# Eyeglasses prescription - fill without the bifocals?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 7, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065 "2013-04-07T10:52:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/21 "2013-04-08T09:37:24Z")
I live in Virginia and the answer is yes you can get mono lenses even if bifocals were originally prescribed. I simply told the optician which corrective lens I preferred. It’s best to discuss this preference during the exam.
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### Author:  [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/22 "2013-04-08T13:44:57Z")
> [@phall0106](#):
>
> I have a prescription for new glasses with bifocal lenses, which I got filled as-is. Only the bifocal are horrible and I’m getting horrible eye strain and constant headaches.
>
> Does anyone know if I could get glasses with the prescription, but without the bifocal component? Or, would I have to get another prescription?
It should not be difficult to get glasses without the near-vision correction (either bifocal or progressive).
If you have difficulty with your current eyeglasses, a new refraction is probably in order, and can be had for $50 or less at places like Costco.
If you just want to try new glasses without bothering to get refracted again, put in your own prescription online at services like [Zenni Optical](http://www.zennioptical.com/), and get an inexpensive pair. Bypass the optometrist and optician altogether. Be aware that, in my opinion at least, a good refraction and fitting is worth quite a bit more than $50 in terms of getting to the right eye correction in the first place. Further, the optician should be able to fit you for things like pupillary distance, vision centered in the correct place on the glasses, frame fit for head, and so on.
Still, an online service will be happy to sell you a pair of glasses without the bother of a third party expert, if that’s what you want.
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### Author:  [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/23 "2013-04-08T14:34:40Z")
I wear bifocals normally; however, I have a set of single prescription glasses for working at computer monitors.
If you do get single vision glasses, you need to consider when you will be using them. Behind a computer monitor is one thing. Behind the wheel of a car is another.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/24 "2013-04-08T14:38:24Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#):
>
> What I don’t get are these glasses these days where the lenses are so small. I would think that with bifocals especially it would be better to have a physically bigger lens.
>
> I tried to help someone pick out glasses once and they got talked into some tiny frames, I figured it was a mistake, but what do I know. Then as it happens they almost never want to ware their glasses.
> I think fashion has recently moved to bigger lenses again, but wonder if this two pair thing may be the trick.
You are absolutely correct that the tiny lenses are limiting, especially with bifocals or variable focus lenses. Why people want to limit their clear vision to a teeny tiny area is beyond me. I always get the most generous size I can.
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### Author:  [@Deegeea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deegeea)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/25 "2013-04-08T21:09:07Z")
At my last optical visit, it was suggested that I needed bifocal/progressive lenses. I don’t think I could easily get used to it, and I don’t change back and forth that often. So I got 2 pair, distance and reading. That made computer use a bit awkward as neither pair worked well, so I got a computer distance glasses as well! Now I keep the distance pair in the car as I really only use it for driving and watching movies. The computer pair is fine for everyday wear, gardening, tidying the house, as well as computer use.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/26 "2013-04-09T00:51:55Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#):
>
> What I don’t get are these glasses these days where the lenses are so small. I would think that with bifocals especially it would be better to have a physically bigger lens.
>
> I tried to help someone pick out glasses once and they got talked into some tiny frames, I figured it was a mistake, but what do I know. Then as it happens they almost never want to ware their glasses.
> I think fashion has recently moved to bigger lenses again, but wonder if this two pair thing may be the trick.
fashion dictates. bifocal/trifocal wearers might benefit the user from larger lenses. frames turn to junk when parts are no longer available after a frame’s manufacture lifetime of 2 or 3 years.
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/27 "2013-04-09T02:11:22Z")
Although I must say my titanium frames were _excellent_ purchases. I’ve had them nearly 15 years and they’re both in good shape (one for main lenses, one for the backup set). I’ve had to replace screws a couple times but otherwise still doing great. So yeah, pricey on initial purchase but probably cheaper over the long haul.
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/28 "2013-04-11T05:33:25Z")
> [@MLS](#):
>
> That surprises me very much. How can the online dispensary know how to correct your vision if they never check the prescription? Perhaps I’m misunderstanding what you’re saying.
I’m not saying you don’t give them a prescription. You take the slip your optician gives you and you plug the numbers into their order form. You just don’t have to scan it to them for proof or anything. If I had a prescription for bifocals I could easily just enter half the info to get single vision glasses. Or make them prescription sunglasses. Or I could go somewhere else and order contacts instead. I think a lot of people don’t realize they’re entitled to a copy of their prescription because they get glasses the same place they have their exam and the optician usually won’t offer to give it to you, most places I’ve gone you have to request it. You could call up your Dr. right now and they’ll read it to you over the phone.
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### Author:  [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyeglasses-prescription-fill-without-the-bifocals/655065/29 "2013-04-11T14:36:40Z")
> [@MLS](#):
>
> You are absolutely correct that the tiny lenses are limiting, especially with bifocals or variable focus lenses. Why people want to limit their clear vision to a teeny tiny area is beyond me. I always get the most generous size I can.
My husband’s prescription is so strong (+16.5) he likes small glasses, because in a larger frame the lenses become so thick that they keep popping out. I never really understood any of this until we went to the optometrist and I sat through the whole process with him. His glasses take weeks to fill because often several sets of lenses break before they get a set made, mounted in the frames and properly adjusted. He has never ever been able to take advantage of frames on sale, or “glasses in 1 hour” or anything like that.
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