Say Good-bye To Old Fashioned Bifocals

Presbyopia affects nearly 90% of people who are older than forty-five. What is presbyopia? It's the problem that occurs when the crystalline lenses of our eyes cease being as flexible as they were when we were young. This is the reason why the middle-aged and the elderly have a hard time focusing on nearby objects.

In reality, this loss of flexibility occurs over a number of years. Nevertheless, ordinarily we don't realize it until we are in our middle forties. In short, presbyopia is a normal process of the aging of our eyes.

Unfortunately, scientists are unable to keep presbyopia from happening. On the other hand, eye doctors are at least able to treat presbyopia with glasses: reading glasses, bifocals, and trifocals. Because presbyopia is perfectly normal, the majority of people who are over 55 years of age end up having to wear bifocals.

Although regular bifocals are an adequate remedy, they do have their drawbacks. Typically, they don't handle the mid-range focus area very well. I myself wear bifocals, which work adequately for reading and for distance vision. However, I often have to keep switching my line of sight when I'm engaged in certain activities, like board games.

Not only that, but when I use my computer, I'm at a real disadvantage. I have to hold my head in just the right position, which often gives me either a neck ache or headache. I often just switch to a totally different pair of glasses for use at the computer. Surely, there's a better solution!

Yes, I have given both trifocals and progressive lenses a try. But I got dizzy each time I tried. Unlike some people, I just could never get used to them. From what I've read, I'm not the only person who has experienced vertigo from trifocals and progressive lenses.

Electronic Bifocals Are the Solution

In recent years, scientists at the University of Arizona have discovered the solution: electronic glasses. With electronic glasses, each lens is made of of two plates between which is a super-thin layer of shape-shifting liquid crystals. One of the plates in the lens is coated with minuscule, clear electrodes. When an electric current passes through these transparent electrodes, it results in the liquid crystals rearranging themselves. In short, the liquid crystals mimic the focusing apparatus of human eyes. This electronic focusing all happens in a second.

A tiny battery within the frames of the electronic bifocals powers the electronics. When the battery is turned on, its focusing power allows the user to be able to read and perform other close-up tasks. When the switch is turned off, the glasses either become normal glass (for people with 20/20 distance vision) or they return to the focal strength required by that person for distance vision.

The good news is that electronic glasses are just around the corner. They are predicted to hit the market in late 2010.

How will you know when these exciting new bifocals are for sale? Easy! Just check from time to time at the author's website, Electronic-Glasses.There's no charge and nothing for sale. Just information.