A progressive or progressive multifocal contact lens having a concave eye-contact surface and a convex forward-facing outer surface for receiving and bending light to the eye. The outer surface consists of an upper distance-viewing zone having a curvature surface, a lower near-viewing zone having a curvature surface, and at least one progressive viewing zone having a crescent shape in forward-facing view. The progressive viewing zone can include a progressive upper distance-viewing zone, a progressive intermediate progressive viewing zone, or a progressive lower near-viewing zone, or a combination of such zones. The progressive viewing zone has a crescent shape and consists of distinct progressive viewing segments having a curvature surface that progresses in curvature in series. The distinct progressive viewing segments of the progressive viewing zones can extend to and converge at any point out to or at the outer peripheral edge of the contact lens.