When you have trouble seeing clearly, you'll need to visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive vision test. Based on the results, your optometrist may recommend prescription glasses called bifocals. If you're unfamiliar with bifocals and how they differ from other corrective eyewear, here's a brief guide to review. 

What Are Bifocals?

Bifocals are prescription glasses uniquely designed to accommodate individuals with two corrective eyewear needs. The top of the lens is designed to allow the user to see from a distance and the bottom of the lens is designed so that the user can read and see objects clearly close up. 

When Were They Invented?

The bifocal lens was originally invented in 1785 by famed inventor Benjamin Franklin. Franklin needed prescription glasses that could accommodate two different vision issues, and the bifocal was his solution. That said, the term bifocal wasn't coined until 1824. John Isaac Hawkins, the inventor of trifocal lenses, or lenses that have three different visual regions, coined the term, but credited Franklin with the original two-section invention. 

How Have Modern Bifocals Changed?

In its early iterations, most bifocal lenses featured a small square separating the top prescription from the bottom. Nowadays, bifocal lenses do not have this big visual separation. Instead, they may feature a line along the glass or they can look the same as any form of corrective eyewear. The process of the prescription changing from one area to the next is called a progressive lens. This offers convenience and eliminates the need for two pairs of glasses without the obvious square at the bottom of your lenses. In addition, bifocal lenses can fit into an array of fashion frames to ensure the wearer feels confident and happy with their final look. 

If you're looking for new prescription glasses, Progressive Vision Group can help. Located in the heart of High Point, NC, residents across the Piedmont Triad region have counted on this eye doctor for over ten decades. To schedule your vision test, call today at (336) 841-2028. For more information on their comprehensive approach to eye care, visit this modern vision center online.