Looking for Suggestions on Short Corridor Lenses

[billtbyhand]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for suggestions for a short corridor progressive that you guys have had good luck with.

We have been using mostly Rodenstock XS, but our supply is starting to dwindle, and getting stuff from Rodenstock is getting pretty hit or miss (mostly miss).

We have used AO compact, but the Dr. here doesn't care for them and we're trying to keep away from that model.

We're looking for something that can go down to 17mm and hopefully something that has a Transitions version available.

We surface a lot of Essilor Ovations and have been very pleased with them, but we tend to stop about 19-20 mm eventhough they are rated down to 18mm. We have had patients with reading difficulty when we cut them quite that low.

I wish Essilor would release a version of the Panamic or something similar to us to be able to grind.

Any suggestions you may have would be great.
Thanks all... :)

[For-Life]

The Ovation works great at anything 17mm+

If it is any shorter try the Ellipse. We have had a lot of success with it. The lens has a 14mm fitting height.

I have not fit the Zeiss Brevity, Hoya CD or the Shamir Piccalo, but I hear a lot of good things about them too.

[mshimp]

We have had alot of success with the Younger image as a short corridor PAL. Though it has a very narrow intermidiate zone. It suprizes me that you have had fitting problems with the ovation with low pupil heights. To me ovations is one of the best PAL for short or long frames.

good luck in your search Mike

[Fezz]

I would suggest the Shamir Piccolo. I am very impressed with this product and have had very good success with it. I also use the Zeiss Brevity(16 min) height) and the Hoya Summit CD(14 min height). I have also used the Varilux Ellipse with good results, but prefer to use the other products based on personal opinions of Essilor. Good luck.

Fezz
:cheers:

[cinders831]

I enjoy picollo, its a great lens with great reading area and a pretty wide range of availability, Ellipse is good foe the poly trans needs as picollo doesnt come in that material combo.

[mullo]

Ellispe and Hoya CD serve me rather well.......

[Snitgirl]

Rodenstock XS, Piccolo, Ellispe, Hoya CD

[billtbyhand]

Thanks for the ideas.. I'll take a look at the Shamir product next.

[Chris Ryser]

Thanks for the ideas.. .



Nothing works 100% below 18mm. This discussion has gone on forver on this forum..................but has to be repeated once in a while.

[SkiBunny]

I would suggest the Shamir Piccolo. I am very impressed with this product and have had very good success with it. I also use the Zeiss Brevity(16 min) height) and the Hoya Summit CD(14 min height). I have also used the Varilux Ellipse with good results, but prefer to use the other products based on personal opinions of Essilor.
To me this reads that Essilor opines that others' products are preferable to its Ellipse... am i mistaken or is that what you intended to convey?

[For-Life]

To me this reads that Essilor opines that others' products are preferable to its Ellipse... am i mistaken or is that what you intended to convey?

Essilor is the worlds largest lens manufacturer. In the past few years it has bought up a lot of independent labs. It works like a big company. Some people do not like that, some people have been personally hurt by it. Shamir is a small, good company and a lot of people like to support the small guys.

We were discussing Nikon before. In Canada a lot of people push Nikon products like they are 20 light years ahead of everyone else, but I have never been impressed. I think the idea is that since Essilor is so wide spread that other companies like Shamir and Nikon look like they are the premium.

I deal with Essilor, because my lab that I have dealt with for years was purchased by Essilor. The lab manager gives me incredible service and Essilor has only helped improve that service.

[SkiBunny]

In Canada a lot of people push Nikon products like they are 20 light years ahead of everyone else, but I have never been impressed. I think the idea is that since Essilor is so wide spread that other companies like Shamir and Nikon look like they are the premium.

I deal with Essilor, because my lab that I have dealt with for years was purchased by Essilor. The lab manager gives me incredible service and Essilor has only helped improve that service.
Yes indeed the Nikon i is being pushed by the one & only independent to which I've been. Swears by the service (which I can accept is a good reason for them), and for the same reason discouraged me last night when I asked about varilux ellipse for the frame i selected. The nikon price is good, so wondering are you unimpressed by Nikon because of their product or their service or something else?

[SkiBunny]

Back to the subject at hand of short corridor lenses, any opinions anyone of whether the Ellipse or Nikon i is the "better" progressive??
For example perhaps in terms of the success rate you've experienced.
Thx.

[For-Life]

Skibunny it just comes down to the fact that I have never had any better success with a Nikon lens over an Essilor lens (actually, Essilor owns Nikon).

I know opticians that believe that Nikon is light years ahead and will not wear anything else. It is all marketing.

The Nikon i lens is a very, very good lens, but I do not find it better than the other lenses on the market.






When it comes down to it do not worry about which lens you get. I suggest you go to the one that gives you the best frame, the best service, the best help, and the one you feel is qualified. If that is there the optician will give you a very good lens.

[SkiBunny]

ok then, thanks

[Bobie]

Hi , billtbyhand

I would like to reccommended the best PALs plastic photochromic for 17 mm fitting height at below from the best to the budget ;

1. Rodenstock Impression ILT XS 1.6 ColorMetic2 : This is the world best PALs at 17 mm fitting height for all point of vision performance , even for intermediate and dynamic vision for sport. The far vision of this PALs are like distance of single vision lenses.

2. Varilux Panamic Orma 1.5 Transitions4 : This is the world best semi-finished progressive front surface PALs at 17 mm fitting height , even when read the newspaper.

3. Varilux Comfort Orma 1.5 Transitions4 : This is the world value choice of PALs at 17 mm fitting height , even when read newspaper.

