Driving with progressive sunglasses

[Bluside]

My eyes are failing me these days. The last time I tried driving with progressive glasses I really did not like it. I am very comfortable with them for everything else. I just find I lose to much peripheral vision while driving.

I'm using my single vision glasses (clear and sunglasses) in the car but keep a cheap pair of readers in there to throw over my glasses when I need to see the dash or GPS more clearly.

Anyone have this problem or have a better solution?

[Abdullah71601]

I do the exact same thing. I have no trouble reading gauges, but the Garmin can give me fits without readers.

The one thing I learned is that glass single vision lenses don't scratch as easily as plastic lenses when I put my readers over them.

[GradyPhilpott]

I haven't noticed that my progressives affect my peripheral vision at all.

It's just that I have to look through my lenses to see, so that I have to turn my head instead of relying on my peripheral vision so much.

What you are describing sounds like tunnel vision, which in my experience is not a side effect of wearing progressives.

I'd talk to my OD, if I were experiencing this.

Reading your post again, I see that the problem is seeing the road and the gauges in your car, which doesn't sound like a peripheral vision problem, but perhaps a problem with your reading correction.

I broke my glasses frame when I was in Colorado on the day I was to return to New Mexico and had to use two sets of readers (one with a weak correction for distance and another with a stronger correction for close up) and wear both for the drive back.

I was very pleased to get back home to get my backup pair.

[function12]

I wear progressives all the time. Had to get glasses in my late 40's for the first time. I do have the peripheral vision issues while driving. I find I have to turn my head a lot more. Sometimes it seams like cars are coming over in my lane. It is just something I have learn to deal with.

[Blansky]

I got used to them years ago and the first issue was not being able to see your feet clearly meant tripping on stuff more and while driving you can't see your outside mirror as well.

Basically I just got used to them and you have to turn your head a lot more, instead of just your eyes.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I haven't noticed that my progressives affect my peripheral vision at all.

It's just that I have to look through my lenses to see, so that I have to turn my head instead of relying on my peripheral vision so much.

What you are describing sounds like tunnel vision, which in my experience is not a side effect of wearing progressives.

I'd talk to my OD, if I were experiencing this.

Reading your post again, I see that the problem is seeing the road and the gauges in your car, which doesn't sound like a peripheral vision problem, but perhaps a problem with your reading correction.

I broke my glasses frame when I was in Colorado on the day I was to return to New Mexico and had to use two sets of readers (one with a weak correction for distance and another with a stronger correction for close up) and wear both for the drive back.

I was very pleased to get back home to get my backup pair.

Turning my head to see is the issue. It's not tunnel vision, it's a small sweet spot on the lenses that requires one to reposition the entire head (like an owl), instead of just the eyes.

Single vision lenses still have a space on the side, but the whole lens is useful, not just a certain spot for a certain focal distance. Contacts fix this issue entirely.

[Bluside]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this issue. No, it's not tunnel vision. I wear progressives just about all day except when I get in the car. That is when I change to single vision.

As mentioned in another post above, I like to just move my eyes to glance at the side mirrors instead of moving my whole head.

[Blansky]

You wanna be able to do this?

[Dr. Robert]

Been wearing progressive specs for a while, never a problem, sunglasses, non sunglasses,
Driving, cycling, walking, etc.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Blansky

I got used to them years ago and the first issue was not being able to see your feet clearly meant tripping on stuff more and while driving you can't see your outside mirror as well.

Basically I just got used to them and you have to turn your head a lot more, instead of just your eyes.

This pretty much describes my experience. The older I get the more I have to keep my head in a gimbal.

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[Bluside]

I'll never be Brad...

[daveo5]

Been wearing progressives for years. Indoors, outdoors, driving, never really a problem. Only time is when I ‘m breaking in a new pair. Then they take a short while to get used to.


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[Catatafish]

I wear progressives (the new Varilux X) but have a fairly light prescription and a minimal wire frame. Haven't noticed any difficulties in the car but it took a lot of adjusting on a motorcycle with a full face helmet. I have to move my head around a lot more.

[123Blueface]

I struggled for a few years but eventually got use to Progressive lenses for both regular glasses and sunglasses.

[Rock]

Long-term wearer (short-sighted) of progressives, both untinted and progressive sunglasses.
The main issue I have had over the years is that the 'sweet-spot' for a particular activity may require head to be tilted up at an uncomfortable angle which produces a ferocious neck-ache if maintained for long.
I have to have a set of single-vision 'readers' for computer use - if the sweet-spot on a set of progressives was positioned for computer-use, the spectacles would be useless for anything else.
Likewise my prescription sunglasses have the sweet-spot located so that they allow a comfortable head orientation for long car trips. (so slightly higher on the lens)

[hdrazor251]

I've had progressives for about 7 years. I struggled with them and tried three different pairs in the first year. I finally spent the money on Varilux and it made all the difference in the world. A noticeably wider vision channel and I didn't get sea sick walking down stairs.

[Bluside]

I talked with an optician yesterday. We kicked around the idea of getting lined bifocal sunglasses made just for driving. We would put the mid distance, instead of reading, in the bifocal part and have the main part of the glasses for distance. It's a thought.

I made an appt with my eye doctor next week to pick his brain.

Again, I just want these for in the car.

[RichM]

Been wearing them and driving for years without any issues. My suggestion would be have your eye exam with your doctor and then have the glasses made by a LensCrafters or some other place that offers a guarantee like this: https://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/our-guarantee

In the event you do have an issue, they’ll make it right even if that means different glasses.

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by Rich Mickol

My suggestion would be have your eye exam with your doctor and then have the glasses made by a LensCrafters or some other place that offers a guarantee like this: https://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/our-guarantee

In the event you do have an issue, they’ll make it right even if that means different glasses.

Thanks. I just had a recent eye exam and have had all my progressives made at my local LensCrafters. The issue is not with the glasses or prescription, they are fine. It's just me. I don't like driving with progressives compared to single vision glasses.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by Bluside

I talked with an optician yesterday. We kicked around the idea of getting lined bifocal sunglasses made just for driving. We would put the mid distance, instead of reading, in the bifocal part and have the main part of the glasses for distance. It's a thought.

I made an appt with my eye doctor next week to pick his brain.

Again, I just want these for in the car.

This will work great for driving. Progressives are made in the shape of an hour glass and anything on the sides is blurry. You have to turn your head directly at what you are looking at to see it clearly. When first driving with progressives it's may feel like you have blinders on. Most get used to it, but some don't. Getting a flat top bifocal, with the bifocal part being mid range will most likely due the job. You won't have that distortion on the sides, and you will be able to see your dashboard through the bifocal portion. You really don't need to waste your time going back and chatting with the optometrist, now if you were having an issue with the rx then yes go back.

[RichM]

Originally Posted by Bluside

Thanks. I just had a recent eye exam and have had all my progressives made at my local LensCrafters. The issue is not with the glasses or prescription, they are fine. It's just me. I don't like driving with progressives compared to single vision glasses.

Got it.

[martinr]

Essilor Varilux X are the latest and greatest in progressive lenses. Get high index and the right prescription and problems with peripheral vision are almost non existent, also no more feeling like your going to fall over walking down stairs.

[Bluside]

I ordered a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer bifocal sunglasses today. The bifocal section will have the Mid distance in it instead of reading. Hopefully, this will work out.

I'll report back when they come in.