Bifocal contacts have been in use since the early 60's, but at that time, they were only available in the original hard lens type. Because the lenses were often uncomfortable and difficult to adapt to, they weren't a good vision solution. But bifocal contacts now come in all the popular varieties including daily disposable lenses. These modern contact lenses also offer better ways of correcting your vision, so they're much closer to natural sight.

Bifocal contacts, like bifocal glasses, are designed to correct the vision condition called presbyopia(Greek for "old man's eyes"). This is the inability to properly see things that are close and is brought on by aging. The lens in your eye is always growing new layers of cells and in time, all these layers cause the lens to lose its flexibility. Muscles in your eye change the shape of the lens in order to focus on close objects. And when your lens loses its flexibility, the muscles are no longer able to properly adjust it.

For most people, this loss of close vision occurs in their 40's and if their distance vision is still good, using reading glasses is a typical solution. But if there are also problems with seeing things at a distance, then bifocal contacts may be the solution.

Your choice for bifocal contacts includes all the varieties of rigid and soft lenses, as well as the way in which the lenses correct your vision. One design, called "translating", is like traditional bifocal glasses. The distance correction is in the upper part of the lens and near correction in the lower part. The other lens design, "simultaneous", has either the distance or near correction in the center and the opposite correction surrounding it. The band around the center can either be a single prescription type or provide a progression of distance corrections between near and far.

For people who don't find bifocal contacts suitable, an alternative is what's called, "monovision". Each eye uses a single prescription contact lens with one lens correcting for distance and the other correcting for close sight. It seems strange, but like getting use to bifocal lenses, the mind can adapt to this arrangement and many people have found this to be the best solution.

For a reliable source of discount bifocal contacts there's the world's largest contact lens store, 1-800 CONTACTS. Because they handle more contacts than anyone else, they can get you the best prices. And since they stock over 20 million lenses, your prescription is filled fast and delivered quickly. You even get free shipping if you order through their website.