Why do opticians use Gradal Top so extensively?

**ilanh** · 07-02-2006, 05:44 PM

I am quite confused as to why opticians are so fond of gradal top. My ex-optician loved them and used them on almost everyone (particularly those with large lenses). I have studied their design, done some additional research and queried dozens of my patients who are wearing them. My conclusion is that it's a great choice for large lenses which will be used mainly for distance and intermediate but absolutely lousy for near. It also has very slow add progression and a hard design. For me, the near limitation of this lens is a deal breaker. I have many patients who are more than willing to sacrifice intermediate vision if they can enhance their distance and/or near; but who would want to sacrifice near vision under any circumstances?? After the age of 45 the only individuals who really don't need glasses for reading are moderate myopes. Those people actually prefer wearing glasses for distance/intermed and taking them off for near work. However, everyone else is going to need a nice reading zone on their progressive...and Gradal Top does not have it. My impression is that patients who are happy with this lens are those that are wearing big clunkers and rarely need to read. In addition, those types of patients tend to be easy to please. However, that does not mean that they may not have been happier with something else.

**Clive Noble** · 07-11-2006, 10:37 PM

Ilan, I've just noticed this unanswered thread........ you ask why Gradal Top is so popular?

Quite simply from my own experience,
1) I see so few patient problems with this lens.
2) I wear them myself and am very happy with every aspect, Dist, Int and Near
3) On the odd occasion that you get the measurements wrong (we never do!!!!!!!!) it's a very forgiving lens

IMHO, Zeiss got it right all those years ago

**optigrrl** · 07-11-2006, 10:55 PM

Ilanh -

One of the first rule-of-thumb's a wise old optical guru told me was:

"If the patient is wearing a Gradal Top, then leave them in the Gradal Top. Upgrade everyone else."

Of course, this was before "free-form" technology.

**For-Life** · 07-12-2006, 10:01 AM

You know in my city you should hear people rave about the Nikon lenses and its coating. They will tell you that Nikon is light years ahead of everyone else and that the coating is the best thing since sliced bread. I used Nikon and found nothing special and even found some faults. I found that the HCC held up close to the Crizal, but still not as well.

I imagine it is the same thing with the gradal top. Because it is not an Essilor lens and since it comes from a well known company, and since the lens reps are marketers (just like Essilor) people tend to believe the hype.

**Darryl Meister** · 07-12-2006, 11:18 AM

It also has very slow add progression and a hard design. For me, the near limitation of this lens is a deal breaker.

Gradal Top was actually quite far from a "hard" design; it actually has one of the softer peripheries on the market. However, Gradal Top could benefit from a shorter corridor and a higher, wider near zone.

The good news is that the lens designers at Zeiss agree with you. You will be pleased to know that Carl Zeiss Vision is releasing GT2 by ZEISS. The GT2 lens design combines the proven features of Gradal Top with an optimally designed corridor length and wider near zone. The corridor length of GT2 by ZEISS is 2 mm shorter, and the lens will offer up to 50% more near utility in smaller frames.

**francisOD** · 07-12-2006, 02:00 PM

We have been using GT almost exclusively except for a 1.5 year period out of 8 years where we switched to Essilor for a variety of reasons. We were always happy with the products, customer service was awesome and the price was right. When we switched, we did have more non-adapts for sure and we were very happy to go back to Zeiss after 1.5 years. However, at 18 fitting height and under, we have had problems. The brevity is good but not as forgiving. I am happy to hear that GT2 will be coming out soon!!

**optigrrl** · 07-13-2006, 12:33 AM

Saw the contour plots on the GT2 today - almost completely clear above the 180! No actual info on the actual corridor length but if Darryl says it's 2mm shorter than GT, does this mean I can fit it at 18mm? (For really reals?)