Bifocal Reading Glasses

Bifocal Reading Glasses

 There comes a time in most people's lives when reading up close becomes increasingly difficult. Generally this change in vision begins between the ages of 40 and 45, although for some it may occur sooner or later in life. Reading glasses are glasses that are meant for improving a person's vision when they are viewing things that are up close, such as reading a book or newspaper. Unfortunately, not all reading glasses are suitable for everyone. Bifocal reading glasses are reading glasses that are meant for correcting both near and far vision. For people who are considering bifocal reading glasses, it is a good idea to understand who they work best for and what makes them different from other forms of reading glasses.

What Are They?
Bifocal reading glasses have two separate corrective lens powers. The majority of the lens is made so that the wearer can see distances clearly. On the lower half of the lens there is a segment that is meant for near-vision correction. There are several different segment styles that are available. The most common segment is the flat-top, or half-moon. Round segments or rectangular segment styles are also available, as are segments that divide the entire lower half of the lens.

Who Wears Bifocal Reading Glasses
Typically, the ideal candidate for bifocal reading glasses is a person who is no longer able to see fine print or near objects clearly. He or she may already wear glasses for distance vision or may not currently wear any type of corrective glasses. Regardless of whether a person wears glasses for distances, he may choose to wear bifocals to avoid constantly putting on and removing reading glasses when viewing objects at different distances.

Bifocal versus Single-Vision Reading Glasses
Single-vision reading glasses are glasses that are made specifically for seeing near objects. When a person attempts to look at a distance, objects that are further away will appear blurred. This occurs because the power needed for reading is not the same as what is needed for distances. When this happens the wearer would need to remove the single vision glasses and put on a separate pair for distances in order to clearly see far away. When a person is wearing Bifocal reading glasses, he or she can look and read fine print clearly and can also look up and see objects clearly at a distance. 

When the inevitable changes in vision occur, it is important to make the right decision about what type of reading glasses are best. Bifocal reading glasses are a popular option for many people because they allow them to see both objects that are either far away or up close without constantly switching glasses.