Philip Walsh - How do I change from single vision lenses to multifocals or vice versa?

As with any new prescription or change to your eyewear, switching from single vision glasses to multifocals, or vice versa, takes some adjusting.

Having single vision glasses means the lenses offer just one focus for the eyes. This can be for a range of vision problems, such as to provide focus for long distances, for close-up reading, or for mid-range sight correction, such as for computer use. The main point is that the focus is the same.

Multifocals, on the other hand, offer a range of vision correction within the same lens. They are a multi-focal lens, which means there is a combination of distance, intermediate and close vision correction.

Following this, bifocals will usually have two focuses, one for distance vision and the other for close vision.

Due to changes in the eyes, which often come with age, you may need to move from one form of prescription to another. This may seem strange at first, but will simply take some time to become used to the change.

When getting accustomed to graduated lenses (multi or bi-focals), one tip is to make a conscious effort to move your head instead of only moving your eyes. It will take a conscious effort at first when transitioning from looking at a screen to something further away, for example, but you will soon make this movement automatically.

In most cases, simply wearing the new glasses throughout the day for at least a week will quickly have you adjusting to the new eyewear.

Some people who transition to single vision glasses after a time of wearing bi or multi-focals may find it frustrating not to have the flexibility these glasses offer. If this is such an issue that you can't get used to it after a week or so, it may be worth speaking with your Specsavers optometrist about reverting back to your old glasses.

If you would like to know more about single, multi-focal, and bi-focal glasses, and how to transition between them smoothly, get in touch with your local optometrist or visit the website for more information: www.specsavers.co.nz