Progressive lenses as well as bifocal lenses both are used to correct short sightedness as well as far sightedness simultaneously. The main difference lies in the way they do so.

Bifocal lenses generally have a small part on the lower end of the lens, which helps us see the objects near us clearly. Depending on your requirements and preferences, this region can be of different shapes. For instance, if you only want a small part of the lens to be used for short-sightedness, you can have a slight curve at the lower end, or if you want half of the lens for far-sightedness and a half for short-sightedness, then that can be done as well.

They provide a clear distinction between the two visions, near and far within one lens itself. At first glance, they might seem uncomfortable, however, for some people this is a better fit as compared to progressive lenses. This mainly depends on your own personal usage and the kind of lifestyle you lead.

As for the distinction on the lens, the top part of the lens has a different prescription from that of the lower part. This is perfect for those people who have only two prescriptions for men and women. Even in bifocal lenses, there are two different type of shapes that are available. One is a round shape, and the other is a D shape. You can choose the shape as per your needs and comfort. While the D shape covers half of the entire lens, a round shape covers only a small portion of the lens.

On the other hand, a progressive lens is much more convenient to use than a bifocal lens because it provides a seamless light responsive between short-sightedness and far-sightedness. It efficiently lets the person see objects at varying lengths without using a different pair of glasses. In addition, since the lenses look the same from top to bottom, the person wearing a progressive lens would not have to experience sudden shifts in their visions.

As compared to bifocal lenses, the light responsive from one type of vision to the other is much smoother. These are also sometimes referred to as no line bifocal lenses. In addition to this, there is a wide zone of clarity as well, making them perfect for people who are more into sports.

There is a sub-division in progressive lenses as well. This division has been mentioned as below:

1.     Standard progressive lenses

This is by far the most inexpensive progressive lens. Moreover, the view is also wide and clear.

2.     Short corridor progressive lens 

This is the perfect lens for those who wear small frames. However, the only drawback with these lenses is that they give a smaller view area as compared to other lenses.

3.     Computer progressive lenses 

As the name suggests, these lenses are best for people who spend most of their time in front of the screens. However, the drawback with these lenses is that they cannot be used as daily wear lenses that you can wear for the entire day.

4.     Premium progressive lenses 

This is another best option for people who want to wear progressive lenses. They are designed in such a way that they fit to the frames perfectly well. They give a wide view of clarity and provide a seamless light responsive as well. Moreover, these products are manufactured in the USA, so easily available as well. 

5.     Ground view progressive lens 

This is especially designed for people who are into sports and athletics. In addition to this, it can also be used by people who spend considerable time on the screens throughout their day.