Eyeglasses with thick lenses and a line across them were the only option for people with both nearsightedness and farsightedness. Eyeglass frames were heavy and not only that they were to say the least unattractive. Bifocal Contact lenses were difficult to get used to wearing. Going down stairs especially, you need to look either up or down. While getting adjusted to wearing bifocals some people get dizzy.
People had only one choice if they wore bifocals, eyeglasses. When contacts hit the market bifocals still had to be in eyeglasses. That was then and this is now. Contacts offer as many choices if not more than the choices available for eyeglass wearers. Many people are joyous because bifocals now come in contact lenses. Contact bifocals are available in rigid, soft, and gas permeable materials.
What people need to use bifocal lenses? Those who when focusing on near objects, have trouble. What they have is called Presbyopia. It is unusual for this to develop before the age of 40. Bifocals glasses are similar to Alternating Design because half the lens has distance power and the other half has powers for near objects.
Blended prescriptions for both near...