Progressive lenses described as having a short corridor and/or a high add power are classified as which design?

• A. Hard design
• B. Soft design
• C. Medium design
• D. Ultra design

Answer: (A)

Progressive lens designs are described by how quickly the power changes across the lens (the corridor length) and how strong the near add is. A short corridor means the progression from distance to reading power happens over a small distance, and a high add power means a steep power gradient. This combination creates a more abrupt, quickly changing lens surface and often more peripheral distortion, which is characteristic of a hard design. Soft designs use a longer corridor with a smoother transition, making adaptation easier and reducing peripheral distortion, while medium sits between. Ultra isn’t defined by this specific short corridor/high add pairing. So the described features align with a hard design.