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Astoria Vision Center

Located on the corner of Marine Drive and 3rd Street

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Located on the corner of Marine Drive and 3rd Street

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Call Us! 503-325-4641
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Home » Eye Care Services » Your Eye Health » Vision Over 40 » Multifocal Eyeglass Lenses

Multifocal Eyeglass Lenses

Multifocal lenses technically refer to any lens that provides more than one zone of corrective power and would therefore include bifocal, trifocal and progressive lenses. Multifocals are designed for the many individuals over 40 who struggle with presbyopia – the age-related near vision loss that requires us to use eyeglasses for reading and focusing on objects in our near vision. The multiple lens powers enable you to correct for near and distance vision with one pair of glasses.

Bifocal Lenses

Bifocal lenses are divided into two powers, one for distance vision and the second for near vision. Bifocals are created in a variety of designs with different sized and shaped viewing segments for near and far vision. While bifocals provide good distance and near vision, they are lacking in corrective power for intermediate areas, which is what has led to the development of trifocal and progressive lenses.

Trifocal Lenses

Trifocal lenses provide an additional lens power zone for intermediate vision (which is typically about an arm’s length away).

Some people are bothered by the visible lines where the lenses are divided in bifocal and trifocal lenses. In addition to aesthetics (the lines have become a sign of presbyopia which many associate with growing old), the harsh divisions in the zones can cause a distortion in the object you are viewing (an image jump) when you switch your gaze from one power to the next.

Progressive Addition Lenses (PALs)

Progressive lenses were designed to eliminate the “image jump” that results from the distinct zones in bifocal and trifocal lens design. By providing a smooth progression of many lens powers across the lens, PALs allow for clear vision near, far and every distance in between. Further, similar to natural vision, they just require a slight movement of the eye, rather than the whole head, for you to see through different lens powers. The smooth transition also eliminates the visible lines present on the other lenses which many view as tell-tale signs of age-related vision difficulties.

NOTICE TO OUR PATIENTS

In response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we understand that your health is your main concern. To ensure safe visits to our office for our patients as well as a safe work environment for our staff, we have implemented heightened cleaning regimens.

We ask that:

If you have an appointment scheduled and have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, difficulty breathing, and/or pneumonia in both lungs), or you have been in contact with anyone with those symptoms, please call us to reschedule.

When visiting our office, please help keep the environment as safe as possible for our other patients as we do have many elderly patients who are at increased risk should they contract the COVID-19 virus. You may do this by keeping your distance, washing/sanitizing your hands, and coughing/sneezing into your elbow.

We are committed to doing our part to stop the spread of this virus.

Thank you for your cooperation.