Trifocal Glasses (Pros, Cons & Costs)

What Are Trifocal Glasses?

Trifocal lenses are multifocal eyewear that offers different lens corrections. They have visible lines that divide the lens into three segments, including:

Distance vision. This includes driving or looking at a whiteboard from across a room
Intermediate vision. This includes card playing and staring at the computer screen
Near vision. This includes close-up reading

This type of multifocal glasses corrects eye conditions like presbyopia.

Types of Trifocal Glasses Lenses

There are two main types of trifocal lenses available, including:

Flat top trifocal lenses
Executive trifocal lenses

Progressive lenses aren't exactly trifocal lenses. They correct the same problems but don't have "hard lines."

Many people prefer progressive lenses over trifocals. However, they are typically more expensive.

Flat Top Trifocal Lenses

The near and intermediate vision zones are arranged in a D-shape. This shape allows for improved peripheral vision. These lenses are usually easy for people to adjust to.

Executive Trifocal Lenses

The intermediate zone of this lens is thinner than flat top trifocals. They may take longer to get used to wearing.

Where to Buy Trifocal Glasses

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is our favorite independent online retailer. They have excellent customer service, making the ordering process much simpler than most other online retailers.

They also design, source, and manufacture all of their frames and materials in-house. The result is high-quality, affordable eyewear. Warby Parker offers progressive and bifocal lenses.

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GlassesUSA

GlassesUSA has a huge catalog of eyeglasses. They carry everything from budget to designer frames, so there's a pair for everyone. They also offer progressive and bifocal lenses at a slightly lower price than Warby Parker.

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What Vision Problems Can Trifocal Eyeglass Lenses Correct?

Trifocals can provide vision correction for some eye conditions, including presbyopia.

Presbyopia or age-related farsightedness occurs when the natural lens no longer retains flexibility. It cannot focus on objects in the near vision zone.

This often starts between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. Wearing trifocals can help correct blurred vision, eye strain, and headaches.

Eye care professionals may also recommend using bifocals or other multifocal lenses to treat myopia in children. Previous studies have demonstrated that using such lenses contributes to minimal reductions in myopia progression.

Pros and Cons of Trifocals

These are the advantages of trifocal lenses:

Corrects three different ranges of vision
Provides a broader focus area for near and intermediate vision zones
Easy to clean and maintain

These are the disadvantages of trifocal lenses:

Visible lines across the lenses
Limited lens customization options
Takes time to get used to, especially for people with severe presbyopia

Trifocal vs. Bifocal Lenses

Trifocals and bifocal lenses are similar because both types have lines to distinguish different vision ranges. Bifocals correct distance vision problems in two segments (bottom half for reading and top half for far vision).

Trifocal lenses, however, offer three viewing zones for better overall sight.

What Is The Difference Between Trifocals And Progressive Lenses?

Trifocals have noticeable lines that run across lenses. This can lead to an image jump, which is the sudden change in clarity and the perceived position of an object in sight.

Progressive lenses do not have lines and are much more gradual from one prescription segment to the next. Also, because there are no lines, progressive lenses tend to have a more aesthetically pleasing look than trifocals.

They are more expensive than trifocals. However, they provide better sight at different ranges of vision without any obstruction caused by lines.

Progressives take some time to get used to, and some may feel nauseous or off-balanced. No visible lines mean no visual guidance for the eyes. It will take time to learn to perform different tasks.

Vision Center recommends progressive lenses from Warby Parker.

Are There Trifocal Contacts?

Trifocal contacts are a variation of multifocal contact lenses. The different types of multifocal contacts include:

Segmented lenses. These look similar to bifocal or trifocal glasses lenses. They have clearly divided areas for different distances
Progressive lenses. These have a seamless transition for the different vision corrections
Concentric lenses. These have alternating rings of correction radiating from the center of the lens.

Trifocal Intraocular Lenses

Trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) are often placed during cataract surgery. It can resolve cataracts and lower the chances of needing glasses post-surgery.

Cataracts are caused by aging or other factors, like diabetes. They can cloud the eye's lenses and make objects appear blurry, distorted, or less colorful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20.5 million (17.2%) Americans aged 40 years and older have cataract in one or both eyes.³

When Are Multifocal Contact Lenses Necessary?

Multifocal contact lenses are available for those not interested in wearing trifocal eyeglasses regularly. Speak with an eye care professional to determine if such contact lenses are the most suitable option.

As with any contact lens, there is an increased risk of eye infection.

How Much Do Trifocal Glasses Cost?

Trifocal lenses are more expensive than average single-vision lenses. Costs will vary according to an individual’s prescriptions and needs.

Progressive lenses that offer three different vision ranges can amount to $260. This price can be even higher with material customization and additional coatings like anti-scratch or anti-reflection.

Summary

Trifocal lenses can correct different ranges of vision. They can help with refractive errors and other eye conditions. If you are considering buying trifocal eyewear, you must consult your eye care specialist and learn more about the costs, benefits, and alternatives.

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