One pair for every distance — your phone, your computer, and the road ahead. HOYA progressives, expertly fitted at Charm Optical on Ellerslie Road.
Progressive lenses replace the old-style bifocals your parents wore — the ones with the visible line across the middle. Instead of two abrupt zones, progressives blend three focal points smoothly: far away (driving, watching TV), arm's length (computer, cooking), and up close (reading, texting). No line, no "image jump," no one can tell you're wearing multifocals.
Progressives only work when they're measured precisely for your eyes and your frame. A millimetre off on the pupil height and you'll be tilting your head awkwardly to find the right zone. That's why we do every fitting in person — never guessing, never rushing. We measure pupillary distance, segment height, vertex distance, and frame tilt before sending your order to HOYA's lab.
Want to keep it local? We also carry Riverside progressive lenses — manufactured right here in Calgary, Alberta. Riverside uses smart surface-optimization technology with variable inset and variable corridor designs, smoothing out the unwanted aberrations that make cheaper progressives uncomfortable. The result is natural vision across every zone of the lens — distance, computer, and reading.
Riverside progressives are especially good for first-time progressive wearers — they're designed for fast adaptation with comfortable near vision, smooth transitions between zones, and reduced eye strain during reading or screen use. Competitively priced, Canadian-made, and shorter turnaround since there's no overseas shipping. Ask us about Riverside as an alternative to HOYA.
Progressive lenses are custom-ground for your prescription and measurements — they take about 5–10 business days. Unlike single vision lenses (ready in an hour), progressives can't be made same-day because each lens is individually shaped to your fitting parameters. We'll call you as soon as they're ready for pickup at our Ellerslie Road store.
Charm Optical is located at 5035 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 1X2 — right in the heart of south Edmonton. We serve patients from Ellerslie, Summerside, Heritage Valley, Rutherford, Windermere, Walker, Callaghan, Allard, and Cavanagh. If you're searching for progressive lenses near you in Edmonton, we're an easy drive with free parking right outside.
We tested lenses from every major manufacturer before committing to one. HOYA won. Not because of marketing — because our customers adapted faster, complained less, and came back happier.
HOYA Corporation was founded in Tokyo in 1941 and has been making precision optics for over 80 years. They operate in 80+ countries and hold roughly 20% of the global ophthalmic lens market. Their progressive lenses use dual-surface design What is Dual-Surface Design? Integrated Dual Surface technology applies power distribution to both sides of the lens. The front surface handles the vertical progressive component for seamless far-to-near viewing. The back surface maximizes the near field of view for an expansive reading zone. By surfacing both sides instead of just one, the lens achieves a wider field of view, less distortion, and reduced eye rotation — which means faster adaptation and more comfortable all-day wear.
At Charm Optical, HOYA is our #1 selling progressive lens. The reason is simple: our customers get premium optical performance at a price point that makes sense — without paying the brand tax that comes with European luxury names.
All five brands make excellent progressive lenses. The core technology is comparable across the board. The real difference? Price — and who's pocketing the markup.
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Riverside
Calgary, Canada
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| Typical Retail Price | $350–$550 | $450–$750 | $500–$900+ | $450–$700 | $350–$450 |
| Dual-Surface Design | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Binocular Optimization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wide Reading Zone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UV Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-Reflective Coating | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Key Technology | Dual-surface grinding | W.A.V.E. wavefront | i.Scription precision | SeeMax 8-axis | DigiTech surface optimization |
| Manufacturing | Japan + Vietnam | France + Thailand + global | Germany + Hungary | Japan (Nikon-Essilor JV) | Calgary, Alberta |
| Best For | All-round progressive wearers | Brand-conscious buyers | Premium/luxury seekers | Tech enthusiasts | First-time wearers + local supporters |
| Why the Price? | Lean manufacturing, no retail markup | Owns LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut — vertical retail markup | German luxury positioning + heritage premium | Camera brand prestige + Essilor JV distribution | Local lab, zero import/shipping overhead |
| At Charm Optical | From $350 | Not stocked | Not stocked | Not stocked | From $350 |
We start with a comprehensive eye exam ($99, or free if you're under 19 or 65+). Already have a current prescription? Bring it in — no new exam needed.
Progressive lenses need taller frames (28mm+ lens height) so all three vision zones fit. We'll guide you to frames that work and steer you away from ones that won't — no matter how stylish they look on the shelf. 700+ frames to choose from.
This is where it matters. We measure your pupillary distance, segment height, vertex distance, and frame pantoscopic tilt. Even 1mm off can make progressives uncomfortable — we don't rush this step.
Your measurements go to HOYA's lab where each lens is custom-ground using their dual-surface technology. Both surfaces of the lens are shaped to your prescription. Takes about 5–10 business days.
When your glasses arrive, we fit them to your face and walk you through how to use progressive lenses — where to look for distance, computer, and reading. You leave comfortable and confident.
