"Answers To Your Questions About Bifocals/Trifocals"

A multifocal lens is a lens that contains two or more prescriptions for correcting vision at different distances. These included bifocals, trifocals and special occupational lenses.

Not all people see well at all distances. Bifocals (“bi” meaning two) are prescribed to aid both near and far vision. Trifocals (“tri” meaning three> are prescribed to aid near, far and middle distance seeing. As people reach their early to mid-forties, their eyes gradually lose their ability to focus on objects that are close up. As a result, mulitfocal lenses are often prescribed to adjust for these changes.

The gradual decrease in the ability of the eyes to focus is a natural part of the aging process. Mulitfocal lenses merely correct for these changes. Currently, over half of all lenses worn in the U.S. are multifocal.

Bifocals/trifocals are no just for older people. These lenses are the correction of choice for certain conditions for children, teens and young adults. Often, a young person’s most clear, comfortable and efficient near vision requires a lens power different from the necessary distance correction.