When we reach – a certain age – we all need some help in bed. Whether that help be to see up close or across the room, almost every single one of us... will need it.
Progressive addition lenses (PALs) are wonderful jack-of-all-trades lenses for most routine tasks. So why do they fail when we are reclined in bed?
The answer is in the question – reclined. PAL lenses are posture sensitive. They have a distance vision zone at the top of the lens and then closer vision zone(s) at the bottom. These zones align and work well when we are sitting or standing. However, if we are reclined in bed… they come out of whack.
Being reclined, all PAL lens zones are too high. Thus, slipping them down your nose is your only option for distance. But slipping glasses down your nose, pushes the near zone down into no-man’s-land and too low for use.
A better/custom/more expensive PAL will not solve this challenge. Beyond sitting upright in bed, there are few options to help those of in need.
1] Old school segmented bifocals (yes – with the line) may not be cosmetically nor functionally acceptable outside of the bedroom but the do work better with reclined posture.
2] Back to separate glasses. Lenses only for distance or only for near work but it does may it challenging if you are trying to text and watch Netflix.
Find out more about UNcorporate Optometry at Studio Eye Care
