Discovering the misconceptions about progressive lenses

Study insights

Progressive lenses correct presbyopia and so they play a fundamental role in the optical industry. However, do presbyopes really wear progressive lenses? By

Ivette Bruguera

Studies show that 46%[1] of presbyopes in the world still do not use progressive lenses. Specifically, 58 million presbyopes in Europe use alternative solutions to progressive lenses. This statistically significant data confirms that there are different opinions on the part of presbyopes regarding the use of progressive lenses. So, are there misconceptions about progressive lenses?

Recorded opinions confirm that there are clear misconceptions about progressive lenses:

▶ Not wanting to wear PALs[2] yet because it is associated with aging.

▶ Fear of the difficulty of adapting to the new lenses.

▶ Not knowing how PALs work[2]

▶ Thinking it is an expensive product.

Study key findings

Faced with the need to break with all these misconceptions about progressive lenses, Horizons Optical has carried out a study at a European level focusing on five countries, both at user and ECP level, in order to find out first-hand the opinion of presbyopes who still do not wear progressive lenses.

First results confirm that presbyopes have adequate knowledge about age-associated visual conditions and visual solutions such as ophthalmic lenses. However, it is of vital importance for the 40% of presbyopes who do not use PALs[2] to have the appropriate visual solution for their visual needs.

Analyzing in detail the reason for this lack of use[3], these are the relevant statements from the study:

▶ 11% of users do not use PALs[2] because of the price associated with them.

▶ 23% of users show concern about the difficulty of adapting to progressives.

▶ 33% are not very clear about how they work.

▶ 33% do not use them for other reasons, including wanting to wait to start using progressives.

All of this highlights the need on the part of ECPs to have educational sales tools that help them introduce presbyopes to the world of progressive lenses and thus improve the visual quality and life of these patients.

In this sense, Horizons Optical has presented this February during Mido tradeshow mimesys coach, a virtual simulator that allows the patient to experience the use of progressive lenses and appreciate the advantages of this type of lens, thus becoming a key element in the purchasing decision. ◆

From ECPs perspective, the study confirms that:

▶ They have 1.5 non-adaptations from new PAL users[2] per month.

▶ Progressive lenses are the third cause of non-adaptation. The centering of the lens is critical.

▶ Many patients do not fully understand what a progressive lens consists of and have high expectations.

Experts agree that progressive lenses are the best solution for almost all presbyope patients as the lenses offer better vision at all distances. However, data obtained confirms that there are misconceptions inherent to the progressive lenses that keeps a large group of presbyopes reluctant to start using this type of lens.

Ivette Bruguera is a Product Manager at Horizons Optical. With a degree in Optics and Optometry from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and a master's degree in project management from the Management School of Madrid. She spent over four years as the lead of EMEA technical support, where she gained valuable experience