Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, invented the first progressive lens, Varilux 1, in 1959. Varilux lenses are a major technological innovation in the correction of presbyopia. They are actually the most recommended progressive lenses with more than 300 million lenses prescribed throughout the world. If we lined up all these lenses, we could easily link the North Pole to the South Pole.
How do we correct presbyopia?
Q : What is presbyopia?
A : Presbyopia is very easy to define : A natural part of the aging process, it is simply a growing
difficulty or inability for someone to see correctly up close.
It is a normal phenomenon afflicting most people in their forties.
Q: So, you're saying that even if we take good care of our eyes and we're in excellent health, we'll inevitably suffer from presbyopia?
A: Yes
The crystalline lens of the eye - like all lenses - gives a clear image by putting things in focus. But with age - especially the forties - the lens looses its elasticity and can no longer provide the curvature needed for a sharp, up close image.
Your vision gets blurred. Reading becomes problematic, like trying to focus on newsprint … your arms just never seem long enough!
Q: And does presbyopia continue to evolve?
A: Unfortunately, yes. Presbyopia relentlessly grows worst. But it can level out in the fifties or sixties, depending on the individual.
Q: Hum! So, now that we know that we'll sooner or later be stricken with presbyopia, what are our choices in correcting it?
A: Right off, it can be tempting to say Essilor's Varilux lenses, but let's nonetheless look at other possibilities.
The easiest choice is simply to ignore presbyopia altogether. In this case, you have to say goodbye to perfect close vision. And that means giving up the newspaper of asking others to read the menu for you, etc.
The, there's what I call the half-baked solutions, like magnifying lenses and these little off-the-counter half-lenses, both offering very poor visual correction and no correction at all for intermediate or distant vision.
Q: My grandmother wore bifocals. Can you still get those?
A: Sure, but the problem with bifocals is that they dictate your vision … impose a compromise on you. Remember that before presbyopia set in, you could see well at any distance. The day you decide to wear bifocals, you accept limiting your vision to seeing clearly only up close and far away. And that's it. I have an example of what you'll see through bifocals. You'll understand what I mean.Close and far correction is good, but look in the middle, at what we call the intermediate distance… It's blurred.
Q: Okay, so the trick is to wear lenses for up close only …
A: Hum! I'm not so sure! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so look at this …You can't see anything in the distance! Or in the intermediate space. Single focal lenses are only good for up close. People who wear them are easy to recognize, they take their glasses on and off dozens of times a day!
Q: So, are there any more corrective measures for presbyopia?
A: Yes. There's laser surgery, but it won't give you perfect vision at all distances. So it's not really a conclusive solution.
Q: Fine … but John, is there a solution that puts an end to all these visual compromises?
A: Yes! I'm going to tell you about the very best the world has to offer to correct presbyopia: brand new Varilux progressive lenses.
Q: What exactly are progressive lenses?
A: Varilux progressive lenses use corrective techniques that are especially designed for presbyopia, offering clear vision at all distances without visible focal markings.
