Which glasses are best?!

Which glasses are best?

I would like to know what type of glasses are best. I have a new prescription which is adding bifocals to my glasses. Between the no-line or line bifocals, which are better or easier to adjust to?

Oh boy, this is going to take some time. Neither type of eyeglasses is better than the other. They are quite different, though, with each having its own advantages and disadvantages.

ADVANTAGES OF NO LINE BIFOCALS

1) No line bifocals allow the wearer to see clearly at distance, near, and all distances in between such as prices on a grocery shelf, a computer screen, or a speedometer in a car.

2) Some people feel they are easier to get used to because you don't notice a line sitting just below your vision all the time.

DISADVANTAGES OF NO LINE BIFOCALS

1) In order to create a seamless transition in powers from far to near the lens has areas of distortion to each side of the transition zone. This makes the transition zone quite narrow and therefore requires the wearer to be more precise in positioning the face to be directly looking at what is being read.

2) The distortion areas to the side cause some patients to experience a sense of queasiness or dizzeness. This tends to improve over time but some patients simply never get used to this sensation.

3) The lens is definitely more expensive.

4) Don't work very well in extremely small frames because the full reading power is located too far down in the lens therefore it is cut off when the lens is cut to fit the small frame.

ADVANTAGES OF A LINED BIFOCAL

1) Good optics all the way from far left gaze to far right gaze.

2) Overall superiority in optical quality.

3) Less expensive.

4) The full bifocal power is available immediately below the line rather than much further down as in the no line. This means the wearer will not have to raise the head as much nor hold reading material so far down when reading.

DISADVANTAGES OF LINED BIFOCAL

1) When the power of the bifocal is +1.75 or greater the wearer will notice a "dead zone" in the intermediate ranges. This dead zone results in blurred vision for computers, speedometers, and prices on grocery shelves. This can be dealt with, though, by going to a trifocal. The trifocal will have the same optical advantages BUT will have two lines to contend with rather than one.

2) Some people have difficulty adapting to the constant presence of a line just below their vision. Some are never able to adapt to this distraction.

So, there you have it. I would recommend you look at your day to day visual demands and go in and discuss some of the issues I have brought up with your eye doctor or his frame styling consultant. By looking in depth into how you plan to use your eyes the doctor will be able to advise you as to which might work best for you.