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Occupational Bifocals and Trifocals

By Gary Heiting, OD, and Michael DePaolis, OD

Occupational bifocals and trifocals are special multifocal lenses that are designed for specific jobs or hobbies, but typically are not for everyday wear. They are special because of the unusual placement of the near, intermediate and far vision zones in the lenses, to make certain tasks easier.

When you develop presbyopia at around age 40, you lose the ability to focus properly at multiple distances. This means you may have special needs for eyewear that can help you see better if your job or hobby requires you to look overhead or read fine print all day.

In the Double-D, there are two segments for near vision (here, green and blue). Graphic courtesy of Joe Bruneni, Vision Consultants, Inc.

Double-D Lenses for Overhead Near Work

The Double-D design is an example of eyewear that has a D-shaped bifocal segment at the bottom of the lens and an upside-down "D-seg" at the top of the lens. The rest of the lens area provides distance correction.

An auto mechanic who has presbyopia could benefit from this lens, which enables the wearer to see clearly up close — both when looking down to read and when looking overhead to view the undercarriage of a car on a lift.

The Double-D also is an excellent occupational lens for librarians or mail clerks who routinely need to file and read items overhead.

Double-round segs are additional occupational lenses that can be used for the same purposes as the Double-D.

E-D Lenses With Emphasis on Intermediate Zones

An E-D trifocal has a distance correction along the top half of the lens, separated from the intermediate correction in the bottom half by a line that goes all the way across the width of the lens (called Executive style). A D-shaped segment with near correction is in the lower half of the lens.

The E-D trifocal is suitable for someone who needs a clear, wide field of view at an intermediate distance and who also needs to see clearly both close up and in the distance. An example of a good candidate for this lens would be a television production person who must watch several TV monitors that are spread out in front and to the sides. This person also must read notes from a clipboard and recognize someone across the room.

Multifocal Lenses for Reading and Near Vision Tasks

Common multifocal lenses sometimes can be converted to occupational lenses when design changes are made to the height of bifocal or trifocal segments.

For example, the normal position of the top line of a flat-top trifocal is just below the pupil. If this portion of the lens is positioned higher instead — directly in front of the pupil — the wearer is better able to see nearby items clearly without looking down or tilting back the head.

This occupational trifocal would be inappropriate for tasks such as driving, because wearers would need to tip down their heads to see over the intermediate portion of the lens for good distance vision. But this lens would be an excellent choice for a pharmacist who spends most of the work day reading small print on labels at or slightly below eye level.

Special Lenses for Golfers

Presbyopic golfers want clear distance vision when looking down at their golf ball and when lining up a drive or a putt. But they also want to be able to read their scorecard.

A round-top bifocal can be used to create an occupational lens called a "golfer's bifocal." The small, round reading segment is placed low and in the outside corner of one lens only. Typically the right lens has this segment for right-handed golfers, and the left lens has the segment for left-handed golfers.

In this position, the reading segment is completely out of the way and doesn't interfere with distance vision for shot-making. But the lens still is very functional for brief near vision tasks like reading a scorecard or viewing a menu in the clubhouse.

Availability of Occupational Lenses

Most occupational bifocals and trifocals are available in all lens materials, including glass, plastic, high-index and polycarbonate, in addition to photochromic glass, plastic and high-index materials.

About the Author: Gary Heiting, OD, is senior editor of AllAboutVision.com. Dr. Heiting has more than 25 years of experience as an eye care provider, health educator and consultant to the eyewear industry. His special interests include contact lenses, nutrition and preventive vision care. Connect with Dr. Heiting via Google+.

Original version of this article was by Liz DeFranco, ABOC, NCLC.

[Page updated June 2009]