“Now, where did I put my glasses…?” Are you constantly switching between reading and distance glasses? Perhaps you’re wearing one pair, with another balanced on your head! If you’re tired of carrying different pairs of glasses around for different reasons (reading, driving, watching TV…) it might be time to get one pair that meets all your needs. Enter: bifocals and varifocals.
Hold on, what about single vision lenses?
Single vision glasses have lenses that match one, single prescription. For example, if you’re short-sighted, you might need prescription glasses for seeing things that are far away. Or, if you can’t see things up close, you might use reading glasses.
Bifocals and varifocals come in when you need more than one pair of glasses. (Our eyesight changes naturally as we age.) You might have been short-sighted already and started using reading glasses in mid-life. You could have two pairs of glasses – one for reading and one for distance – or you could explore having a single pair of bifocals or varifocals.
What are bifocal lenses?
Bifocal glasses have a lens with two sections. The upper part of the lens is for seeing things that are far away, like when you’re driving or watching TV. The lower part of the lens is for seeing things that are close-up, like when you’re scrolling on your phone, or reading the small print before you sign your life away.
With bifocal lenses, you can see which part of the lens is for near-distance. It usually looks like a half-moon at the bottom of the lens, with a clear division between the two prescriptions. Some people like this, as it’s easy to know when they are switching between distance and close-up. Others prefer a more gradual change, which leads us smoothly onto…
What are varifocal lenses?
Vari-what?! Varifocal glasses have a more gradual transition between near, intermediate and distance vision. The lens itself has a smooth surface, with no “line” between the different prescriptions.
The top of the lens is for distance, the middle of the lens is for intermediate, and the bottom is for near vision. This follows the natural movement of your eye as it changes its focus. You should experience a smooth transition, rather than an abrupt change.
Unlike their cousins, occupational lenses, varifocals are designed so that you can wear them all day.
Varifocals are popular because of this seamless user experience, but they can take some getting used to.
Varifocal lenses move smoothly between prescription strengths and have soft-focus zones at the sides.
Bifocal vs varifocal lenses: A showdown…
So, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Should you choose varifocals or bifocals? Let’s weigh them up.
| Feature | Bifocal Lenses | Varifocal Lenses |
| Vision zones | Two areas: distance and near | Smooth transition: distance, intermediate and near |
| Appearance | Visible dividing line | Seamless (no line) |
| Adjustment period | Most customers adapt quickly | May take a few days |
| Intermediate vision | Not covered | Included |
| Cost | Usually cheaper | Usually costs more |
| Best for | Switching between reading and distance | Everyday wear across all distances |
Should you choose bifocals or varifocals?
So, are bifocal or varifocal lenses best for you?
If you’re short-sighted but need reading glasses (and don’t want to splash out on varifocals), bifocal glasses might be the better option.
If you struggle with near, distance and intermediate vision, and don’t like having a line across your view, you might want to try varifocals.
The good news is, reglazing your glasses means anything you spend goes straight to the lenses, as you can keep your own frames.
Ready to upgrade to bifocal or varifocal lenses?
Ditch those cheap reading glasses and get some lenses that do your vision justice. With bifocals and varifocals, it’s all about consolidation. No more juggling different pairs, balancing them on your head or losing them completely!
