Bifocals

THE BEST OF BIFOCALS

If you work as a cashier or another occupation that requires quick changes in focusing, you may start noticing vision problems once you reach your 40’s. This is a natural part of the aging process caused by a gradual hardening of the human lens, which reduce the ability to change shape and focus. The condition is called presbyopia. You will recognize it when you must hold written material at arm’s-length to see.

Until recently, people with presbyopia had to rely on annoying bifocals to meet the challenge of near, far and everywhere in between. Bifocals are split into two segments. The top segment is for distance vision and bottom is for close work. There is no intermediate zone, and wearers notice an irritating image jump at the dividing line. Moreover, the distances between the near, intermediate and far remained blurred and a sales clerk must move closer or further away to see clearly.

Another option is to use two or three pairs of glasses for close, average, and distance viewing. Needless to say, this is inconvenient and rather costly. Some people rely on inexpensive over-the-counter reading glasses, but their vision will suffer if the wrong strength of magnification is selected. They could also experience headaches and even nausea.

The best solution available today is progressive, or “no-line”, multifocal lenses. The next best thing to natural vision, these lenses provide continuous uninterrupted vision for distance, reading, and everywhere in-between. Eyes make a smooth transition with no image jump or distracting lines. Wearing these lenses, a cashier needs only to raise or lower his/her chin for all vision ranges.

Laser surgery will not halt presbyopia. In fact, even if you have had eye surgery in the past, by your mid-40’s, you will likely need corrective eyewear. That is why Davis EyeCare recommends annual eye examination for everyone over the age of forty.