Understanding Bifocal Lenses Better

Technically-speaking, a bifocal set of glasses involves a specially designed glass lens that accommodates two different forms of focus. Like a camera lens, each part of the glasses benefits the eyes for a particular distance. Unlike a regular pair of single-purpose glasses, the bifocals provide a user two methods of seeing clearly, both upfront and at distance. Richardson Eye Associates has a wide variety of bifocal lenses that are available to purchase.

Interestingly, the concept of bifocals is not a new one. Benjamin Franklin was the actual inventor of the first pair to accommodate his own vision needs. Today, the same viewing issues still exist, and bifocals still provide clarity again in a variety of settings.

Sometimes Regular Glasses Aren't Enough

For example, the most common situation for needing glasses tends to be age. A large majority of people age 40 to 50 realize some loss of vision capability. Known as presbyopia, the ability to see high detail up close, such as reading a paperback book, becomes hard and eventually impossible. Others may realize the change as a sudden loss, such as an inability to see well at night without straining the eyes and getting headaches. The most common change happens slowly but definitively, every few months getting a bit worse. Eventually, presbyopia becomes so pronounced, one needs glasses or contact lenses to see clearly again.

Another typical need involves accommodative dysfunction. This condition involves an inability for the eyes to normally change from focusing at a distance to near in proper timing. Sufferers feel worn out and exhausted in their eyes as they are focused on reading text up close for long periods of time or looking at something nearby closely.

A third issue is known as accommodative esotropia. With this condition, the sufferer is already well-established as farsighted. Focusing up close causes the person to cross their eyes to compensate for the original condition. The two create an eye strain that can produce pain, headaches and vision problems.

Different Choices for Different Lives

With the above conditions, bifocal glasses come to the rescue and provide both relief, flexibility and vision clarity again, whether it be at a distance or up close. Bifocal lenses come in different types to address needs, styles, and comfort. Some are not used often today, being a bit archaic, and others are quite common styles. The traditional bifocal style has a clear line and a break in the lens. Modern bifocals incorporate blended styles with no distinct separation such as progressive lenses, but the user is quite aware of when to use each part of the lens.

Bifocal Options & Other Optometry Care in Richardson

If you are in Richardson TX, you can receive top-quality optometry services and a bifocal lenses fitting at Richardson Eye Associates. With expert vision experts on hand, Richardson Eye Associates provides eye exams, diagnosis, and bifocal fitting if it is decided to be the best solution for what a patient needs. If you think you need glasses, or you just have a concern about your eyes, call us today at (972) 231-3439 to schedule an appointment with Richardson Eye Associates.