4. I am sorry to say that , " no others "

" Life is too short to limit you vision with junk PALs "

[Happylady]

I personally have tried the Hoya CD and found the distance area very poor. If I turn my head only slightly everything gets blurry. The distance peripheral area of my Sola Ones and Varilux Panamic are much better. Even the Kodak Concise is better. Yes, I know those aren't extra short corridor lenses.

I have heard good things about the Piccollo and Ellipse.

[Bobie]

Hi , Happylady

Varilux Ellipse and Hoyalux Summit CD are super short corridor PALs , but Ellipse is total better than Summit CD in every point. But life is to short to limit vision with super short corridor.

In case of very small frame at fitting height 16mm in 24 mm frame height , please going for Rodenstock Impression ILT XS if you can accept the price.

In case that you would like to save your money , please going for Panamic at fitting height 16 mm in 24 mm frame height.

Varilux Comfort is economic choice at 17 mm fitting height in 25 mm frame height.
:cheers:

[DaveD]

[QUOTE=Happylady]I personally have tried the Hoya CD and found the distance area very poor. If I turn my head only slightly everything gets blurry. QUOTE]

Hoya has a one year patient satisfaction warranty on it's progressives, have yours remade after checking all of your measurements carefully. You are the first person I have heard mention a blurry distance area in this lens. what is your seg measurement and what size frame are you wearing? Regardless of what Bobie says I have had a lot of offices with patient non-addapts on other short corridor lenses (14mm) and had no problem with the CD. If it was a pair that your rep had made for you let him know.

[Happylady]

[QUOTE=Happylady]I personally have tried the Hoya CD and found the distance area very poor. If I turn my head only slightly everything gets blurry. QUOTE]

Hoya has a one year patient satisfaction warranty on it's progressives, have yours remade after checking all of your measurements carefully. You are the first person I have heard mention a blurry distance area in this lens. what is your seg measurement and what size frame are you wearing? Regardless of what Bobie says I have had a lot of offices with patient non-addapts on other short corridor lenses (14mm) and had no problem with the CD. If it was a pair that your rep had made for you let him know.

I got the lenses for free so I can't really send them back. Three of us got the Hoya CD lenses and we all notice the poor distance area. I can wear them and so can the one other woman, but one woman is sensitive about her lenses and hates them. I do perfer other lenses, these are very poor.

Mine are fit at 17, I would have to measure the frame depth and I don't have a mm ruler at home.

[Bobie]

Hi,DaveD

I believe that , can used and very happy to used are total difference.

My target for my customer of PALs is see better , feel better , look better near same when they was young.

The best PALs must be offer the vision for presbyopes like before they are presbyopes.

" Life to too short to see the world with astigmatism error "

[roxysmom]

Hi--I am writng as a consumer and not an optical professional--

I have used both Varilux comfort and Shamir Piccolo lenses, and I find that I love the piccolo. I am not sure what my fitting height is, but the B measurement of my frame is 30 mm and I have had very little adaptation issues with my piccolo lenses.

[Cherry Optical]

Hi , Happylady

Varilux Ellipse and Hoyalux Summit CD are super short corridor PALs , but Ellipse is total better than Summit CD in every point. But life is to short to limit vision with super short corridor.

I would like to reccommended the best PALs plastic photochromic for 17 mm fitting height at below from the best to the budget ;

1. Rodenstock Impression ILT XS 1.6 ColorMetic2 : This is the world best PALs at 17 mm fitting height for all point of vision performance , even for intermediate and dynamic vision for sport. The far vision of this PALs are like distance of single vision lenses.

2. Varilux Panamic Orma 1.5 Transitions4 : This is the world best semi-finished progressive front surface PALs at 17 mm fitting height , even when read the newspaper.

3. Varilux Comfort Orma 1.5 Transitions4 : This is the world value choice of PALs at 17 mm fitting height , even when read newspaper.

As an Indepedent wholesale optical laboratory, I would love to get my hands on something that can actually prove these theories. As someone who looks both high and low for evidence of said claims, I would be greatly impressed if you were able to produce this evidence.

We sell a great deal of a mixed bag of short fit progressive lenses. The one I am most interested in lately is the Essilor Definity. It can fit frames as low as 15mm, is available in Plastic, Plastic Transitions Gray, Polaroid Plastic Brown & Gray (it has to be the best short fit pol les available) Polycarbonate, Polycarbonate Transitions V Gray & Brown, and High Index 1.60. Crizal and Crizal Alize'.

The other part of the orginal statement that I picked up on was

We surface a lot of Essilor Ovations and have been very pleased with them

You would have to let Essilor surface the lens, but perhaps it would be worth it if your market is looking for a high end product.

Adam

[QDO1]

As an Indepedent wholesale optical laboratory, I would love to get my hands on something that can actually prove these theories. As someone who looks both high and low for evidence of said claims, I would be greatly impressed if you were able to produce this evidence.


have you read Dr Sheedys work? on Progressive lens designs?

[Jerry Thornhill]

I agree with the suggestion about reviewing the Sheedy report. It contains a lot of valuable information and is presented unbiased.

Everyone has their favorite short corridor lens and gets on the soapbox for their favorites.

For the past 5 years as a lab manager our lens of choice for short corridor was Shamir Piccolo. This was based on the success that we achieved with this lens. Also when I tried a new product I would search out different people to wear the lens and give me feedback.

I was so impressed with the results of all the Shamir products and the company that when I left my last job after 19 years and moved to Richmond that I applied for a job with Shamir.

I am now in Technical Services for Shamir and it is a little strange to be doing this after 40 years in a lab.

Jerry