Presbyopia is a special challenge for people 40 or older, because the eye’s natural lens and internal focusing muscles become less flexible with aging and no longer can accommodate vision at all distance ranges. Presbyopia typically is noticed when print begins to blur, even if you never wore glasses before.
This means that the usual type of eyeglass lenses you’ve likely been accustomed to wearing, known as single-vision lenses, no longer will work well for you.
Multifocal and single-vision eyeglass lenses available for presbyopia correction include:
Bifocals: Traditional bifocals have only two ranges of vision – near and far – with a distance zone established in the upper portion of the lens, and the lower zone enabling near vision tasks such as reading located on the bottom half of the lens. The zones are separated by a noticeable line.
Trifocals: These lenses have three different zones for seeing at varying distances – near, intermediate, and far – and can be custom made for you to accommodate your lifestyle or occupation.
Progressive lenses: These lenses have many advantages over bifocals and trifocals because they allow the wearer to focus at many different distances, not just two or three. Because they have no lines, progressive lenses allow a smooth, comfortable transition from one distance to another. They are a much better option for active, multitasking people.
Reading glasses: Reading glasses can be obtained with or without a prescription. Basically, they provide single-vision lenses that sharpen near vision for people with presbyopia and/or hyperopia.