Most people on reaching their early to mid-40s notice a change in their ability to see small details up close, this becomes especially noticeable when reading.

This reduction in sight is associated with the decreasing elasticity of the eye lens that occurs as a part of the ageing process.

Another change many people notice is when looking from the distance and then up close – for instance watching the road and then glancing down to read the dials on your car’s dashboard – your eyes are not so quick to change focus and see both clearly.

Or have you had trouble reading the ingredients of your shopping list and finding the product on the shelves, only using one pair of glasses?

A solution to this is progressive glasses, which support your vision and are an “all-round” visual aid.

A progressive lens is a spectacle lens that provides additional support for near and distance vision, so you have continuous clear vision at all distances.

The lower part of the lens is designed to aid near vision, the upper part for distance vision. The section in between is the transition area that helps you see in intermediate distances.

The individual vision fields in the lens and your vision merge smoothly into one another, providing sharp vision at all distances and angles, as well as in low light conditions such as twilight.

Progressive lenses are designed for your environment, so if you use two computer screens, these lenses will work best for you as they’re designed to take the different screens into account – something other lenses can’t do as successfully.

Plus you can’t see the different lens types when looking at the glasses lens – it looks just like a single vision lens.

From about 45 years old, the gelatinous lens of the eye gradually loses its elasticity, which is why it can no longer switch as quickly between different distances.

Known as presbyopia – difficulty seeing objects close up – your eyes get help in the form of progressive lenses which are prescribed for the individual visual needs of each eye. Progressive glasses are a great choice for everyone who is experiencing the onset of presbyopia.

Single vision glasses help with either short-sightedness or long-sightedness. If presbyopia develops in addition to either of these two vision conditions, single vision spectacles are no longer suitable.

Progressive glasses compensate for both short (or long) sightedness and presbyopia with integrated lenses – they create a sharp image in the distance and close up. They also give you the closest to ‘natural’ vision possible. These lenses are like having 20year old eyes that focus quickly and work at all distances.

Progressive lenses mean you don’t have to switch between reading spectacles for near and single vision spectacles for distance.

With every new pair of spectacles, the wearer needs some time to get used to them.

The eyes and brain need time to reprocess visual information. Plus, with progressive lenses, the wearer needs to understand how to use the different fields of vision by moving their head.

It is advisable not to wait too long to get progressive lenses, as it is easier to get used to them with smaller differences between distance and near vision.

As soon as you notice that your eyes are changing and you can no longer see well with your current spectacles, you should have your eyes measured by your optometrist.

This varies from person to person, but on average a vision check is recommended at least every two years.