How Long Does It Take for Eyes to Adjust to Progressive Lenses?

22-01-2020

The day you get progressive lenses is an exciting one. You see an eye doctor to get fitted for your new eyewear, and you come home with line-free lenses that are customized just for you.

But as you may have heard, this type of eyewear can take time to get used to wearing. How long does it take for eyes to adjust to progressive lenses? Let’s discuss.

How long does it take for eyes to adjust to progressive lenses?

Before you get progressive lenses, you may struggle to see far away and up close. Progressive lenses can make the transition between these two fields of view (and in between) seamless, as if you’ve seen that way all along.

However, the length of time it can take eyes to adjust to progressive lenses can range from a few days to a month. If you require a strong prescription, the process may take longer. It merely depends on your eyes and individual vision needs.

Feel free to ask your optometrist if you have specific questions about what to expect regarding the adjustment period for progressive lenses, but here are some general things to keep in mind:

Driving can be challenging at first. Make sure to look through the top of the lenses when on the road to ensure you’re utilizing your distance vision.
While adjusting to progressive lenses, computer screens may appear blurry. Look through the middle portion of the lens when viewing anything at an intermediate distance, such as a computer.
Look through the bottom part of your progressive lenses when reading books and magazines. This region is magnified for the best near vision.
In the first days of adjusting to progressive lenses, blurry vision can arise. To mitigate this, ensure you’re looking through the correct part of the lens, and gradually increase the frequency of how often you wear your progressive lenses.

What is it like getting used to progressive lenses with astigmatism and other refractive errors?

With astigmatism, getting used to progressive lenses can take time, especially if you are a first-time progressive lens’ wearer. Many people with astigmatism who wear progressive lenses also have additional refractive errors, such as farsightedness and nearsightedness. And this is never easy, especially if you go too long without the proper vision correction.

If you have astigmatism and other refractive errors, the adjustment period for progressive lenses can last a few weeks. However, it will be worth the wait when you can peer through any part of the glasses and enjoy crystal-clear vision.

While adapting to these lenses, prepare for blurry, distorted vision. If you’re looking out the sides of your eyewear, things may appear out of focus. However, with enough wear-time, this symptom will vanish before you know it.

Summary: What is the usual adjustment period for progressive lenses?

Adjusting to progressive lenses isn’t difficult when you know what to expect. A first-time progressive lens’ wearer may have a harder time than someone who has worn this type of eyewear before. They may also experience blurry vision.

How long does it take for eyes to adjust to progressive lenses? The adjustment period can be a few days to a month, depending on your situation. Often, the more powerful the prescription, the longer it can take to get used to the new eyewear.

While progressive lenses can take a bit to get familiar with, your side effects will go away soon. And if you have any concerns throughout the adjustment period, our eye care team is here to help.