As you get older a you may need to get a good pair of bifocal reading glasses, but you may also find you need to find effective dry eye relief. As we age it is common for tear production to decrease leading to dry eyes.

Besides the discomfort this can cause, it can also interfere with your vision. The good news is there are a few simple things you can do to relieve dry eyes.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Your body regularly produces tears not only to keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable, but also to protect them. A decrease in this regular tear production can cause dry eyes.

Tear production can decrease for a few different reasons. Aging is a common cause of decreased tear production as well as dry weather, allergies, contact lenses and cosmetics. Spending a lot of time at a computer causes computer vision syndrome, which causes dry eyes as well as eye strain. For tips on how to reduce computer eye strain read: How To Reduce Eye Strain

How To Get Dry Eye Relief

Here are some easy things you can to do to get relief for dry eyes:

• Wear sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses, or bifocal sunglasses, is an important way to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays, but sunglasses can also help keep the wind from drying your eyes and decrease the evaporation of those moisturizing tears. Wraparound sunglasses offer the best protection
• Rest your eyes. If you spend a lot of time in on the computer remember to give your eyes a break. Focus your eyes on something away from the screen, preferably something about 8 feet or more away so you can refocus your eyes and reduce the strain that causes dry eyes. Also try to remember to blink regularly; most people blink less when they are staring at a computer monitor. Computer glasses, or prescription bifocal computer glasses, can also help reduce eye strain and prevent dry eyes.
• Feed your eyes. Eating eye healthy foods will help keep your eyes healthy and functioning properly. Look for foods high in vitamin A (carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato and cantaloupe), lutein and zeaxanthin.
• Increase humidity. Using a room humidifier can help relieve dry eyes, especially dry eyes caused by dry weather. This is especially important during the dry winter months.
• Check your medications. Check the side effects on your medications. Some medications can cause dry eyes including things like pain relievers, beta blockers, diuretics, antihistamines and diuretics. If you can’t get an alternative medication that won’t cause dry eyes, consider asking for lubricant eye drops to relieve dry eye symptoms.

When To See The Eye Doctor

In many cases using these tips or finding a specific dry eye treatment will help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes, but in some cases you should check with your doctor to make sure something else isn’t causing the problem. If you don’t get relief from dry eyes after a few days with self-treatment and if you have other symptoms like redness or pain make an appointment with your doctor.

In most cases dry eyes aren’t related to a health condition they simply cause discomfort. Following a few of these tips should help you find some dry eye relief and make you more comfortable.

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. Take a look at the following information on what today’s modern bifocal eyeglasses can be and how to shop smart for them.

Buy Designer Bifocal Eyeglasses Online

It’s very possible today to find a great selection of high quality bifocal reading glasses online whether you’re looking for bifocal reading glasses for women or bifocal reading glasses for men. If you’re looking for designer eye wear, it’s easy to find sites that offer a wide variety of designs from names like Hugo Boss, Gucci, Calvin Klein and others, or if you are looking for bifocal sunglasses brands like Oakley and Ray Ban.

Just remember some good tips for when you’re ready to purchase online about how to choose a good merchant:

• Does the merchant have a good business rating? Remember to look rating service logos from companies like the BBB Online, or McAffie.
• Does the merchant have good reviews from other customers? Search for reviews on other sites of the merchant you’re thinking of making a purchase with. It’s always comforting to know that if there’s a problem with the bifocal sunglasses you ordered, you will be taken care of promptly.
• Does the merchant offer good add-ons? Look for things like free shipping over a certain purchase level, and check to see if you will have to pay sales tax for where you live if you order from a particular merchant.

Getting the Right Bifocal Reading Glasses

You’ll want to make sure that you get the right feature set when you order your bifocal eyeglasses. Whether you’re planning on getting a chic pair of rimless eyeglasses or something practical in a pair of computer glasses for work, remember to factor in the costs of any add-ons to the frames or lenses as you make your decision. Here is a list of some things to consider:

• Lens thickness – generally speaking the thinner the lens the lighter the glasses, but certain lens materials like polycarbonate lenses are much more lightweight and good for higher prescriptions.
• UV protection – this is a very important consideration for your eyes. UV light from the sun has been shown to cause of number of problems with eyes over time, but adding UV protection will help to minimize your risk of UV exposure. Another option is to get transitions lenses or a separate pair of bifocal sunglasses or even no line bifocal sunglasses.
• Scratch protection – This is a good insurance policy add-on to help protect your lenses and get the longest wear from them.
• Anti-glare – Seeing the glare that can caused from certain types of lighting and computer monitors can be very distracting. If you know that you have experienced this before, anti-reflective coating is great feature to be sure to get.
• Standard or Progressives – Progressive bifocals, also known as no line bifocal reading glasses, don’t have that traditional line showing where the bifocal lens starts. They have more of a youthful, cleaner look that some people prefer.

