A method of optimizing a progressive lens is described. This invention is characterized by the following steps: selecting a preset progressive lens having a preset object distance function A1(x,y), selecting an object distance function A2(x=x0,y) along the main line of vision of the preset progressive lens for a lens that is to be derived, locating the map U:y→y′ along the main line of vision, such that the value y′ for which the following holds is calculated for each value of y: A1(x=x0,y)=A2(x=x0,y′), calculating the setpoint values S(x,y) at S(x,y′)=S(x,U(y)).