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As we age, our eyes don't provide the crisp, clear close vision they once did. The lenses of our eyes harden, and it's more difficult to focus on near tasks. Though our distance vision may remain the same, we need assistance, in the form of reading glasses or other magnification, to see close up. We also may have noticed that when we're looking at a distance that's neither too close nor too far, our vision isn't what it used to be.

In years past, our only choice was a bifocal: glasses with a clear, nonprescription lens (or a wearer's prescription) on top, and a magnifying lens below. The problem with these is they used to have (and some still do) an unsightly, visible line dividing the two areas. Certainly, the half-glasses solve that problem, but if you want to appear as though you're not wearing reading glasses, the half-frame style will give you away.

But as technology has advanced, so have reading glasses. Not only has it been identified that people may need help with distance vision as well as near vision, but it's been proven that there is a different, 'intermediate' area that calls for a different strength of lens. Someone working at a computer for extended periods can attest to this. The distance between one's eyes and one's computer screen may be too difficult to see with regular prescription lenses, and may still appear blurry when viewed through reading glasses.

To solve this problem, trifocal lenses are now available. They come in different types and styles, but the idea is that there are three different levels of lens power in one lens: The top of the lens allows you to see distance, the middle of the lens, which starts at about the level of your pupil, lets you clearly see things that are about two feet away, and the lower portion, which starts at the level of your lower eyelid, is for reading or other close work.

To be sure, there are also individual glasses for each specific need, but the trifocal brings you the convenience of reading everything near, intermediate and distant, without changing your glasses. In today's world of hustle and bustle, it's one less thing to worry about.