Aafes
Viernheim,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, September 03, 2006
Charles: I am a former optician and can give you some insignt into your problem. First, if you previously were wearing normal bifocals for an extended period of time it may not be possible for you to adjust to nolines. T These lenses (known as progressive lenses) have a normal area for distance vision and then a narrow channel "progressing" in prescription power to a reading area. If you are accustomed to normal bifocals you may not be able to adjust to this type of lens. If you wore a different brand of noline bifocal in the past, this could also be a problem. Each manufacturer uses a different "progression" pattern in the lens and adjusting from one to the other is difficult and can take several weeks of wear to retrain your eyes to the new channel. All that being said, it sounds, rather, that the measurements for the bifdocal were either taken incorrectly or the lab technician did not edge the lens to the provided measurements. When reading the eyes naturally turn inward and down. The measurements, if taken and utilized properly would allow your eyes to turn into the progressive channel while reading. Initially you would notice a slight blur at the edges of the channel but your brain would quickly retrain itself to ignore this. To measure for these lenses the optician must first measure the pupillary distance from the bridge of your nose to the pupil. Then, with the lensless frame properly fitted and adjusted to your face and your comfort a measurement would need to be taken from the bottom of the eyewire (the frame part surrounding the lens) to the bottom of your pupil as you are looking directly ahead. This measurement determines where the "seg height" or start of the reading channel will be placed. If the frame were not properly adjusted prior to the measurements the height would be incorrect causing the blurring and dizzy sensation you are experiencing when looking at items in the distance. If the optician attempted only to adjust the frame AFTER the lenses were fitted into the eyewire the procedure was done incorrectly. Adjustment of the nose pad height and other frame adjustments can SOMETIMES alleviate the problem you are experiencing, however, if the frame is fitted correctly and measurements taken prior to manufacture there is little need for this. I would complain to Pearle Vision coporate offices if the store manager refuses to give you any satisfaction. If you do a google search on Pearle Vision Customer service it will provide both a physical address and toll free number. If you are a first time bifocal wearer and are not adverse to wearing contact lenses you may want to speak with an Optomoterist or Ophthalmologist about being fitted with monovision contacts. This is having a contact lens for near vision in one eye and distance in the other. Most people adapt well to this type of option. Basically one eye predominates at distance and the other at near. Central vision is clear and the eyes continue to work as a team. Peripheral vision is not negatively affected.