You’ve scheduled that appointment, completed your eye exam, and success, you’ve obtained your prescription! You are now ready to order online for a new pair of glasses! There’s just one question: which eyeglasses are right for you?

We’re here to help.

Single Vision vs Bifocal vs Progressive Lenses

Single Vision: same prescription across the entirety of the lens surface; distance OR near

Bifocals: distance lenses that include bottom portion for close-range vision; distance AND near

Progressive: lenses gradually transition from distance down into near-vision; distance, mid, and close-range vision

Single Vision Lenses

Single vision lenses are the most common. They are used to correct either nearsightedness or farsightedness, as the prescription strength is the same across the entirety of the lens. This makes these lenses ideal for distance only activities such as driving and sports in addition to near-vision needs, such as reading or office/computer work.

While single vision lenses usually do prove to be the most affordable along with being the easiest to adjust to, it rarely is a forever situation. As you get older, around the 40-year old mark, you will start to notice that your eyes are changing as well. In most cases, it may begin with your reading vision isn’t as clear as it used to be, or maybe even your distance start to feel weakened. While some people prefer to just keep two pairs of glasses on-hand at all times, both a distance-only pair and a reading-only pair, an easier alternative is to opt for just one pair of bifocal or progressive glasses!

Bifocal Lenses

The time has come. Your eye doctor has recommended bifocal glasses. Your mind immediately associates the word bifocals with old, grandparents, or Benjamin Franklin! This is normal and common in most people over the age of 40 who wear eyeglasses.

A bifocal is a lens with two powers within the same lense. Need a pair of glasses to see both near and far? That is where a bifocal lens comes into play! No need to carry around two pairs of glasses anymore when you can have both prescriptions in the same lens.

A line will divide the two prescriptions. The top viewing area of the glasses will be for your distance vision. Below the line, in a smaller viewing area will be your reading segment. The visible line can be intrusive, but we recommend wearing them often so your eyes can adjust to them!

 

Progressives

Progressives, also known as no-line bifocals, are able to provide a smooth shift from distance down into near-vision. With this lens type, there is an intermediate zone for for computer and TV viewing. With the added middle corridor, it makes it easy to transition between both distance and near. The invisible feature of progressives makes the style popular for cosmetic reasons alone, in addition to the multi-focal use.

Sometimes, progressive lenses are inadvertently confused with trifocal lenses. While both styles are similar due to having three viewing corridors, the two are very different. Like bifocals, trifocals are also lined and actually include three distinct prescriptions within the lenses. With the progressive no-line design, the lens begins at the top with the distance prescription and gradually changes in strength. The middle of the lens will contain the intermediate prescription and the bottom will be the reading prescription. This “graduation” of lens strength is what enables the lens to be one complete piece without lines.

Due to the design of the progressive lenses, there is usually an adjustment period. This is because there are areas of distortion on the lens which do not contain the wearer’s exact prescription. That is why is it so important to have an accurate PD when ordering progressives lenses. This ensures the wearer will look through the portion of the lens which contains their exact Rx.