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Varifocal Glasses Lenses
Varifocal Glasses and Lenses in Today’s Market
Our vision changes over the years; it’s a fact of life. Very few people live their entire lives without needing glasses at some point. It’s also true that our vision may reverse and actually improve as we age, not the norm but still a possibility. For most of us, though, finding that we need to hold a book farther away or having difficulty reading the menu in a candlelit restaurant is a common occurrence. It may strike suddenly or take years to realize that the blurriness we’re experiencing is not the result of lack of sleep, long hours at the computer or too many late night parties. In any case it becomes a wakeup call that our eyesight is not what it used to be.
Not everyone experiences the same visual problems, of course, and treatments vary as well. Some people find relief with single vision lenses; others choose bifocal lenses while some opt for varifocal or multifocal lenses. All these terms may seem confusing to the average consumer but by having a basic understanding of the typical conditions and treatments available, choosing the best option before seeing an optician will save time and expense.
Most of us understand the difference between nearsightedness (myopia: or the ability to see close objects clearly) and farsightedness (hyperopia: or the ability to see distant objects clearly). In our younger years we might have required single vision spectacles or contact lenses to correct these problems and bring our vision to an ideal 202/20 range. As we age, our eyes change often causing both conditions to be present at the same time. Where a single vision lens made us able to drive and see movies with our glasses or pick them up to read the newspaper, we now either need to purchase a pair that does both or stumble with continually changing two pairs of glasses. Obviously the best solution is one that does it all. Varifocal lenses now compensate for eyesight failure with both nearsighted and farsighted conditions by creating a gradual change in the lens magnification.
Varifocal Lenses vs. Bifocal Lenses
Bifocal Lenses:
Bifocal lenses simply divide the visual plane into two parts. Typically there is a visual range for reading and another for intermediate or longer distance depending on the person’s natural scale of vision. Typically glasses defined as bifocals use the upper portion of the lens for distance and the lower portion below the eye level for reading. Some styles include a horizontal break between magnifications while others use a circular shape embedded in the lens that is less noticeable. Bifocals are fine for people with distinct visual needs but may be limited for those who have trouble focusing at varying distances. At times they may make intermediate objects, neither close nor far, appear blurry. They also can be somewhat distracting because the “lines” are always there even faintly in some styles. Many people adjust to bifocals after wearing them for awhile and learn to ignore the division breaks.
Varifocal Lenses:
Varifocal lenses (or progressive lenses) are somewhat more complex. In simple terms they provide a variation in the visual plane at different magnifications. Where a pair of glasses with bifocal lenses will have a definite division at the two different magnifications, varifocal lenses gradually change and incorporate several magnified planes. They provide a continuous range of vision that varies depending on the patient’s requirements and normal daily activities. Typically varifocal glasses are transparent to others because they are not separated by any distinct features between the various magnifications. Although they provide several advantages over bifocals, a learning curve and adjustment time is often necessary.
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