Bifocal eyeglasses defined the "reading glasses" era. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you knew a bifocal wearer — usually a grandparent — by the visible line cutting across the bottom of each lens. That line was the whole point: distance vision on top, reading power on the bottom, and a clear boundary between them.
Bifocals still work fine. But if you're shopping for new lenses today and don't already wear bifocals, you almost certainly want progressives instead. Here's why, and the small handful of cases where bifocals still make sense.
What bifocals actually are
A bifocal lens has two prescriptions in one piece of glass or plastic. The upper portion — usually most of the lens — is your distance prescription. The lower portion is a small "reading segment" (called a "seg") containing your near prescription, usually shaped as a half-moon or a small D-shape.
When you look up, you see through the distance zone. When you drop your eyes to read, you look through the seg. There's no in-between prescription for arm's length work (like a computer screen), which is one of the main reasons bifocals fell out of favor.
Why progressives replaced them
Progressive lenses do the same job — distance on top, near on bottom — but with three critical differences:
- No visible line. Progressives look like any regular pair of glasses.
- Smooth focus transitions. There's no abrupt jump when your eyes cross the boundary. With bifocals, objects seem to "leap" as you look up or down.
- A middle (intermediate) zone. Progressives include prescription for arm's-length viewing — your dashboard, a computer, prices on a shelf. Bifocals skip this range entirely.
For most wearers, this is a straight upgrade. The one thing progressives give up is a slightly wider reading area — bifocals give you a big, single-focal-length reading zone, while progressives narrow the near zone as they blend with the intermediate.
When bifocals still make sense
We still cut bifocals for the wearers who need them. If any of these describe you, they're a reasonable pick:
- You've worn bifocals for 20+ years and love them. Switching to progressives means a 1–2 week adaptation period, and if what you have works, there's no rule saying you have to switch.
- You have a specific job that benefits from a large, dedicated reading zone — reading printed documents for hours, close inspection work, some medical or lab tasks.
- Cost is the deciding factor. Bifocals typically run $30–$50 less than progressives.
The one place bifocal contacts do make sense
"Bifocal contact lenses" is a slightly different topic — multifocal contacts use concentric rings of different prescriptions on the same lens, and your visual system learns to pick out whichever ring matches the distance you're looking at. If that's what you're actually researching, see our guide to bifocal contact lenses. But if you're asking about bifocals for glasses, what you probably want is a progressive lens.
How LensOnUs helps
We make both. If you know you want bifocals, we cut them for $149. If you want to try progressives, we cut those for $199 — including digital free-form design and all standard coatings. And if you're not sure which is right for you, our Utah opticians can talk it through by phone or email before you order. Send us your frames, we'll re-lens them, and if you're not happy the 30-day guarantee has you covered.
Frequently asked questions
Are bifocal eyeglasses still a thing?
Yes, they still exist and any lab can make them — including ours. But 90% of people who used to be prescribed bifocals now get progressives instead, because progressives do the same job without a visible line and without the abrupt focus 'jump' between zones.
When do bifocals still make sense?
Three cases. First: if you've worn bifocals for years, love the huge reading zone, and don't want to relearn. Second: if you have a specific occupational need for one large, dedicated reading area. Third: if cost is the deciding factor — bifocals are typically $30–$50 cheaper than progressives.
What's the difference between bifocals and progressives, exactly?
Bifocals have two focal zones separated by a visible line — distance on top, reading on bottom, nothing in between. Progressives blend distance, intermediate (arm's length / computer), and near in one smooth transition with no line and no jump. The trade-off is that progressives have soft-focus zones at the far edges; bifocals don't.
Do progressives take longer to adapt to than bifocals?
Slightly — 1–2 weeks for progressives versus a few days for bifocals. Most wearers still prefer the smooth progressive experience once they've adapted, but if you know you hate learning new things, bifocals adapt faster.
Are bifocal contact lenses different from bifocal glasses?
Yes, completely — bifocal contacts have concentric rings of near and far power on the same lens, and your brain learns to use whichever ring matches what you're looking at. If you searched for 'bifocal contacts' but wear glasses, what you probably want is a progressive lens, not a bifocal.
