Bifocal Reading Glasses

With this Bifocal Reading Glasses site I’ll provide you with a little bit of the history of bifocal reading glasses as well some specific information to consider before you buy yourself the perfect set of bifocals. This site will be half a hobby site about this useful invention from Benjamin Franklin and half a practical consumer site for helping people make smart decisions when shopping for bifocal reading glasses.

I will address a range of styles and purposes from rimless eyeglasses to computer glasses, but I will largely focus on traditional bifocal glasses for reading. I still find this classic device a utility of great function, comfort and I even find it a cozy tradition. I enjoy glancing from my wife to my reading without adjusting my eyeglasses and I am very relieved to not have to poke lenses on to my damp, delicate eyes. In other words, I’m not terribly fond of contact lenses. You may also see bifocals referred to as Executive Bifocals or Franklin Glasses.

So onwards we go. Here’s an index of this page’s content. Click on any header to skip down to a topic, then click on your browser’s back button to return to the top here. I hope you find Bifocal Reading Glasses worth your time!

• Introduction to Eyeglass Frames and Lenses
• Plastic Lenses for Bifocal Reading Glasses
• History of Bifocal Reading Glasses
• Classic Spectacles Today

Introduction to Eyeglass Frames and Lenses

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While I still like the traditional term spectacles — or refer to their type with greater specificity (like “bifocals” rather than “glasses”) — many simply refer to the topic at hand as glasses or eyeglasses. These classic eyeglasses are supported by tiny pads designed to balance on the bridge of your nose while remaining secured by hooking back around your ears. For those of you who enjoy a little history, you might read more about historical models such as the lorgnette, monocle or the pince-nez.

Bifocal Reading Glasses

Today’s frames are normally crafted from plastic or metal. While at one time lenses were all made from glass, today most are made from a variety of plastic and metal, often polycarbonate or CR-39.

This evolution has led to corrective eyeglasses that weigh significantly less than their glass counterparts and break far less frequently. In some cases, these plastics also provide greater optical properties, such as greater transmission of light while also absorbing more of the damaging ultraviolet light.

Specifically, some of these plastics provide a greater refraction index than glass. This empowers optometrists with greater flexibility to create accurate corrective lenses with thinner, lighter material for the same relative prescription.

The latest plastic lenses — entitled izon, may also be utilized to correct stronger problems on the surface of our eyes. These innovative lenses create more clear and accurate vision while curbing problems such as comet-tails, halos and starbursts and are especially useful in providing for safer driving at night so they can also be used as night driving glasses.
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Additionally you’ll now find high quality computer glasses as well as bifocal sunglasses available in a variety of styles.

Plastic Lenses for Bifocal Reading Glasses

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Today the most common lenses are made from a plastic called CR-39. This is due to their great resistance to scratching, their ability to remain clear while also absorbing ultra violet radiation and their very low weight. In environments where there is a greater risk of high impact, Trivex and polycarbonate lenses are most often utilized because they are very light and remarkably shatter resistant. However, these shatter-resistant lenses are not always the best bet for all circumstances because they offer poorer optics with high dispersion and a low Abbe number of 31.

Depending on the order, a number of coatings might be applied to plastic lenses. These coatings include scratch resistance, hydrophobic coatings to ease cleaning, and anti-reflective coatings with several purposes from reducing glare from a computer monitor to improving night vision.

History of Bifocal Reading Glasses

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Today most historians credit Italian Salvino D’Armate for inventing the first eyeglasses in about 1284. Almost exactly 500 years later in 1784, Benjamin Franklin developed bifocal reading glasses. This is one reason why we often see these bifocal eyeglasses referred to as Benjamin Franklin bifocals.

As the great Ben Franklin aged he began to have difficulty seeing both at a distance and up-close. After he grew weary of swapping two pairs of glasses to address his near and far sight, he developed a technique to incorporate the lenses of both types of glasses into a single frame. The up-close lens was placed at the bottom for reading while the distance lens was placed at the top to allow for quick glances at distance subjects.

From D’Armate’s invention through Franklin’s refinement to today, the design and function of eyeglass frames has greatly evolved. Early eyeglasses required being held in place by hand or a with pressure on the nose (the “pince-nez”). From these inconvenient designs Girolamo Savonarola implemented eyepieces which were held in place by material pulled over the wearer’s head and secured by a hat. Sound awkward? Indeed. Thankfully, British optician Edward Scarlett devised the modern method of temple arms passing over the ears in 1727.

