As we age, our eyes are not able to focus up close as well. To help with this focusing problem, bifocal glasses can be worn. A new innovation is the no line or progressive bifocal glasses. These glasses are able to improve the distance, near, and intermediate vision all without having a visible line in the glasses.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the term for aging eyes. With age, the lens inside of the eyes becomes less flexible and more rigid. Since it is less flexible, it cannot adjust to focus on things that are within arms’ reach as well.
Typically, the onset of presbyopia is in the mid to late forties, but it can begin as early as forty and may not become symptomatic until the fifties, depending on the person.
There are no methods to prevent presbyopia or reverse the progression. The treatments available are all based on reducing the symptoms of presbyopia.
Symptoms of Presbyopia
Some of the symptoms of presbyopia include having blurred vision at near, needing to pull print farther away from the face to read it clearly, and having headaches with long periods of near work or reading.
These symptoms are all based on the fact that the crystalline lens inside the eye is no longer able to flex and focus like it could when the eyes were younger.
As the aging process continues, the symptoms of presbyopia will continue to get more and more prominent.
Treatment for Presbyopia
Treatment options for presbyopia include reading glasses, bifocal glasses, and no line bifocal glasses.
The best treatment is highly dependent on the person and what needs they have at work, at home, and with their hobbies.
No Line Bifocals Glasses
Progressive glasses or no line bifocal glasses are the most common treatment for presbyopia today. These glasses allow the wearer to retain the most clear vision and reduce the need for lifestyle modifications.
In a no line bifocal or progressive, the top of the lens is the distance prescription which is used for driving, watching TV, and other things which are several feet away.
Below the top, there is a corridor in the middle of the lens which has the intermediate prescription. This prescription is used for computer use and is slightly more powerful than the distance power. The additional prescription helps to keep the computer clear and easy to see.
The bottom of the lens is the near prescription. This acts as custom reading glasses and is designed to be used for reading or other tasks which require detail within a few feet of the face.
Adjusting to Progressive Lenses
The biggest concern with no line bifocal glasses is the time it takes to adjust to wearing the glasses. Since there are multiple prescription powers in the lens, there must be intention with how and where you look through the glasses.
Some people will experience a swimming or fishbowl sensation in the first few hours of wearing the glasses, but it will usually subside with continued wear.
If you are continuing to have issues, consult your eye doctor.