Bifocal Glasses and Contacts for Reading

From bifocal reading glasses to contacts made for reading, finding the perfect pair of reading glasses or contacts isn’t a one size fits all deal. There are several factors you’ll want to consider including comfort, vision strength, appearance, and the type of lens needed for your specific visual needs. The right pair of reading glasses can’t be found over the counter at your local convenience store.

If you’re wondering, “Do I need reading glasses?”, you should schedule an eye exam to help determine if your eyes have a refractive error, such as farsightedness or presbyopia (commonly seen in aging eyes). At Pearle Vision, our eye doctors can check your vision and write you a prescription for reading glasses or contact lenses. Learn more about reading glasses and the options available to you below.

What Are Bifocal Reading Glasses?

Bifocal reading glasses combine two prescriptions into one with a lens that corrects nearsightedness (distance vision) on top and farsightedness (reading vision) on the bottom. These types of glasses allow you the convenience of seeing things from afar, and magnifying words on a page, without having to switch your glasses as you move from one activity to the next. Traditional bifocal reading glasses typically have a thin line, separating where the two prescriptions meet.

Today, you can also find progressive bifocal reading glasses or bifocal reading glasses with no line visible. Unlike traditional bifocals, progressives are designed with a single lens that gradually change through three levels of magnification. With progressive bifocal reading glasses, the top of the lens is clear, allowing you to see as you normally would. As your eyes travel toward the bottom of the lens, the magnification will slowly increase in strength. This makes for an easy transition with a sleek, no-line design.

Contacts for Reading

If you’d like to take a break from wearing glasses, contacts for reading make for a great solution. There are two types of contacts that can help focus your vision when reading:

Mono Vision Contacts: These type of contacts for reading have a prescription for near vision in one eye and far vision in the other. While it takes some time to adjust, eventually the brain will signal which eye needs to take over as you alternate between distance and near viewing.
Multifocal Contacts: This is a newer option that features multiple zones of vision in both lenses, allowing you to use both eyes at once.

Nervous about contact lenses? Schedule an appointment at your neighborhood Pearle Vision EyeCare Center. Our experts can help answer all your questions and measure your eyes for a comfortable fit.

Children’s Reading Glasses

As your child develops from an infant to adolescence, their eyesight may change. Refractive errors, such as farsightedness, are often present at birth and can affect how your child learns. Farsightedness can cause objects nearby to become blurry, making it difficult to focus on words when reading. If you notice your child squinting excessively to see or they complain about fatigue when reading, schedule an eye exam. Your optometrist can help determine if children’s reading glasses are necessary. Annual eye exams can help identify any refractive errors or developmental changes in their eyes early on.

Enhancing Your Reading Glasses

Before committing to a pair of reading glasses, you’ll also want to consider adding special coatings to enhance the performance and quality of your prescription lenses. Here are some of the more popular options that can’t be found on over-the-counter glasses:

• Anti-Glare Coating: Anti-glare reading glasses help to eliminate reflections from your lenses, improving your vision when reading or staring at a digital screen.
• Scratch-Resistant Coating: This coating gives your lenses a harder surface, making them more resistant to scratches and prolonging their lifespan.
• Mirrored Coating: This coating makes the outside of the lens look like a mirror and works to prevent light from reflecting into the eye.

Choosing the right pair of reading glasses can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help answer all your questions and guide you through the decision-making process. Schedule an appointment today to consult with an eye doctor about reading glasses.