your physiology and lifestyle. This is why, during your visit, your optician tries to understand how you use your sight by asking you questions about your daily activities. He will take into account your job, the way you travel, your hobbies, your use of screens, etc. He will also take your posture into consideration.

What to do if you do not get used to your progressive lenses?

A 'normal' adaptation to progressive lenses can take several weeks. However, if you have been wearing them continuously for three weeks and your vision is still bothering you, go back to your optician and describe your problem.

Sometimes a few new adjustments can make a difference. If your discomfort persists, you have a period of 3 months from the delivery of your glasses to benefit from the Essilor Satisfaction Guarantee. After a thorough analysis of your lenses (measurement of the lenses, verification of the markings, verification of the correct centring of the lenses, verification of the frame, etc.), the lenses may be exchanged in order to resolve the discomfort.