Okay, I’m a dumb consumer, though not really dumb, just uninformed in this confusing and option-filled area. And I know you've all answered similar questions a zillion times, but.....
I’ve read as many of the threads on progressives as possible. Several posts have stated that the optician preferred to stick with the same progressive brand or design if the customer has been happy with previous glasses. How can I tell what I currently have (bought at a lenscrafter-type store who-knows-where years ago as an emergency pair after breaking more expensive pair)? Can the optician tell whether what I currently have is a short-corridor/long-corridor lens, with lopped off reading portion/all of the available reading portion, Rx set high or low? You must have a gizmo for this….
What is the difference between fitting height and the B measurement (vertical dimension of the frame if I am not mistaken)? I hate the new small frames but also hate the old giant frames. I’m happy with the look of frames with a vertical height of about 33 – 34 mm.
Can you mix-and-match lenses and coatings? For example, can you put a Crizal coating on a Zeiss lens, etc.? (From what I’ve read so far Zeiss Top Gradal seems to fit my needs; Crizal Alize seems to get raves.)
What lens material would be good for me? (See my situation below). Different opticians have given me vastly different opinions on polycarbonate vs. regular plastic (CR39??? whatever that is). What else is there? (As if I’m not already confused by the vast array of options in this world of eyeglasses.) I’ve heard the term “index,” such as 1.59, whatever, but not sure what that means, other than perhaps the ability to make a lens thinner. Seems my prescription is already pretty thin. Tradeoffs?
How do I find a great optician in the San Diego area? I’m new to the area and the few people I know here can’t seem to recommend anyone.
And finally, here’s my situation:
-- 50 years old
-- Have successfully adapted to a few pairs of progressives, and not adapted to a few other pairs (swimming, headaches). I move around a lot so it is hard to stay with just one optician. I adapted to my first pair of progressives six years ago, which I know were Zeiss but not sure which Zeiss.
--My new, stronger prescription is Spherical -1.75, Cylindrical -1.50, Axis 095, Prism ½ base up, with the other eye being -2.25, -1.00, Axis 075, Prism ½ base down, and with a +2.00 add to both eyes for reading. (All previous prescriptions have had Prism 1 base up in the first eye, with no prism in the other eye.)
--For both work and study (currently a student—again!) I need a full range from distance (driving, movies, general stuff) to reading, with decent intermediate. I spend a lot of time in class, both lectures and lab work, where I look alternately at the lecturer/blackboard/projections (distance) and the desktop for reading and writing notes/exams/looking at oscilloscopes (fairly near). Though I desire to do a little reading with my progressives, when reading, say, a book or newspaper at length, I use single-vision reading glasses or no glasses, though with no glasses the print is a little too blurry for my liking. I plan on getting new reading glasses too, but my concern is mostly about progressives. Help!
Thanks, Randy
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