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Bifocals
Here at Wolcott Optical, we offer an extensive selection of different types of glasses and contact lenses. We have lenses for all types of vision needs, including bifocals. Originally called “double spectacles” by Benjamin Franklin, bifocals are lenses that allow you to see things both far away and up close with the same pair of glasses. If you’re tired of having to carry a pair of reading glasses around and switching your glasses depending on what you’re doing, bifocals may be the perfect choice for you.
What Makes People Need Bifocals?
As you get to the age of 40 and older, you may find yourself struggling with presbyopia. This is an eye condition where you start struggling to see things up close and may find yourself holding things at a distance in order to see them clearly, such as a book. It can also make it more challenging to shift from looking at something in the distance to looking at something nearby. As you continue to age, you’ll likely notice this issue becoming more prominent.
Sometimes, children and younger people can struggle with focusing on things both at a distance and up close due to conditions such as accommodative dysfunction and accommodative esotropia. For younger people with such conditions, bifocals offer clarity and ease of vision, too.
Bifocals allow you to be able to see things both up close and far away, alleviating these problems. They provide much more convenience than having to switch between two different pairs of eyeglasses depending on what you’re doing and allow you to cheat this visual effect of aging.
How Do Bifocals Work?
Since they have two types of lenses in the same frame, bifocals allow you to easily shift between your two different prescriptions so you can see clearly, both near and far. The top half of the lenses is used for being able to see things that are far away, while the bottom half is for being able to see things that are up close.
Bifocals can take time to adjust to, but most wearers get used to them within a week or two. Still, many people find them easier to adjust to than the more modern progressive lenses, as there’s a more clear cut difference between the part of the lens used for seeing up close and for seeing far away.
Progressives: A Seamless Multifocal Alternative
Progressives are a modern multifocal alternative for those who do not like the line in the lenses of bifocals and want more seamless progression of near to far vision. Rather than having a split between the top and the bottom lenses, progressive glasses offer smooth progression between near and far and everything in between. These allow you to get the vision aid you need without the line traditional bifocals have, which some feel can make them look older than they are.
There is a learning curve with progressives, as you need to train your eyes to look through specific parts of your lenses in order to see things at a specific distance. People who work office jobs or at computers all day often find it easier to make the adjustment to progressive lenses than those who do not. Progressives can also be a better alternative for those who work active jobs or who like the great outdoors, as bifocals can cause some depth perception issues, such as making stairs seem closer and bigger than they actually are.
Wolcott Optical provides bifocals and progressive glasses to suit your needs. If you’ve noticed yourself struggling with being able to focus on items close to you, you may need bifocals or progressives. Contact us today to learn more about the lenses we have available to you in the Millcreek, UT area.
