Question about Progressive Lenses

[TurtleEater]

I have a prescription that is a -5.50/6.00 or so OD and OS with 1.00 or 2.00 astigmatism correction, 2.25 add, 4-5 base up prism, and potentially 3 or so horizontal (base out) prism. Patient (myself) is looking for the absolute best progressive lens for life. I do around 12 hours a day of reading and computer work and would like the least amount of distortion as I enjoy life outside my cube. I am willing to spend an essentially unlimited amount of money if I can wear a progressive that I am not able to tell is a progressive while I am wearing it. I particularly dislike the peripheral distortion as well as the ground blur as I am walking down the street (currenly in an Essilor Varilux Panamic). I have a few millimeter left hypertropia if that is relevant. What is the best progressive lens in the world for me?

Note: I realize this community is for eye-care professionals. While I am not an eye-care professional, due to my complex and debilitating vision issues I have researched vision, lenses, etc, for hundreds of hours. I am considering becoming an eye-care professional to help solve my double vision issues as no doctor has yet to do so. Thank you VERY much for your help (and I already did search all the other topics relevant to progressives).

[Johns]

Note: I realize this community is for eye-care professionals. While I am not an eye-care professional, due to my complex and debilitating vision issues I have researched vision, lenses, etc, for hundreds of hours. I am considering becoming an eye-care professional to help solve my double vision issues as no doctor has yet to do so. Thank you VERY much for your help (and I already did search all the other topics relevant to progressives).

Per posting guidelines:


This forum is for Eyecare Professionals. Consumers are allowed to post in the Just Conversation forum and non-optical topics only. Please be aware that any questions involving optics or eyecare may be removed. These kinds of questions should be discussed with a qualified eyecare professional who has examined you and is familiar with your situation.

[TurtleEater]

It is quite clear I am aware of the rules, hence the addendum I posted following my question.

I could have pretended to be an optician and posted this thread for one of my "patients" but instead I am being honest and I myself am the patient. However, the thread can be useful for a discussion of the absolute top of the line progressive lenses.

[Johns]

Well, I guess as long as you're being honest, the moderators will all look the other way.

[Robert Martellaro]

Progressive design/brand is secondary to proper positioning. We can make the cheapest PAL (progressive addition lens) outperform the most expensive PAL if the former is well positioned and the latter is not.

Print this out and hand it to your optician. If they need help, refer them to Optiboard.

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...36&postcount=6

The lens needs to have minimal dispersion (material selection), in a frame that will allow the lenses to be positioned optimally, with the least amount of weight, and still provide an adequate field of vision, especially on the downgaze, and is highly adjustable yet keeps the lenses in a stable position. A separate pair for task specific use might be required.

[abobeyes]

It is impossible for you to satisfy both your occupatonal and social needs with one pair of glasses. Just as a sportsperson must use special equipment for their vocation so must you use a special pair of glasses for your work. To this end it wuold behoove you to find the optical in your community that has the best reputation for quality lens work. This may be doable by checking with friends and family or if there is a medical school nearby, checking with them if they have a list of preferred providers. Your Ophthalmologist may have a favorite optical or there may be a school for Optometry or, preferrably an Optician's program nearby that can help you in your search.
There is no one best lens for you by brand. There are many "best" lenses for you. They are all in the Freeform design category. Different opticians will have their own favorites so try to find the one with the most expertise in fitting Progressive lenses. The biggest lens names in the industry, to my knowledge, are Essilor (Varilux Ipseo) & Zeiss (Individual). It may even be necessary for you to consider a combination of contact lenses and eyeglasses to be able to give you the most satisfying vision. This is a direction you would be wise to explore with your favorite, respected eye doctor. This approach would minimize the power needed in the eyeglasses allowing them to take care of the prism and presbyopia issues while the contacts take care of most of the myopia.

[TurtleEater]

Thank you Robert and abobeyes. Is there great importance to the pantascopic tilt and the type of frame? I was told by one doctor that plastic frames are not very good because you cannot get the right tilt (due to the hinge structure) but many others have told me they fit most their progressives in plastic frames with no problem. Do you have an opinion on this issue?

[abobeyes]

The most important thing to be concerned with is not the technicality of the glasses. Rather it is the technical/professional prowess of the ECP. A proficient ECP can design an effective pair of glasses in most frame choices. The chore for you is to find an ECP with these proficiencies.

[CuriousCat]

Johns is correct. That being said, perhaps if you were to identify your location, one of us could be of help to you face-to-face. Otherwise, abobeyes is correct, and the burden in on you to find an ECP who can help you. There are hundreds of options to be considered when designing a lens and none of them can be done on-line with any degree of accuracy.

[braheem24]

I am willing to spend an essentially unlimited amount of money

A plane ticket to Wauwatosa Wisconsin will do you wonders, You've found one of the best fitters around now go find your ticket.

[THE MEB]

I will add one more thing to the conversation. Since I happen to have a similar prescription as you, especially in prism need, free form lenses are not available. Trust me, I have tried every manufacturer of free form because it shoudl give me a less distorted image. But alas, it has something to do with too much prism causing too much thickness to allow rx to be surfaced free form. That being said, there are certain types of progressives, because of my verticle and horizontal prism needs, that fair much better than others. Because of the way this discussion is going, however, concerning eliciting specific advice to non-optical customers, I do not feel comfortable saying which brands that work better for my eyes.