Prescription Types: Single Vision vs. Progressive

Lendo Prescription Types: Single Vision vs. Progressive Próximo

When ordering prescription glasses online or in Shop the first step (after selecting your frame!) is to choose your lenses based on your prescription strength and focal type.

What is the difference between single vision and progressive lenses in prescription glasses? Let us explain—we’ve been making prescription glasses for over 100 years!

Single Vision

Single Vision lenses are used for one purpose only, they provide one focal range for either distance, reading, or computer wear. When someone is nearsighted (known as myopia), that means they have near sight, naturally, and they need the lenses for seeing far. MOSCOT also provides Single Vision lenses for reading. When an individual requires lenses just for reading, they are considered farsighted (called hyperopia). These two categories, distance and reading, or nearsighted and farsighted, are types of Single Vision prescription glasses. If you don’t know whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted, your prescription can answer that for you! A minus sign in the spherical error (or SPH) column on the prescription means you’re nearsighted, and closer objects appear more clearly. If you see plus signs followed by numbers, you’re farsighted. To find out how extensive your nearsightedness or farsightedness is, move to the numbers next to the plus or minus signs.

Some people need glasses for seeing far, some for seeing close, and some need correction for both. If your prescription includes a value in the ADD category, your doctor is recommending a multi-focal, or Progressive lens.

Progressive

Progressive lenses accommodate for multiple depths or ranges of vision within the lens into one pair of glasses. These lenses correct near, intermediate, and distance fields of vision in one lens so you don’t have to switch between multiple pairs of prescription glasses. A Progressive lens provides stellar distance vision as you look straight ahead, but as you glance downward towards the bottom of the lens, you’ll find that your vision is gradually magnified to assist with near tasks. In addition, you will find a sweet spot in between these two zones that will aid in either computer work or glancing at a dashboard while driving. Patients new to Progressive Lenses may take some time getting used to seeing through these lenses for the first week, as it takes at least a few days for your eyes and brain to communicate and get comfortable. We guarantee your visual comfort and overall satisfaction with our new digital progressive lens technology.