Name: Aguilar, Michelle M.

Date: March 13, 2024

Section: OP 2-1 Professor: Dr. Jennifer Lyn Viñola
Title: Different types of bifocal and trifocal

Objectives:
1.To know the different types of bifocal and trifocal

Bifocals are a type of eyeglasses that feature two different optical powers in one lens. The top
part of a bifocal lens corrects distance vision, while a smaller portion at the bottom of the lens
corrects near vision. When looking closely at bifocal lenses, you can see a line where these
different viewing zones meet.
Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocal lens in 1784 after he noticed his eyesight was
declining. He was having difficulty seeing up close and far away, but eyeglasses at the time
couldn’t solve both problems simultaneously.
Using the lenses from two different pairs of glasses, Franklin split each lens in half and
combined them to create “double spectacles,” or what are now called bifocals.

Types of Bifocal Lenses

Here are some of the most common types:

 Executive: The near-vision zone of the lens covers the full bottom half of the lens. This
type of lens is also called E style (“E” for “executive,” of course) or Franklin style
(because this style resembles the late Benjamin’s invention).
  Flat top: The near-vision zone of the lens resembles a half moon. This style is also called
D-segment because the shape of it resembles the letter “D” turned on its side.
 Ribbon segment: The near-vision zone is a narrow rectangular shape.
 Round segment: True to its name, this type of lens has a round-shaped near-vision zone.

Trifocals are like having three pairs of eyeglasses rolled into one. This is because trifocal lenses
have the ability to use three different prescription strengths in the same lens. A visible line
divides the lens into three optical power zones: one for distance vision, one for “arm’s length” or
intermediate vision, and one for close-up vision.
A trifocal lens is a type of multifocal lens that, like any glasses lens, gets fitted inside eyeglasses
frames. Multifocal lenses can be thought of as the opposite of single-vision lenses, which
address only one vision problem. Trifocal lenses address three vision issues in one lens. They’re
built to help people whose vision is blurry at three general distances—close up, far away, and in
between.
A trifocal lens is divided into three viewing zones to correct vision for three different distances.
These zones are situated in different areas of the lens. Most commonly, the zones appear in the
lens in this order from top to bottom:
 Distance viewing: The zone for viewing at a distance is usually at the top of the glasses.
This is where you might look across a parking lot or gaze at the horizon.
 Intermediate viewing: The intermediate zone—for viewing things that are neither near
nor far—is generally in the middle of the lens. This is where you might look at the TV or
check out what’s on the restaurant buffet at arm’s length.
 Up-close viewing: The zone for viewing close-up objects is usually at the lower part of
the lens. This is where you’d probably read messages on your phone or sew on a button.
Types of Trifocal Lenses
The viewing zones in trifocal lenses can be shaped in different ways. The three types of trifocal
lenses shown below are the most common.

Flat-top trifocal lenses: This is the most common type of trifocal lens. The zone for viewing
close-up is D-shaped, with the zone for intermediate viewing above it.

Executive trifocal lenses: The different viewing zones extend all the way across the glasses
lens. These are also referred to as Franklin lenses, named for the inventor of bifocals, Benjamin
Franklin.
Double-d trifocal lenses: Trifocals like double-d lenses, which have a more unusual
arrangement of viewing zones, are usually referred to as “occupational” trifocals. In double-d
trifocals, the near-vision zone appears twice: at both the top and bottom of the lens. This type of
lens might benefit someone who does a lot of close-up work that’s positioned above their head.

Bifocal vs. Trifocal Lenses

Trifocal lenses are a lot like bifocal lenses. But while bifocal lenses have two power zones, one
for distance vision and one for close vision, trifocal lenses have a third power zone. This third
zone corrects vision at intermediate distances.

Trifocals vs. Progressives

Progressive lenses can correct for the same three viewing zones as trifocals. The main
difference between trifocals and progressives is that progressive lenses don’t have an obvious
visible line between the power zones.
Additionally, the transition between each zone is different in trifocal lenses versus progressive
lenses. With trifocals, the transition between the different prescriptions in the three zones is
abrupt. In contrast, progressives gradually transition between the prescription.

REFERENCES:
https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/bifocal-
lenses?fbclid=IwAR1AJ45P6xlmcpixGmWzZ3_MeihrT1nAkGtyG383Pfimecljt3KqF9BwjKw
https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/trifocals?fbclid=IwAR3fjVspxNlcweyIq89Q7x2867xSgkoIl
OsAJ2nItkfrFI-2aUAxRJh13OA