Warranty Information On Bifocal Eyeglasses

Lastly, as you look around and start to narrow down your choices, be sure to look into what kind of guarantees the place you’re thinking about offers in terms of warranty coverage for their bifocal eyeglasses. Check to see what kinds of damage and defects will be covered. You’ll also want to check to see what happens if you need to have warranty or other repair work done. Check into how long repairs typically take, who pays for shipping the glasses back and forth. If there is likely to be a long wait, you might want to consider whether you need a backup pair of bifocal eyeglasses on hand.

So once you gather the right information, you should be all set to get just the right set of bifocal eyeglasses you’ve been wanting and possibly needing.

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It’s a fact – as we age our eyes age too. By the time most people reach their mid-40’s some kind of bifocal reading glasses are required. Bifocals are amazing because they allow you to see both near and distant objects clearly – with the same pair of glasses. Yet, what happens when you want to head outdoors for a round of golf or if you’d like to enjoy some time reading by the pool, but you don’t want the look of lined bifocals? That’s where no line bifocal sunglasses come in handy.

Standard No Line Bifocal Sunglasses

If you simply need a pair of non-prescription Benjamin Franklin bifocals, going with a traditional pair of bifocal reading sunglasses likely your best bet. Non-prescription bifocal sunglasses are relatively inexpensive and are handy to have when you plan on spending time outside. Polarized bifocal sunglasses are particularly helpful in situations where sun glare may be an issue, for example skiing or around water. Polarized or tinted glasses of some kind can really help improve your vision outdoors, but more importantly it will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.

Progressive bifocal sunglasses are available in a huge variety of styles – and the best part is, with no line bifocals, otherwise known as progressive bifocals, no one will even know that you’re wearing bifocal prescription sunglasses at all. If you need a prescription pair of sunglasses and don’t want to manage multiple pairs, you should investigate photochromic bifocals. But if light glare at night bothers you it may be wise to invest in an additional pair of night driving glasses for help driving at night as well.

Photochromic Bifocals

Some people prefer to have one pair of glasses that they use for everything: reading, doing crossword puzzles, driving, playing golf. When it comes to progressive bifocal sunglasses there are some options. Instead of having a pair of regular bifocals and then a pair of no line bifocal sunglasses, you can invest in a pair of bifocal glasses with photochromic lenses? Photochromic lenses darken when exposed to sunlight which means that your regular prescription bifocals turn into bifocal sunglasses when you step outside. With Transitions lenses instead of managing two pairs of glasses, you only need one!

The cost of adding a photochromic coating to your lenses runs about $80, which can be less expensive than another pair of prescription no line bifocal sunglasses.

There are some drawbacks of transitions lenses. The lenses will only darken when exposed to UV rays. That means that they don’t work well as sunglasses in the car — unless you drive a convertible with the top down. Also, if you’re looking for very dark sunglasses, photochromic may not be the best bet for you since they do not darken past a deep gray or brown. For most people, these drawbacks are fairly minor and do not outweigh the benefit of having to only manage one pair of no line bifocals.

When you order your next set of lenses, ask your eye doctor about photochromic lenses, also sometimes called Transitions lenses. Once you become accustomed to using one pair of glasses for all of your activities — you may never order another type of no line bifocal sunglasses again.

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If you’ve ever experienced the temporary blindness caused by overly bright headlights, you know how valuable a pair of night driving glasses can be. As auto manufacturers move to brighter headlights in the bluer spectrum, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see while driving at night. The answer? A good pair of night driving glasses can help your eyes deal with increased glare so you can navigate safely even with oncoming traffic.

For additional help you may also want to keep a pair of bifocal reading glasses in the car for reading maps or using your cell phone. While they are a little harder to find you may even want to get a pair of bifocal night driving glasses to blend the functionality of the two types of glasses into one.

Benefits of Night Driving Glasses

Driving at night can be extremely challenging, particularly when there is a good deal of oncoming traffic. With the higher level of headlights on most SUV’s and trucks, temporary blindness while driving is a real problem. Using glasses for night driving can help in two ways. Special coatings can reduce glare and tints can help increase contrast and help your eyes adjust rapidly when oncoming traffic appears. The right pair of night vision driving glasses can also help your eyes from becoming fatigued and reduce eye strain as you won’t be squinting as much to see properly.

