Prism Bifocal or Progressive Glasses

Prism Bifocal or Progressive Glasses

Why is it necessary that my child has a multifocal lens?

The eye's focusing and alignment systems work very differently when looking far away, compared to looking up close. A child is also very dynamic and often in constant motion, with their eyes frequently and quickly looking near to far, up and down and around the room. 

For both of these reasons, it is more effective and practical to prescribe a lens that will be as dynamic as the child. A multifocal lens, either bifocal or progressive, has different powers and/or prisms set into the lens for different viewing distances. Multifocal lenses are proven to deliver better treatment compliance, especially with children.

1. Bifocals - these are required when specific, specialised prisms are prescribed for eye alignment and improved aiming and tracking skills. For bifocal lenses, an obvious line is seen through the lens, and its height in the lens is specifically determined by our Eyewear Specialists for optimal use. 

2. Progressive lenses - these are prescribed when only power is required to correct the visual problem and/or any specific, specialised prisms are of the same amount for far away and near. For progressive lenses, the power change through the lens is seamless and invisible, and so looks like a "normal" lens. 

Grandma doesn't like her progressive glasses - will my child also have problems with a multifocal lens?

Whilst traditionally adults can report difficulties with using bifocal or progressive lenses, children rarely have any difficulties using these forms of correction and often adapt to wearing glasses much more quickly than adults. However, if your child is having any problems with their new glasses, please be sure to get in touch with our Eyewear Specialists.

When should my child wear their glasses?

At a minimum, a child should wear their new glasses full-time indoors, both at home and in school. It is particularly important that a child wears their glasses for any remedial therapies, such as reading recovery, tutoring, speech-language therapy and/or occupational therapy. 

Contrary to common belief, those who wear glasses do not become dependent on them and the eyesight does not get worse through the use of spectacles.  Regardless of the visual condition, glasses can't be worn too often, so if your child prefers to leave the glasses on all day, this is perfectly safe. 

Even if your child can still see clearly without the glasses, it is important that they are encouraged to wear the glasses as much as possible, as this will help them see more efficiently. The glasses will help to retrain the eye movements to more effective reading patterns and will also help the vision parts of the brain to grow and develop correctly.