When you hear bifocals, distinct images come to your mind. You’re going to think of A grandmother, sitting in her chair knitting, head tilted down to see what she’s knitting. Otherwise, you see the old man at his desk, reading through his bifocals he got from the eye clinic.

Your eyes are always changing. Once you’ve hit your early 40’s you’re more likely to need bifocals, progressive lenses, or reading glasses. These changes effect most people, so you can expect to get caught up in these changes as well. If the look of bifocals bothers you, don’t worry. Vision technology has gone far enough that you can get bifocal, or multifocal lenses that don’t have a line from your eye clinic – progressive lenses.

If you need progressive lenses it may be due to presbyopia. Presbyopia makes it difficult for your eye muscles to expand and contract to allow you to reshape your eyes lens for varying distances.

Signs that You May Need to Discuss Progressive Lenses with Your Eye Doctor

• When you drive, your vision looking into the distance is clear, but blurs when you look at your speedometer.
• You have to readjust where you’re holding things you’re reading like menus, magazines, or newspapers to read them clearly.
• Close tasks like handwriting or using the computer cause headaches, eye strain or eye fatigue.
• Your vision changes during the day. When you’re still in the early stages of your presbyopia, objects up close may seem blurry when you first wake up. Additionally, or alternatively, your close-up vision might be clear at the beginning of the day, but becomes more blurry throughout the day.
• You find yourself carrying around different sets of glasses for distance and reading.

Different Options for Bifocal or Multifocal Lenses

When most people develop presbyopia, the default selection is to either get bifocals or carry two sets of glasses. If you lead an active lifestyle your options may feel inconvenient or impractical. Carrying around multiple sets of glasses for different types of vision can be awkward or difficult to manage. No one wants to wear their reading glasses from a chain like their grandmother.

In addition to bifocals and progressive lenses, there are now multi-focal contact lenses available. These brilliant contacts are designed to make it easy and natural to look at things no matter where they are. Your eye clinic can help you find the best solution for your Presbyopia.

No matter the solution you choose, you’ll see a huge improvement when you’re wearing the lenses designed for your own vision. With today’s technology, you’re sure to find the right style of bifocals, progressive lenses, or multi-focal lenses for your image.

Fun Bifocal Trivia

Even though there isn’t much evidence to support it, most people credit Benjamin Franklin for inventing bifocals. In many of his writings, he mentions his “double spectacles. The best evidence of Benjamin Franklin inventing the bifocal lens is in a letter to his friend, the philanthropist George Whatley. In one of Franklin’s letters he tells Whatley that he does not like to change his glasses for reading and regular use. Because of this, he had his glasses cut in half and put together in the same circle to be fitted into his spectacles.

To build his spectacles, Franklin asked an optician in Paris, H. Sykes to design them. There is a letter from April 24,1779 to Franklin from Sykes explaining that Franklin’s glasses would be delayed because Sykes broke three pairs. President Thomas Jefferson later suggested changing the design of the bifocals from round to oval.

You don’t need the help of a foreign optician just to correct your vision though. Thanks to Benjamin Franklin, the construction of bifocal lenses is standard now. Visit Hoff Optometry and Eyewear, your local eye clinic right here in Venice CA – we’ll get you on the path to better vision.