While we all know these as the de facto style of eyeglasses today, in fact it took some time for them to become the standard. Many earlier styles, as well as lorgnettes, maintained popularity through the 18th century and even into the early 19th century. Read more about bifocals history: The History of Bifocal Reading Glasses

Classic Spectacles Today

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Even with the increasing popularity and functionality of laser corrective eye surgery and contact lenses, good old fashioned bifocal reading glasses remain common and well-liked by many people. Their technology has improved greatly, from precise corrective lenses to frames made with special memory metal alloys which return to their original shape after being forcibly misshaped. These frames are not only far more durable, but they’re much lighter and easier on your ears and nose than ever before. And we now have no line bifocal reading glasses and sophisticated progressive lenses with multiple prescription lenses seamlessly blended into a single piece of eye wear.

I hope this helps you better understand why bifocal reading glasses can still work for you and what to look for when you start shopping. Thank you for reading Bifocal Reading Glasses and take care!

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Tags: bifocal computer glasses, Bifocal Reading Glasses, bifocal sunglasses, bifocals, computer glasses, executive bifocals, eyeglasses, franklin glasses, history of bifocal reading glasses, no line bifocal reading glasses

More and more people are looking for effective dry eye relief due to regular computer use. Computer vision syndrome is one common cause of dry eyes but so is aging. As we age our eyes produce less moisture so things that didn’t bother you before may start to cause uncomfortable dry eyes. Bifocal reading glasses aren’t the only thing you’ll need as you age; you may also need to find relief for dry eyes.

Luckily there are a few simple things you can do to relieve symptoms of dry eyes. Besides wearing computer glasses while on the computer and sunglasses while outside in the sun there are some other steps you can take to preserve the moisture in your eyes and increase your level of comfort.

Using these simple tips for relieving dry eyes should work in most cases, but if you still feel discomfort or if you notice additional symptoms like pain or redness in your eyes consider making an appointment with your eye doctor to make sure there aren’t any other problems besides dryness. [...]

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Everyone comes to that time of life where they need to wear bifocal eyeglasses. Bifocal eyeglasses, often known as bifocal reading glasses, are extremely helpful tools that are fortunately available in styles and colors that will accent your own personal style and wardrobe.

These days it is easy to find a great selection of high quality bifocal reading glasses online. If you’re looking for designer eyewear, it’s easy to find sites that offer a wide variety of designs from names like Hugo Boss, Gucci, Calvin Klein and others. Just remember some good tips for when you’re ready to purchase online about how to choose a good merchant.
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Continue Reading: Bifocal Eyeglasses Shopping Guide

As much as you may not like it, by the time you are in your mid forties or just beyond you may need a decent pair of bifocal reading glasses to help you read small print. But what happens when you want or need to read outdoors in the bright sunlight. Whether you are reading in the back yard or using your cell phone while outdoors you may need both sunglasses and bifocals. That’s where bifocal sunglasses come into play, or if you want to retain a younger more stylish look you may opt for no line bifocal sunglasses.

No line bifocal sunglasses also known as progressive lens sunglasses provide the dual functionality of sunglasses and bifocals in the same lens. The added benefit with no line bifocal sunglasses is that they just look like regular sunglasses with no visible bifocal line in the lens. They offer a more stylish look than typical bifocal sunglasses and you can hide your age better with these styles. No one needs to know you’re wearing bifocals.

There are a few different choices in this style of bifocal sunglasses. [...]

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Bright headlight can make you feel like you’re experiencing temporary blindness when driving at night. You may have noticed this is getting worse as manufacturers move to bright headlights in the blue end of the spectrum. A good pair of night driving glasses may be able to help you see more clearly at night.

Lights from headlights or other sources like street lights can sometimes cause a starburst type of glare that can make it difficult to see. This can be a scary feeling when your are driving down the highway at a pretty good speed. This sensation typically gets worse as we age, so even if this didn’t bother you when you were younger, it may become a problem as you age.

As you get older it may be important to keep a good pair of night driving glasses in the car along with your bifocal sunglasses. These simple tools can make a big difference in your ability to see and drive safely. There are a few things to consider when looking at night glasses for driving. [...]

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