As many people age, their eyes begin to wear down to the point they need some form of vision correction through glasses, contact lenses, or even eye surgery. Some people require different solutions depending on if they are looking at objects far away or close up, as in reading. For those people, bifocal glasses have been a mainstay of their existence, even if the individual would prefer something less obvious. According to Vision Council of America, 30% of Americans are near-sighted, putting them at risk of needing bifocals as they age.

Thankfully, advances in contact lens technology have made more-flexible solutions possible. Gas permeable bifocal contact lenses offer patients the convenience of contacts and the multiple zones of correction that come with bifocals.

Gas permeable bifocal contact lenses work by having one circle of correction in the center of the lens and a second circle concentric to it along the outside of the lens. Typical gas permeable bifocal contact lenses have the near vision correction in the center and the distance vision correction along the edge, but the reverse is possible too, depending on the needs of the patient.

Like all gas permeable lenses, the bifocal variety allow oxygen and other gases to pass through the lenses and onto the eye. This keeps the eye from drying out, making them much more comfortable for the wearer than hard lenses.

Finding gas permeable bifocal contact lenses is easy, as most of the major manufacturers of contact lenses have bifocal options. Prices are reasonable. Gas permeable bifocal contact lenses are slightly more expensive than regular gas permeable, but are less expensive than lenses to correct astigmatism. For instance, Acuvue, a major manufacturer, advertises prices online for a box of six lenses starting at $19.99 for regular gas permeable lenses, $29.99 for the bifocal option, and $34.99 for astigmatism correction.