Welcome to Vision Over 40: Navigating Clarity in Every Chapter

Embark on the enriching journey of vision beyond 40 in this curated section. Discover tailored solutions to common challenges, from cutting-edge eyewear tech to adapting to reading glasses. Whether you're a first-time glasses wearer or facing dry eyes post-menopause, we provide personalized guidance. Vision Over 40 is more than a section; it's a roadmap to clarity at every turn.

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 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 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 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.

Occupational Bifocal and Trifocals

Occupational bifocals and trifocals are specialized multifocal lenses created for specific jobs, hobbies or tasks. They
are designed for people – generally over 40 – who have developed presbyopia, a condition in which the lens of the eye weakens and it becomes difficult to see objects that are close up. They differ from regular multifocal lenses in that the magnified power areas to see close and intermediate objects are typically larger and positioned in a different area on
the lens, according to needs of the designated task.

Occupational bifocal and trifocal lenses are intended for specific tasks and not for everyday use.
Here are a few examples:

Double-D Lenses

The popular occupational lens, Double-D, has three segments for different types of vision: intermediate, near, and distance. It's perfect for those who need clear vision up close and overhead, like auto mechanics, librarians, clerks, office workers, and electricians. The lens is named after its "D" shaped segments for intermediate and near vision.

E-D Trifocal Lenses

E-D lenses focus on intermediate and near vision, with distance vision on top. They are ideal for people working at arm's length on screens, who also need to look up or read up close. The name "E" refers to the top-bottom division, and "D" to the near section's "D" shape.

Office or Computer Glasses

Multifocal lenses designed for office work provides the largest section with an intermediate lens designated for viewing the computer screen and a smaller area for limited distance vision. You can have progressive or trifocal lenses that incorporate near vision as well.

Golf Bifocals

That’s right, there are even specialized lenses made for golfers! Golfers need to see a wide range of distances during their game from their scorecard, to their ball on the tee, to hole far away to line up their drive. In these lenses, the close segment is small and placed on an outer corner of one lens, to allow for brief close vision but not interfere with the distance game. Usually, right handed golfers will have the lens on the right side and vice versa.

Personalized Lenses

Standard multifocals can be redesigned to adapt to specific tasks or hobbies simply by changing the size, shape or location of the different segments. Many adults over 40 would benefit from having multiple pairs of multifocals to give optimal vision for different tasks or hobbies they enjoy. Note that occupational lenses are made specifically for the task they are designed for and should not be worn full-time, especially while driving.

How Progressive Lenses Work

Progressive lenses are popular multifocal lenses that provide clear vision for people with presbyopia. Unlike bifocals or trifocals, they don't have a visible line on the lens. Instead, they have a smooth transition of focal powers, allowing you to see clearly at all distances. As you age, your near vision deteriorates, but progressive lenses solve this problem by incorporating distance and near prescriptions in one lens. This means you can see objects in the distance, at arm's length, and up close by adjusting your head position. In addition to their functional benefits, progressive lenses also improve the aesthetics of your eyewear by eliminating the line segments and image-jumps seen in non-progressive multifocals.

Adapting to Progressive Lenses:

While most people adapt to progressive lenses fairly quickly (many immediately), for some, getting comfortable vision with progressive lenses can take a few days. This is normal as you need to train your eyes to look through the appropriate area of the lens and get used to the slight adjustments when you move from one area to another – especially if you move your head quickly. If you find that you are not adapting to the lenses after a few days, speak to your eye doctor- they may not be the right fit or the right option for you.

Types of Progressive Lenses:

There are a number of options for progressive lenses which vary in style, price and function.

  • Standard progressive lenses must fit to your vision needs. They can be added to frames of your choice, but you need to ensure that the frames are the right width and height proportions to grant enough space for the gradient changes in the lens. Otherwise only a small area will remain for the distance or near vision zones.

  • To overcome the issue mentioned above, there are now progressive lenses called “short corridor” lenses made to fit into smaller frames to suit a wider range of eyewear styles.