If anything feels off in the first 30 days (or ever, really), come back. We'll re-adjust the frame, check the measurements, and make it right. No charge, no hassle.
Fair question. Let's keep it really simple.
Think of it like chocolate. You can grab a chocolate bar from Dollarama for a dollar. You can also buy Belgian chocolate for ten. Both are chocolate. Both technically taste like chocolate. But one is made with better ingredients, a better process, and your taste buds know the difference.
Progressive lenses work the same way. Costco, Specsavers, and those $200-or-less online stores use budget lens blanks with basic single-surface designs — they'll technically "work," but the vision zones are narrower, the peripheral blur is worse, and the adaptation period is longer. A lot of people who walk into our store tried cheap progressives first and gave up entirely — headaches, couldn't read properly, felt dizzy for weeks, and ended up stuffing them in a drawer.
And here's the part online stores can't do at all: progressive lenses need to be measured on your face. Pupil height, segment position, frame tilt, vertex distance — if any of those are off by even 1–2mm, the lens zones don't line up with your eyes and nothing feels right. An online store guesses these from a photo. We measure them in person, precisely, every time.
The lenses we fit — HOYA and Riverside — use dual-surface design (the prescription is carved onto both sides of the lens, not just one — wider field of view, less distortion) with wider corridors, smoother transitions, and better optical clarity edge to edge. The result? Faster adaptation, clearer vision, less strain, and a pair you'll actually want to wear every day.
So yes — Costco is cheaper. Specsavers is cheaper. Online is cheapest. But you're trading quality and comfort for price. If you want something that does the job for a few weeks before the problems start, those options exist. If you want something that genuinely improves your quality of life long-term, come see us. We'll show you the difference — literally — in person.
Progressive lenses at Charm Optical start at $350 for a single pair (frame + lenses) or $500 for two pairs. That's 20–30% less than what you'd pay for comparable Essilor Varilux or Zeiss progressives at chain stores — with the same optical quality. We direct bill insurance for Alberta Blue Cross, Canada Life, Desjardins, Great-West Life, AISH, and Alberta Works. Most patients pay significantly less out of pocket.
We tested all three. Our patients adapted faster to HOYA's dual-surface progressive design, had fewer complaints about peripheral blur, and needed fewer adjustment visits. Academic research backs this up — Nature Scientific Reports found that progressive lens quality depends on design methodology, not brand name. HOYA delivers the same personalized technology as brands charging 20–30% more. The price difference comes from brand markup and retail chain overhead, not better optics.
Probably yes — and here's why. Most progressive lens failures are fitting failures, not lens failures. If the pupil height, frame tilt, or vertex distance was off by even 1–2mm, the vision zones land in the wrong spot and the lenses feel "swimmy" or useless for reading. At Charm Optical, we take 4–5 separate measurements per eye and verify them before sending your order to HOYA's lab. If you had a bad experience elsewhere, it's worth a second try with proper fitting.
You need frames with at least 28–30mm of vertical lens height so all three vision zones (distance, computer, reading) fit comfortably. Avoid narrow, shallow frames — they cut off the reading zone. Larger round or rectangular frames tend to work best. Our opticians will steer you toward frames that work and away from ones that won't. Browse our 700+ frames online to get an idea of what we carry, then come visit us in store to try them on.
Most people adapt within 3–7 days of full-time wear. During the first few days, you might notice soft focus at the edges or a slight head-turning habit when looking to the side. This is normal — your brain is learning to use the different zones. The key is to wear them all day, not on-and-off. If discomfort persists past two weeks, come back — it usually means a small measurement adjustment is needed, which we do for free.
Progressive lenses require an in-store visit — they can't be ordered online because we need to take precise facial and frame measurements in person. You can browse our 700+ frames online to see what styles we carry, but the fitting, measurement, and final purchase happen at our store at 5035 Ellerslie Rd SW, south Edmonton. This is the only way to guarantee a comfortable fit.
Yes — both. You can add photochromic (transition) coating so your progressives darken outdoors and clear indoors, or blue light filtering to reduce screen glare. You can even combine both. These are added during the manufacturing process, so there's no extra wait time. Ask our opticians about pricing — it varies by coating type.
Charm Optical is located at 5035 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 1X2 — in south Edmonton with free parking. We serve patients from Ellerslie, Summerside, Heritage Valley, Rutherford, Windermere, Walker, Callaghan, Allard, and Cavanagh. Progressive lenses require an in-store fitting (they can't be done online), so come visit us during store hours: Monday to Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 11am-5pm. Book an eye exam online or call (780) 490-0090.
Progressive lenses need to be measured right to feel right — that's why they're in-store only. Come see us at 5035 Ellerslie Rd SW and we'll take the time to get your fit dialled in. Browse our frames online first, then visit us to try them on and get fitted.
Last updated: April 2026
