Progressive lenses are an alternative to bifocals that many people prefer, since the seamless progression of one prescription to another makes them feel younger than having a line through the lens. However, if you hate your progressive lenses, you’re not alone. Many people get them thinking that they will like them more than bifocals, and hate them so much they go to return them.

If you hate your progressive lenses, this doesn’t automatically mean that there is something wrong with them or you. There’s a learning curve with progressives and it is an art in order to ensure that they fit correctly. Many people come to love their progressive lenses while others cannot tolerate them. If you have any concerns about your progressive lenses, it’s best to talk to your eye doctor, as they will be able to provide you with personalized advice.

Here are some common questions about progressive lenses answered, as well as some information to know if you currently hate your progressive lenses. 

Are Progressive Lenses Supposed To Be Blurry On The Sides?

With glasses in general, people adjust to being able to see clearly in front of them through the lens while having the blurriness of their real vision along the sides. However, with progressives, people find that the sides of the lenses themselves can be blurry. They struggle to find focal points and get frustrated, because your lenses are supposed to bring the world into focus, not blur it. 

Initially, you may notice blurriness on the sides of your progressive lenses. This is because of the change in lens strength across the lens. It takes time to adjust to this, but in time, you won’t notice it. It’s similar to how when your prescription changes, the tops of the walls might appear to be curving in for the first few days, and then you don’t notice it anymore. 

If your progressive lenses are blurry on the sides, give yourself a week or two for your brain to adjust to them. If they’re still blurry after a couple of weeks, you can go to your eye doctor and have them looked at. 

Adjusting To Progressive Lenses

In the adjustment period, you may find that you hate your progressive lenses a great deal. You may feel like your vision is blurry or fuzzy. You may get headaches or feel dizzy. Initially, this may seem like there’s something wrong with the lenses. However, most people adjust to their progressive lenses within a couple of weeks. Your eye doctor should have warned you about this and advised you on what you can do to make the adjustment period easier.

Some of the things that you can do to help yourself adjust to progressive lenses include:

• Wearing them as often as possible.
• Pointing your nose in the direction you’re looking.
• Making an effort to look through the correct section of the lens.

What Is The Usual Adjustment Period For Progressive Lenses?

Typically, it only takes one or two weeks for people to adjust to their progressive lenses. It can take up to a month in some cases. However, if you have not adjusted to your progressives after two weeks of consistent wear, then you should contact your eye doctor or the provider of your glasses. You may also need to switch to a different lens design. 

In some cases, progressives simply may not be a good fit for you. If you’ve given them your all, done everything you were supposed to, and they were fitted correctly, you may be better off with bifocals or other types of glasses. 

How To Tell If Your Progressive Lenses Fit Correctly

If you hate your progressive lenses, it could very well have nothing to do with you and adjusting and everything to do with how they were fitted. It’s an art to ensure that progressives fit correctly, as your pupillary distance, the correct height, the frame, the design, and the corridor length are all needed to ensure they work well.

If your eyewear provider skipped a step or did not fit them correctly, this could be why you hate your progressive lenses. If you go back and the eyewear provider tells you there is nothing wrong with the fit, it could be worth getting a second opinion in order to determine whether or not they are fitted properly. 

If your progressive lenses fit correctly, you should be able to adjust to them and they should be comfortable to wear. 

What If You Still Hate Your Progressive Lenses?

Have you done everything your eye doctor told you to, waited the two weeks, and still hate your progressive lenses? Come to Wolcott Optical. We will ensure that your lenses fit correctly. If you decide that progressives aren’t for you, we can provide you with other options. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

You know when you look up at the sky or at a blank Word document on your computer screen and you have little squigglies in your vision? These are called eye floaters. If you have them, you may wonder whether or not they’re something to be concerned about. In truth: it depends. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about floaties in your vision. However, there are some cases where you will need to contact an eye specialist about them.

Here is what you need to know about eye floaters, what causes them, and when they are and are not cause for concern. Let’s get into it!

What Are Eye Floaters?

These are spots in your vision. They can look a few different ways. You may see them as squigglies, black or gray specks, or threads. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

You usually notice them when you look at something light-colored, like a blank document, a light wall, the sky, or something else like that. They move with your eye, but there’s usually a lag before the floaters go in the direction your eyes went.

However, if you try to look at a floater, you’ll find that it moves out of your line of vision. Floaters will typically settle down and drift out of your line of vision, causing you to notice them less. 

What Causes Floaters?

Floaters can be caused by a variety of different factors. If you notice a sudden increase in the amount of floaters you have and they start to impact your vision, you should contact an eye doctor right away, as this could be a sign of a serious eye issue. 

Floaters are most commonly caused by vitreous changes. Your vitreous humor is the jelly-like substance within your eye that fills the space between the retina and the lens. It helps to maintain the shape of your eyeball and acts as a shock absorber. Contrary to what you may think, eye floaters aren’t actually on the outside of your eye, but within your vitreous humor.

This is because floaters are created when little clumps form in the vitreous. This can happen simply as a result of aging, due to how your vitreous slowly pulls away from the interior surface of your eyeball. The collagen fibers in the vitreous then form strings and clumps which cast shadows on your retina – aka, floaters.

These are typically quite harmless. However, there are some serious conditions that can cause floaters. These are:

• Inflammation. Uveitis is a type of inflammation at the back of your eye and can result from autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, and infection.
• Bleeding inside the eye. This can happen due to injury, retinal tears, retinal detachment, high blood pressure, diabetes, and blocked blood vessels. What looks like floaters are actually blood cells.
• Retinal tears. Your vitreous naturally contracts now and then. If it contracts too hard, it can tear your retina. If left untreated, this can lead to retinal detachment. 
• Eye medications or surgeries. These can cause bubbles in your vitreous, which look like floaters.

Contrary to what some may believe, contact lenses do not cause floaters. However, since they improve your vision, they can improve your awareness of eye floaters.

Should You Be Concerned About Eye Floaters?

In the majority of cases? No. While floaters may be mildly annoying, they’re not typically something that you need to worry about. If you have concerns, you should bring them up to your eye doctor. 

However, there are cases, as mentioned above, where floaters can indicate more serious issues. You should contact your eye doctor right away if:

• You suddenly have more floaters
• There are a lot more floaters than usual
• There are blurry or grey areas blocking parts of your vision
• You see flashes of light with the floaters
• You have darkness at the side of your vision

While typically painless, these can threaten your vision and need to be treated as soon as possible. 

Some people also experience floaters and flashes during migraines or from standing up too quickly. Treating the cause treats the floaters.

How Do You Treat Eye Floaters?

As mentioned before, you usually don’t need to treat eye floaters. Your eye doctor will tell you whether you do or not.

However, if they are blocking your vision, you can undergo a surgery called a vitrectomy, where your vitreous is replaced with a salt solution. If you have some of the other issues that can cause floaters, or what look like floaters, treating the issue should treat the floaters.

If you are concerned about eye floaters, consult with your eye doctor.

If you want to improve your vision, Wolcott Optical can provide you with both glasses and contact lenses. Contact us today to learn more.