Lens Types Explained: The Difference between single, progressive, advanced, and more!
After getting your eye exam and picking out the perfect frames you’re going to have the daunting task of figuring out what lenses are best for you. Normally the optometrist will have a recommendation of single or multifocal lenses, the material, and so on and so forth. But what does all that mean? What is the difference between trifocals and progressives? And which pair is right for you?
Depending on the optometrist, these questions can be very overwhelming, especially if you’re buying your glasses online. We put together this quick breakdown of each lens type to help it make sense!
Lens Types: Single vs Multifocal
The first and most notable difference in glasses is whether you need single vision lenses or multifocal lenses. Multifocal refers to bifocal, trifocal, and progressive lenses.
Single vision lenses are best used for someone who is only nearsighted, farsighted, or if they have astigmatism. They are the simplest and tend to be the cheapest type of lens.
Bifocal lenses are for people who are both nearsighted and farsighted. They’re not always split right down the middle like they used to be. Modern bifocals are usually designed with most of the lens being devoted to long distance and a small pocket in the bottom designed to handle nearby objects. This “pocket” can come in a number of different shapes, round, half-moon, oval, badge, or it can be the lower half of the lens like they used to be. The different shapes are not always available, but they might ask you which you prefer. If that’s the case, ask if they have any samples so you can try them out before you make your decision.
Trifocal lenses are just like bifocals but help people who have difficulty seeing things in the “intermediate distance” as well. This distance refers to things about arm’s length away. These lenses are split into not quite equal thirds and address all three viewing distances.
Progressive lenses are a sort of hybrid that are usually used by people who qualify for either bifocals or trifocals. Progressives offer a gradual difference in magnification from distant to near. They aren’t “better” than bifocals or trifocals, but some people do prefer them over the other options. They tend to be the most expensive of the lens types and some people find them hard to use.
Specialty Lenses
There are also “antifatigue lenses” as an offshoot of single vision lenses. These are normal lenses with a slight magnification to reduce eyestrain when you’re reading or looking at a computer. Basically, they’re just like readers but with a fancy new name. If you don’t experience eyestrain when on your computer or reading, you probably don’t need them. If you have VSP’s two-pair plan, you can always get a pair of these alongside normal everyday glasses. Just be sure to apply your first “allowance” to the pair that has the enhancements.
Prism lenses are for specific cases but are very cool! They are your normal prescription lenses with a prism added to correct things like strabismus or diplopia. They obviously are not for everyone but are very useful to those who need them!
Cylindrical lenses are very similar to the usual “spherical” lens, except that they are used to help individuals with astigmatisms. Astigmatism refers to the issue where your cornea is uneven, making light focus on different points in the eye causing blurry vision. Cylindrical lenses address that! Again, not very everyone but very useful!
How SDPEBA’s VSP Plan Covers Different Lens Types
If you have SDPEBA’s VSP plan, you get two pairs of glasses. The first pair has a $0 copay on single vision, bifocals, trifocals, and standard progressives. Advanced/Custom progressives have a $55 copay.
If you’re applying this to your second pair, you still have a $0 copay on your single vision, bifocals, and trifocals, but advanced/custom progressives instead have a 20% discount. Be sure to ask your provider for a price estimate if this applies to you.
That covers lenses, but there’s usually more to learn! For example, do you want coatings or treatments on your lenses? And what material is best for you? Click the links below to learn more!
Which Lens material is right for me? Glass, Polycarbonate, or Plastic?
Do I need a lens coating on my glasses? If so… which one?