Not so many years ago if you were in the over-40s age group and wore glasses to see in the distance, you needed two pairs, one for distance and one for near work. A great deal of time was spent chasing the reading glasses as they were always at the other end of the house, or at work when you were at home.

Reading Glasses

Then along came bifocals. At last you could look close and look away through one pair of lenses. Although the designs improved they all had a common problem: the reading segment had a fixed point of focus.

Bifocals

Now the ultimate lens has arrived: the modern multifocal.

These lenses can make your vision nearly as good as it used to be when you were younger. You can sit at a desk and see everything on the desk clearly or go to the supermarket and see prices and goods on high or low shelves.

Varilux Progressive

The lenses are available in plastic or glass; for strong prescriptions they are available in thin lightweight materials; and they can be coated to eliminate reflections or to make them scratch-resistant. They are available in material that darkens and lightens depending on the amount of light to which they are exposed-go out into the sun and they darken, go inside and they will lighten.

Even if you need only reading glasses you may find the advantage of being able to see at all distances a benefit.