Signs of When Bifocals Are Needed

It may seem as though every restaurant you frequent uses smaller print for its menus. You may find that your arms lack sufficient length to hold your book so that you can read it. You may even need a young friend of family member--in their thirties or younger--to read labels, directions and phone books for you because you find them all a blur. If you do, it may be time for bifocals.

As We Age

• Trouble reading fine print is usually the first indication for bifocals.

  Presbyopia literally means "age of sight." The eye has an amazing ability to focus and re-focus to allow us to see objects at different distances. Everyone's eyes age, meaning that we all gradually lose the elasticity necessary for this to happen. Presbyopia can begin in your mid-30s, or it may not start until you reach age 50. Farsighted people generally notice presbyopia earlier. Conditions such as diabetes can cause early onset of presbyopia.

Knowing the Time

• Bifocals were invented by Benjamin Franklin, but they've come a long way.

  Typically, people with presbyopia have difficulty reading small print, such as newspapers and telephone directories. Some people may find that they can read the print if they hold it farther away than usual. Other tasks, such as threading a needle, might become more problematic. You can also recognize the onset of presbyopia if your vision remains blurred for longer than a few seconds when you look up from reading or close work and try to focus on something in the distance. Presbyopia often grows worse in poor light or with fatigue.

Bifocal Options

• Bifocals may take some getting used to, but most people learn to adjust to them. Bifocals earned their name because they have two parts, one for close vision and one for distance. If you don't like the look of the line that characterizes bifocals, you can buy "blended" or "seamless" bifocals: polished to render the line less distinct. The variable power lens features a gradual blending of clear and powered lenses.