Multi-focal lenses

My eyeglassses are killing me!


This is the third pair of progressive lenses that I am having in the last 3 months.


I am not a first-time user of progressive lenses. In fact, I have been using them for a number of years and have been through at least five pairs without any problem before my current ordeal began three months ago. I had my first pair of progressive lenses made in Japan. For the subsequent four pairs, I had patronised three different optical shops here in Hong Kong, two of them are household names - you see their names in many places here. The other was a small one-man business which has since closed down. Even with the one-man business, I never had any issue with the lenses they made for me. Three months ago, I decided to have new glasses made as I felt that distance viewing seemed to be not as good as before.


The first pair was duly made. I could not read computer text with it at all. It was all rather blurred. I had to tilt my head backward so much in order to read the text and my nape hurt. There was no problem though with distant viewing or reading. I went back to the shop a few times to explore ways to fix the problem. Quite responsibly, they replaced it after thoroughly re-checking and adjusting the numbers. I was able to read computer text better but still needed to struggle a bit with it. Again, there was no problem with distance viewing or reading. I was quite puzzled, so I decided to have a second opinion with another optometrist. This time, it was found that my glasses were overcorrective and the numbers had to be adjusted again. By this time, I was quite desperate to have my eyesight back, so I had a third pair of glasses made, with overcorrection reversed. Now, mid-range reading seems to have improved but it is still not very clear. I need to tilt my head a little backward to improve vision. I am getting pain in the nape and down the shoulders when reading computer text and watching TV. OUCH!


I am really frustrated with all these and don't know what to do. Wonder if anybody has had similar experience and can share?

Thank you, flashback. Thank you Crystal for offering to help. Unfortunately, I do not have the old prescription. I had it binned when a new pair was made - terrible mistake with the benefit of hindsight! I have brought back the latest specs to the shop and they will make some improvements to it. Am just wondering why corrective lenses need correction.

Crystal, Very kind of you indeed. Thanks loads. I don't have the prescription for that pair. I don't remember having been given the prescripiton. Evan if I had, I would have tossed it away a long time ago. I have a habit of changing my specs every year or so and I never thought it was necessary to keep prescriptions. Of course, I can go back to the shop which made those specs but I'll wait to see what comes out of the improvement which is being made to my latest spec. Thanks Crytal. So nice of you to help.

Hi Isonoawabi


It sounds a little like the person doing the actual measurements, i.e when they place the pen markings on the glasses that you have just selected may have got it wrong. Often, it's not the prescription that is wrong, it is those markings which give what is known as 'heights'. This is the area where the distance vision runs from the top part of the lens, gradually moving thru the middle area, which is used for computer/music etc, down into the reading. It is also crucial that the person marking these heights also correctly sets the centre of what will be the lens to the centre of your pupils.

Everyone is a different width between the 2 pupils, so the exact optical centre of the lens needs to match your own pupils.

So there can be discrepancy with horizontal measurements, as well as vertical.


I'm an Optician and am well aware of the pitfalls and sometimes mistakes made by practioners. An Optom should be able to look at your old lenses to see what you wore: heights, centres, as well as prescription. Take your old (but comfy to use) glasses with you to where you had the new troublesome ones made, and request they check heights and centres to compare. the heights will be different, but the centres should be the same.


Sometimes different lens brands are very different from others...they are all designed with different applications in mind. One type of progressive lens may not suit all wearers.

Hope that helps, any more info, pm me

Kiwozzie, thank you for your very helpful professional opinion. I think you are probably right. One of the optometrists did mention height. She said the previous pair I was wearing was made too high and should be adjusted. She showed me a diagram of a typical progressive lens indicating the progression of three ranges of vision with the mid-range being at the centre. It seems that my previous (non-problematic) specs, though made with the centre being too high, suited me. Very strange indeed. I must have pupils which are above (or below) par. This doesn't make sense to me. I may be wrong, but if a particular height suits me, is there a need to insist on following the books? Anyway, just thinking aloud. :-)

Hi Isonoawabi


Don't worry....it's not your pupils being above or below par! It's all to do with the size of the frame too...you know how fashion is. A larger spec frame or a smaller one, as well as the design of the lens itself have to be measured accurately for each person.

So, if a multifocal has been cut & put into the frame incorrectly, it causes all sorts of problems for the wearer, not to mention all the self-doubt for you that goes with it.

In short, a successful multifocal lens is tailor made for the person....it's definately not a case of 'one size fits all'. That's why the things are so expensive, but when they are done properly, they are so good, as you know from past experience!


I hope that everything works out for you, and your Optometrist fixes their mistakes. Otherwise it's an expensive headache/neck ache for you!

Good Luck

Thanks kiwozzie for your professional opinion. I think you are 100% correct. My specs are ok now, finally! Thanks.