Types of Night Driving Glasses

There are several types of night driving glasses available. Remember that night glasses are not the same as sunglasses. All medical professionals discourage the use of sunglasses for driving at night because they significantly reduce your ability to see in darkened conditions. Instead, give one of the following types of driving glasses a try:

• Anti-Reflective Glasses – This type of glasses is recommended by most eye doctors. The lenses themselves are clear but they are coated with an anti-reflective material that will reduce glare from oncoming traffic. If you can, find a night driving glasses set that has a anti-reflective coating on several colors of tinted lenses.
• Tinted Night Driving Glasses – Most tinted glasses are yellow or amber in tone. There are mixed reviews about tinted glasses as some believe that the tinting reduces the amount of light and therefore reduces visibility. Most consumers who have tried yellow tinted glasses however report that the tinting helps increase contrast and reduces glare overall for a better night time driving experience. Since it’s important to also wear the correct prescription, clip-on night driving glasses can be a great way to improve visibility while still wearing your prescription glasses.

To be prepared for both night and day driving it is good to keep a good pair of sunglasses or even bifocal sunglasses in the car at all times as well.

Night driving glasses can really make a difference when your eyes start to age and it gets harder to see clearly while driving at night. Just like computer glasses help reduce eye strain and provide dry eye relief, glasses made specifically for driving at night can really help.

Safe Night Time Driving

In addition to finding yourself a great pair of night driving glasses and proper eyeglass care, there are a few things you can do to increase your ability to see at night:

• Turn down the brightness of your interior instruments. Most cars allow you to dim the dashboard and radio lights. By decreasing the brightness you may find that there is less glare and you can see more easily.
• Avoid driving when you’re tired. Part of the reason that night time driving is difficult is that your eyes are likely already fatigued from a long day. If you’re excessively tired, ask someone else to drive.
• Clean your windshield and headlights for better visibility. Also check that your headlights are properly adjusted.
• Have your vision checked regularly and wear your prescription glasses while you drive. Use a pair of clip-on night driving glasses for best results.

With the right pair of glasses for night driving you’ll no longer have to dread driving at night. By wearing night driving glasses you’ll reduce the glare of oncoming headlights and improve the contrast of objects and you’ll wonder how you ever drove after sundown without them.

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Bifocal reading glasses for women are one of those small yet important tools that can help make life a little easier every day. As we age, so do our eyes, which means that everyday tasks like reading become more challenging. With the right pair of bifocal reading glasses you can read small print and also drive and see far distances all with the same pair of glasses.

Why Bifocals?

Bifocals benefit both people who do not wear prescription glasses as well as those who normally use glasses for distance vision. For those who do not generally wear glasses, a pair of non-prescription bifocal reading glasses will provide a non-prescription upper portion of the lens for distance vision with a lower reader portion. For those who have a distance prescription, this prescription will be the upper portion with a reader built into the lower part of the lens. In both cases, the bifocals will allow for perfect near and distance vision without having to change or remove glasses.

Designer Reading Glasses

Bifocals can be stylish as well as practical. With well-known designers such as Ray-Ban, Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren offering designer bifocal reading glasses for men and women you can look great while improving your vision.

• Bifocal Sunglasses – If you enjoy reading by the pool then bifocal sunglasses or no line bifocal sunglasses are ideal. Go right from reading to driving without having to change your glasses.
• No Line Bifocal Reading Glasses – If you would like the convenience of bifocals but don’t like the visible line, consider giving no line bifocal reading glassed, often called progressive bifocals, a try. Progressive bifocal glasses generally cost a bit more but can be well worth the added expense.
• Bifocal Computer Glasses – Computer glasses can help reduce eye strain. If you spend a lot of time on the computer during the day computer bifocal glasses may be a good idea.
• Custom or Prescription Bifocals – Most designer brands offer a huge range of variety including options like rimless eyeglasses. Ralph Lauren for example, like many other sellers of designer glasses, offers a huge number of options that can be customized to your particular style:o Lens diameter
  o Frame style
  o Frame color
  o Lens material
  o Tinted lens color
  o Anti-reflective coating
  o UV coating
  o Anti-scratch coating
  o Mirror coating
  o Prescription

The Cost of Bifocal Reading Glasses for Women

Prices really vary depending on the type of glasses that you select. A standard pair of readers can be found for about $10. Top of the line designer bifocals on the other hand can run $250 or more depending on the frame material and type of lens you select.

