What are bifocal glasses?

You can think of bifocal glasses as two pairs of glasses in one: a pair of glasses for everyday wear, and a pair of glasses for reading. That’s because bifocal lenses feature two viewing areas divided by a visible line: the larger area is for distance, and the smaller area at the bottom is for reading. Don’t look at them as granny glasses or old man spectacles, but rather as the best of both worlds.

How do bifocal glasses work?

Bifocal reading glasses have two different lens prescriptions on the same lens. The top portion of the lens is your normal distance prescription, and the bottom section of the lens is for seeing things close-up, like reading. These two lenses allow you to alternate between them as you need to by moving your eyes up or down.

What is the purpose of bifocal glasses?

Generally speaking, bifocal glasses serve the purpose of giving you all of the vision correction you need in one pair of glasses. Being able to read and perform close-up tasks without switching to another pair of glasses, or having to carry around a second pair, is a great convenience to many glasses wearers.

How do I know if I need bifocal glasses?

If you’re in your early 40s, you may have noticed a few changes in recent years, including:● You find yourself holding menus, books, and magazines ever further from your face to read them.● You get headaches or eye fatigue when doing up-close tasks like writing by hand or small, detailed tasks.● Your quality of vision changes throughout the day: your vision is blurry upon waking or things get blurrier as the day goes on.● While you’re driving, you notice that the speedometer is a little out of focus when you glance down at it.● You carry around more than one pair of glasses to use throughout the day.If any of these things sound familiar, you’re not alone. Presbyopia is the clinical term for changes that come with aging, making it difficult to see clearly at close distances. If you’re experiencing any of these signs of presbyopia, it might be time for bifocal glasses.

What is the difference between bifocal and progressive lenses?

In bifocal glasses, the two prescription areas of the lens are divided by a distinct, visible horizontal line. Glasses with progressive lenses are basically bifocals without the telltale line dividing the prescriptions. Progressive lenses often have an intermediate distance between the two, which is ideal for computer use.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bifocal glasses?

The advantages of bifocal reading glasses are the convenience of having two lenses in one and that they are traditionally less expensive than progressive glasses. Their disadvantages are the “jump” of the image between close up and distance lens areas, the lack of intermediate vision, and the time it takes to get used to them.

How long does it take to get used to bifocal glasses?

People wearing bifocals for the first time may take a week or two to adjust to them. It can take even longer, and some find that they cannot make the transition and give up on them completely.

How can I make the adjustment to bifocal glasses easier?

Adjusting to wearing bifocal glasses can be a challenge, but you can definitely take some measures to make the adjustment smoother:● Wear your bifocal glasses continuously to get your eyes used to them.● Don’t look down when you walk, and if you need to, tilt your head down so that you are looking through the top portion of the lenses.● Adapt your reading habits by holding your reading material below your face so that you are looking through the lower portion of your glasses.● Make sure your bifocal glasses are properly fitted to your face.

Are bifocals good for driving?

Bifocal glasses work wonderfully for driving, but many people prefer using bifocal sunglasses for driving to cut down on glare. The benefit of driving with bifocals is that when you need to look at the dashboard or read a map, you’ll already have glasses on that are up to the task.

Can you get bifocals without lines?

Yes! If you love the idea of bifocal glasses but hate the lines, then you should consider progressive lenses. They are basically bifocal glasses without the lines, and they add a mid-distance area that is particularly useful for computer use.

Who invented bifocal reading glasses?

While there is some question as to the accuracy of the claim, Benjamin Franklin is generally credited for the invention of bifocals . Even if he did not invent them, he was certainly an early adopter and the reason for their popularity from the late 1700s and on.

Bifocal Glasses - Lenses Great for Reading

What are Bifocal Lenses?

Bifocal reading glasses feature distance vision correction at the top half of the lens and near vision correction at the bottom; perfect if you need help with both. This type of lens is designed to conveniently work as both reading glasses and standard prescription eyeglasses, all in one frame. You can add bifocal lenses to any frame for only $41.

How do they work?

Bifocal lenses work by providing two different prescriptions in one lens. If you look closely at this type of lens you‘ll see a line across the center; this is where the two different prescriptions meet. Since we tend to look down when reading a book or looking at our phones, the bottom half of the lens is designed to help with reading.

Gender

Men

Women

Kids
Size

Extra Small

Small

Medium

Large

Custom

Total Width

110mm - 150mm

Lens Width

120mm - 150mm

Lens Height

120mm - 150mm

Bridge Width

120mm - 150mm

Arm Width

120mm - 150mm
Shape

Rectangle

Wayfarer

Round

Square

Oval

Horn

Browline

Aviator

Geometric
Rim

Full-Rim

Semi-Rimless

Rimless
Material

Acetate

Wood

Titanium

Metal

Plastic
Color

Floral

Tortoise

Striped

Black

Gray

Clear

White

Pink

Red

Brown

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Purple

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Rose Gold
Feature

Lightweight
Lightweight frames weigh 15 grams or lighter without the lenses.

For Small Face

Spring Hinge

For Wide Face

Bifocal

For Low Nose Bridge

Progressive

Adjustable Nose Pads

Added your prescription yet?

Eligible for your prescription

Clear filters

Try On View Virtual Try On

Sort by:

Popularity
Newest Arrivals
Recently Viewed
Price: High to Low
Price: Low to High

St Michel $45

S M L

Try On
Hepburn $59

S M

Try On
Pacific $50

L

Try On
Botanist $45

M

Try On
Primrose $45

S M

Try On
Escape $50

M

Try On
Mandi $50

S M

Try On
Notting Hill $45

S

Try On
Daydream $45

S M

Try On
Prism $99

M

Try On
Intense $69

M

Try On
Dazzle $78

L

Try On
The Moon $64

L

Try On
Aura $99

M

Try On
Palo Alto $50

M

Try On
Fitzgerald $45

S M

Try On
Sweet Janet $69

M

Try On
Aroma $78

L

Try On
Cupertino $45

S M L

Try On
Movement $45

L

Try On
Woodrow $50

S

Try On
Her $64

S M

Try On
Planete $99

L

Try On
Morning $50

M

Try On
Nala $45

M

Try On
Synapse $45

L

Try On
Claudia $55

M

Try On
Theory $99

S M

Try On
Dancer $64 $32

L

Try On
Cambridge $45

S

Try On

1 2 3 4 5 ... 23675 RESULTS

Show:

30 per page
60 per page
90 per page
120 per page

Other Types of Multifocals

Bifocals are a great choice for complete vision correction, but we have another take on this technology. Progressive eyeglasses work similarly to bifocals, but the prescription gradually changes throughout the lens. You can find standard and premium progressives at EyeBuyDirect, the premium offers a wider and sharper field of vision.

Bifocal Reading Glasses

What are Bifocal Lenses?

How do they work?

Other Types of Multifocals