You're at a café on the Plateau. The server drops off the menu. You hold it. You pull it closer. You push it back. Your friends smile. Welcome to presbyopia — and no, you're not "getting old". You're simply human.
So what is presbyopia, exactly?
The lens inside your eye — that tiny natural lens behind your iris — slowly loses its flexibility starting in your forties. The result: focusing on close things gets harder. It's as natural as graying hair, and it happens to everyone, even people who have never needed glasses before.
Why progressive lenses, not just "reading glasses"?
Pharmacy reading glasses only work up close. If you spend your day taking them off and putting them back on — to look at your computer, the person across from you, then your phone — you'll quickly find it exhausting. That's where progressive lenses come in.
A progressive lens has three vision zones built into a single pair of glasses: the top for distance (driving, watching a board, seeing your friends at the end of the table), the middle for intermediate vision (your computer screen, your car dashboard), and the bottom for near vision (books, phone, grocery labels).
How long does it take to adjust?
For most of our Montréal patients, adjustment takes one to two weeks. In the first few days, you'll move your head more than your eyes to find the right zone. After that, it becomes a reflex. Lens quality, accurate measurements and a properly adjusted frame make a huge difference in comfort — which is why we take the time to do it right.
How much does it cost in Québec?
- Eye exams are covered by RAMQ for people 65 and older, and fully covered for those under 18.
- For adults between 18 and 64, most private insurance plans cover the exam plus part of the lenses.
- At Vision770, we provide a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurer, and our team helps you understand your coverage before you buy.
An optometrist's tip
If you spend 6 to 8 hours a day on screens, ask us about an "office" or "anti-fatigue" lens. These are designed for intermediate distance — perfect for the hybrid workstation you've kept since remote work started.
Going further
Not sure if you're presbyopic? Book an exam.
30 to 45 minutes, at any of our 6 optical clinics in Montréal and Saint-Rémi. A full exam including near-vision assessment.
Going further
Discover the details of our eye exam, or let our opticians guide you to a frame that supports progressive lenses well (small frames don't always cut it).
Going further
Eyewear & frames: 30+ brands in store
Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Tom Ford, Gucci, Prada — our opticians steer you toward frames that work well with progressive lenses.