  • Also known as “near variable focus lenses” or “office lenses”, these specialized PALs are designed specifically for computer users and other occupations that require strong intermediate and distance vision. For computer users that work at a computer for many hours, these lenses will help to reduce eye strain, eye fatigue and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome that come from looking at a computer for extended periods.

  • Individuals who enjoy reading can opt for a pair of lenses with a larger close vision zone. Free-form lenses offer a customizable surface with a wider area for near vision.

Reading Glasses After 40:

Once we reach the age of 40, its common to start noticing the natural effects of our aging eyes, such as having to hold your phone at arm’s length to read text messages. Medically, this normal change in our vision is called presbyopia and refers to the weakening of the lens inside the eye which is responsible for sharp focus and clear near vision.

You may begin to notice presbyopia setting in when reading starts to become difficult and the words begin to lose focus. You might also experience eye strain or headaches when trying to read fine print. This is where reading glasses come in. Reading glasses are non-prescription eyeglasses that magnify text (or any object you are viewing) to allow your eye to focus better at a close distance.

Styles of Reading Glasses

Single vision reading glasses are available in two lens styles: full and half. Full readers provide consistent magnification across the entire lens, but need to be removed for distant vision. Ideal for avid readers. Half readers offer uniform magnification and smaller frames that allow you to look over the lens for distance vision.

Bifocal reading glasses have two zones: the upper part for distance vision and the lower part for reading. A visible line separates the two zones. Choose the relevant part of the lens for desired vision.

Custom Made Vs. Over the Counter Reading Glasses

Ready-made reading glasses may be cheaper and convenient, but they don't account for individual needs. They can cause eye strain if not a good fit. Custom-made lenses meet your exact needs, offering comfort and optimal correction. You can also choose the style and shape of glasses you prefer. Vision changes with age require an eye exam. Early detection is key for preventing serious eye diseases, making routine check-ups critical for eye health.

Dry Eye After Menopause

Dry Eye Disease is a common eye condition – studies show that nearly 20% of North Americans middle aged and older suffer from dry eye disease. The probability of you developing dry eye if you are a woman, and older than 50, increases. Hormonal changes that older women undergo make it much more likely that they will suffer from dry eye as they age, including symptoms such as blurry vision and irritation of the eyes, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

What are the biological changes that happen during menopause which affect your eyes? The tear film in the eyes relies on certain chemical signals to remain stable, and these signals get disrupted during and after menopause. Some doctors believe that androgen, a hormone implicated in menopause, may be the culprit causing dry eye problems for menopausal women. Eyes may become inflamed, which leads to decreased tear production, and possibly dry eye disease. Add in a dry environment and many medications and the risk factors for menopausal women increases exponentially.

Treatments for Dry Eye in Menopausal Women:

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is sometimes used to treat menopausal symptoms, as the female hormone estrogen is one of the hormones that decreases during and after menopause. However, studies have shown that this treatment does not relieve symptoms of dry eye.

Refractive Eye Surgery:

Refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK and PRK, may not be advised if you are 40 or older, and have dry eye disease. These procedures can affect nerve function in your cornea (the clear surface of your eye), which could worsen your dry eye problem. If you want to have a consultation regarding LASIK or PRK, it’s important that your eye doctor know about your dry eye condition. In that case, your eye doctor will know to do the appropriate tests to make sure that there is enough moisture in your eyes for laser vision correction.

There are other health conditions that are associated with dry eye and aging. These conditions include thyroid autoimmune disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. If you suffer from dry eye, make sure your doctor screens you for these diseases.

Allergies may cause eye inflammation, and may be the cause of your dry eye. Prescription and over-the-counter eye drops might relieve your dry eye and allergy problem. Your eye doctor will advise you as to which eye drops would be best for you.

Sometimes commonly prescribed medications can worsen, or even cause, dry eyes. Some of these medications are antidepressants and diuretics, which are often prescribed if you have a heart condition. Make sure to talk about this with our doctor if you suspect that one of the medications you are taking may be causing your dry eye problems.