Caring for your Bifocal Lenses

If you decide to go with designer reading glasses, which will cost a big more, be sure to take good care of your lenses. Here are a few eyeglass care tips for getting the most mileage out of your new stylish reading glasses:

• If you can, purchase bifocals with a scratch resistant coating. Scratch resistant coating may cost you $30 or more but will go a long way toward protecting your lenses.
• When you clean your lenses always wash them with warm water and soap before using any kind of cloth. All too often people clean their glasses with a cloth without washing them first and end up grinding in small particles which can scratch lenses.
• Always put your bifocal eyeglasses away in the same place. Find a drawer or shelf where you will always store your bifocals so that you will always know where you put them. Putting your glasses away in the same place will reduce the chance of misplacing them or accidentally sitting on them.

Bifocal reading glasses for women are an ideal way to combine your distance vision prescription with a pair of stylish reading glasses. Take a look at all of the styles of designer reading glasses available and you’ll be amazed with how wonderful a pair of stylish bifocals can be.

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As men and women age their eyes lose their ability to focus on close objects and print because a common condition called presbyopia. Fortunately bifocal reading glasses can help bring reading material back into focus in style and without overextending your budget. If you’ve ever had a pair of standard reading glasses and have found yourself pushing them down your nose so you could see at a distance, it’s time to find yourself a pair of bifocal reading glasses for men.

Types of Bifocal Reading Glasses for Men

While many bifocal readers are unisex there are some bifocal reading glasses for women and some specifically designed for men. These types listed below are often available for either men or women depending on the exact style of the frame.

• Progressive or No Line Bifocal Reading Glasses – Progressive bifocals, often called no line bifocals, are bifocal reading glasses that don’t have the visible line defining the bifocal portion of the glasses. Progressives have a cleaner look and no one needs to know you’re wearing bifocals with this style.
• Bifocal Sunglasses – Bifocal sunglasses can be extremely helpful — or for a younger look consider no line bifocal sunglasses. If you find yourself needing clear distance and close vision outdoors, there’s nothing better than bifocal sunglasses.
• Computer Glasses – Computer bifocal reading glasses for men are similar to standard readers except that they have a unique anti-glare coating that helps with reading off of a lit computer screen. Computer readers are available in a wide variety of styles.
• Compact or Folding Glasses – If you are frequently on the go, a pair of compact or folding glasses can be a benefit. Simply fold them down, slide them into their compact case and slip them in your pocket.
• Flexible Readers – Have you ever had the experience of crushing your favorite pair of readers? Flexible frames help reduce the likelihood of cracking or bending the frame. Many people also find the flexible frame to be more comfortable at the temple area.
• Half Frame or Small Frame – Glasses are definitely a fashion accessory and small glasses are in. If you prefer the smaller size lenses, be sure to check out the many styles of half frame bifocals available, sometimes called semi-rimless, or you may even consider rimless eyeglasses. Rimless bifocals can be a good choice for small lenses as they don’t have the outline of the frames blocking your peripheral vision.
• Full Frame – With a full frame you have the benefits of a wider field of vision. Since fashion changes often, it’s best to choose a style that you find most functional.
• Bifocal Protective Safety Glasses – Bifocal safety glasses are great for those who need the magnification for working on projects out in the garage that also require the protection of safety goggles.

The Cost Of Bifocals

Most styles of simple non-prescription bifocal reading glasses are very affordable. On average, bifocal mens reading glasses range from $9.95 to $49.95. Many individuals find that having several pairs in different areas is a benefit. For example, a pair next to the computer, one on the night stand and one on the table next to your favorite reading chair ensures that you’ll always be prepared. However if you have prescription bifocals they will be more expensive; the prices can vary quite a bit from one optometrist to another.

Popular Accessories For Bifocal Reading Glasses

Once you’ve found the perfect pair of reading glasses, protect them with the right accessories and the right bifocal reading glasses care. While some readers come with a case, many do not.

• Keep them safe. The easiest way to break or lose a pair of glasses is to not keep them in a protective case while you’re not wearing them.
• Keep them handy. A neck cord or chain can also be a handy accessory, particularly if you find yourself taking off and putting on your glasses all day long. Eyeglass cords have come a long way and you can find many stylish options, including leather eyeglass cords.
• Keep them clean. There’s nothing more frustrating than a pair of dirty glasses. A microfiber cleaning cloth is a great accessory to have on hand. Simply store it in your glasses case and you’ll have it available whenever you need it.

Bifocal reading glasses for men are an affordable way to improve your ability to read fine print without having to switch to a separate pair of glasses. Bifocals increase the effectiveness of your glasses and with so many styles available, the hardest part of finding the right pair will be narrowing down the choices.

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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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