Progressive lenses
Do I need progressive lenses?
Start with your prescription. If it has an ADD, it comes down to how you spend your day.
The short answer
You can use progressive lenses if your eye doctor has given you an ADD power, the extra reading correction listed on your prescription. Progressives make sense when you need distance correction and help up close in one pair. If your prescription has no ADD, single vision lenses are the match. If most of your day is at a desk, a lens built for that span may suit you better than a full progressive.
Three questions
How to decide
- Is there an ADD on your prescription?
If yes, you can order progressives. If no, order single vision. Read My Rx explains each value if you’re unsure.
- Do you take your glasses off to read?
If you push distance glasses up on your head to see your phone, a progressive puts reading power at the bottom of the same lens.
- Where do you spend your day?
Driving and moving around suit a full progressive. Long stretches at a screen may suit a lens made for the desk.
What changes
What a progressive asks of you
A progressive gives you distance through the top and reading through the bottom. The clear area in the middle is narrower than a single vision lens, so you learn to turn your head toward what you want to see.
It usually takes a few days to a week to feel natural. If you’ve never worn glasses before, it can take longer. We remake lenses at no charge within 60 days if the zones don’t sit right for you.
For desk work
When a progressive isn’t the best fit
A full progressive is built to reach the horizon. At a desk you don’t need that. Darren’s advice is not to spend the lens on distances you won’t use.
Our EV6 lens focuses from 18 inches to 6 feet: your phone, keyboard, monitor and the person across the desk. Stopping at six feet gives it a much wider corridor. It can be made to your own prescription with Custom Rx.
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Progressive and single vision eyeglasses
Every frame comes in both.
How it works
From your prescription to your door
Pick a frame and your lenses
Choose single vision or progressive. Eyeglasses come with clear lenses or our Indoor / Outdoor lens tint option. Sunglasses come with Grey or Brown Polarized lenses.
Add your prescription and PD
Upload a photo of your prescription when you order, or send it afterward from the link we email you. Our team reviews every prescription before we start.
We make them in about two weeks
We digitally surface, coat and edge your lenses in our California lab. Shipping is free and takes about three days.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I need progressive lenses?
Look for a number in the ADD column. ADD is the extra near-vision power your eye doctor prescribed for reading. If your prescription has one, you can order progressive lenses. If it doesn’t, single vision is the lens that matches it.
What does ADD mean on a prescription?
ADD is the extra magnifying power for near vision. It’s added to your distance correction at the bottom of a progressive lens. It’s written as a plus number.
Can I wear progressives if I’ve never worn glasses?
Yes, though it can take longer to adjust. Turn your head toward what you want to see.
Are progressives better than readers?
They do different jobs. Readers correct one close distance. Progressives add your distance correction too, so you can keep them on. If you only need help up close, EV Readers give reading glasses a range without a prescription.
What if I order progressive and my prescription has no ADD?
We switch your order to single vision and refund the $100 difference.
Can I use FSA or HSA?
Yes. FSA and HSA cards work at checkout for prescription glasses. We’re out of network for vision insurance, so we send you a detailed invoice to submit for reimbursement. Insurance details.
Progressive lenses
Progressive lenses, made to your prescription.
Lenses made to your prescription · Free 3-day shipping · 60-day remakes
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