Varifocals but the proper name is progressive powered lenses

The joys of PPL's (progressive powered lenses) is that you can see most things that you want to so why do so many people not cope with them.  Well this can be split into three main reasons, one they were not told about the disadvantages two they are just on the start of needing PPL’s and not getting the benefit yet and three the lest common they are a true non toll to them. 

The third reason is less common but many people feel that they are non-tolerant to them where actually they are either not suitable for the job that they are trying to do in them or they find that they are too restricting in the reading area compared to a single vision or a multi focal (bifocal) lenses. 

The second reason well that tends to be either the optometrist recommending them too early or the optical assistant doing the same, Dispensing Opticians will always check that the patient does with their vision before recommending a lens for them, hence all the questions regarding your occupation and your hobbies.  PPL's are not suitable for everybody and do not come in a one size fits all.

The first and main reason is the way in which the PPL's have been explained or not explained to the patient, and what lenses the patient has chosen. 

The problem with PPL’s is the cost, the more expensive the lenses the better the quality of lens and better manufacturing skills have been used such as freeform and point to point twinning.  The problem often occurs when the patient does not want to spend £200 on a pair of lenses, so they go for the cheaper option which does not perform in the same way.  I often compare it to something the patient will be able to comprehend i.e. cars, e.g. a ford KA is not as good as a VW Golf and that is not as good as a Jaguar which is not as good as a Ferrari.  Hence as the car cost increases the performance does so does the features and benefits.

All the different types of PPL’s have different advantages and disadvantages these need to be explained in full to the patient so the patient is aware of what the lenses will and won’t be able to do.  I tent over worn my patients as I want them to have realistic expatiations of what they will be like, and saying I have tried the wife’s is not good. 

So when you get your new lenses check that the dispensing optician has double checked all the measurement as this is vital as if they are sitting just a 1 mm off the correct place the vision can be incorrect and get the correct advice.