Cdv: 'Progressive lenses improve the quality of life'
It has been a success. There is no other way to describe the meeting at Mido on Sunday, May 8, when the protagonist was the Italian Vision Defense Commission.
The workshop on progressive lenses was clearly a success for the participants to whom Stefania Farneti, Director of research, Cra (Customized Research & Analysis, preferred by ACNielsen) and Fabrizio Pirovano, company consultant, revealed the figures of the research commissioned by Cdv on the relationship between Italians and presbyopia.
The impressive starting point of the research, which highlighted how the market share held by progressive lenses in Italy today stands at around 11% of the overall volume of lenses sold, compared to 27% in the Usa, 26% in France and 21% in Germany (Anfao data).
The data confirm that presbyopia is experienced by many Italians as being a clear sign of aging, having a distancing and puzzling effect as regards our surroundings. Presbyopia makes us less sure of ourselves and limits the speed of our actions. According to the research, today 44% of the Italian population over 40 lives daily with presbyopia and it is sometimes associated with other vision defects. Of these, 47% are men and 42% are women. A totally transversal situation.
This awareness often means that we have to choose glasses that are suited to our specific characteristics; this is often a difficult decision which, until a short time ago, meant 'deforming' lenses that would be unable to combine vision comfort and aesthetics. Today, technology tries to satisfy the needs of those who are approaching the risk age and have decided not to abandon their own style. The solution offered by science today is represented by progressive lenses.
Progressive lenses are the ideal tool for fight against presbyopia associated, or otherwise, with other vision defects. A unique solution that means we can throw away the two pairs of glasses we would have been forced to alternate in order to properly see close and distant objects. A technical miracle which, today, is much finer than in the past and does not distort our profile in any way.
Unlike bifocals or half lenses, it is a tool which does not allow anyone to realize we have a sight 'problem' or even to guess our age.
According to the research by the Vision Defense Commission, almost one out of two people can 'wear' progressive lenses immediately, without having to adapt to them (41.5%), whereas the other half (44.8%) states that only after a few days functionality and comfort is total and complete. A certainty that makes this product, the result of modern technology, something that is accessible to everyone.
The data also confirm that in the last two years the number of people who have chosen progressive lenses for the care of their eyes and their appearance has doubled (from 11.8% in 2002 to 20.1% this year), but despite this, 9 out of 10 Italians would like to receive more information about this product.
The research commissioned by the Vision Defense Commission also emphasizes the amazement of those who have gone to a specialist and have discovered that beyond vision comfort, this type of lens is cheaper if compared, for example, to two new pairs of glasses.
The interviewees state that the major advantages guaranteed by progressive lenses are:- being able to use just one pair of glasses even for different vision defects (58.6%);
- the convenience of not having to alternate different glasses and so avoiding the risk of breakage and loss (39.1%);
- an increased feeling of freedom and the possibility of dominating the surrounding environment (29.4%).
The advice is to go, as soon as possible, to a specialist who will certainly be able to illustrate the possibilities and many benefits of using these lenses. 44% of the interviewees still trust word of mouth. Today more than ever before, choosing progressive lenses means improving the quality of your life.
Callisto Fedon, Chairman of the Vision Defense Commission, stated: 'The quality of life can be improved by using progressive lenses. The figures are clear and don't lie. Anyone using them immediately appreciates their many advantages. However, there are still too many Italians who don't know about them or are confused about this type of lens. Everyone's eye health is very important to the Vision Defense Commission and thus it will continue to work to provide even better information for citizens and consumers'.
