VOLUME 91: Single Vision vs Reading vs Multifocal Glasses: Which Prescription Glasses Suit Aussie Work, Screens & Driving?

If you’ve ever found yourself squinting at your phone, leaning closer to your laptop, then hopping in the car and feeling like your vision “isn’t quite right”, you’re not alone. Most people don’t have a single “vision problem” — they have different vision demands across the day: distance (driving), near (reading), and the awkward middle zone (screens, dashboards, kitchen benches, retail counters).

That’s why choosing between single vision, prescription reading, and multifocal (progressive) lenses isn’t about what sounds most “advanced” — it’s about matching your lenses to how you actually live and work in Australia.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know:

• What each lens type is best at (and where it falls short)
• Why screens are often the tipping point
• What driving changes (especially night driving and dashboards)
• A simple decision pathway based on your day-to-day tasks
• What to check on your prescription so your next pair feels right

If you’re browsing options, you can also explore prescription glasses in Australia that match different lens needs and lifestyles.

The quick comparison (most people can decide from this)

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: your eyes need to focus at different distances, and different lenses solve different distance problems.

Single vision lenses

Best for: one distance only

– Distance (driving, TV, sport)

– OR near (reading, close craft work)

– OR sometimes intermediate (computer-specific single vision)

Limitations:

• If you need help at more than one distance, you’ll end up swapping glasses or compromising.

Prescription reading glasses

Best for: near tasks (reading, phone, fine detail)

Limitations:

• Usually not ideal for monitor distance (intermediate)
• Not suitable for driving (they blur distance)

Multifocals (progressives)

Best for: distance + intermediate + near in one pair

Limitations:

• Takes an adaptation period for some people
• Needs good fitting and correct measurements to feel natural
• Some people prefer separate “work” and “driving” solutions depending on their day

If your day mixes emails, meetings, phone use, and driving, multifocals can be brilliant — but they’re not automatically the best option for everyone.

The three distances that matter (and why screens complicate everything)

A lot of lens confusion comes from assuming there are only two distances: far and near. In reality, there are three that matter in modern Australian life:

• Distance vision: road signs, driving, watching sport, spotting someone across the room
• Intermediate vision: computer screens, dashboards, cooking benches, shop counters
• Near vision: books, phones, price tags, sewing, reading a menu

Screens typically sit at an intermediate distance (often 50–80 cm). That’s why someone can read a book “okay” but struggle with a monitor, or drive fine but feel strained on a laptop. Intermediate is the in-between zone where the wrong lens choice becomes obvious fast.

Single vision lenses — perfect when your needs are simple (or specific)

Single vision lenses correct one distance. That can be a huge advantage if your priority is crystal clarity in one situation.

Single vision for driving and distance

If you’re mainly struggling with:

• Road signs looking fuzzy
• Night driving glare being more noticeable
• Recognising faces at distance
• Watching TV from the couch

Distance single vision is often the cleanest, sharpest solution. There’s no need for extra zones you don’t use.

Driving tip (especially for commuters):

• Anti-reflective coating can help reduce headlight reflections and improve comfort at night.
• If you drive a lot and also do screen work, you may end up with one pair for driving and another for your desk — and that’s totally normal.

Single vision for screens (yes, it exists)

If your main complaint is computer fatigue, you might not need reading glasses or multifocals at all. A single vision lens set for intermediate distance (computer distance) can feel more relaxed for long screen sessions because it’s optimised for where your monitor sits.

This is often a great choice if:

• You’re under presbyopia age or only mildly affected
• You do long blocks of screen work
• You don’t want to adapt to a progressive corridor

The downside: it won’t be great for distance or close-up reading if it’s optimised for intermediate.

When single vision becomes inconvenient

Single vision starts to feel limiting when you’re constantly switching tasks:

• Looking at your phone, then your screen, then across the room
• Moving between meetings, laptop work, and driving
• Checking the dashboard and mirrors, then glancing at your GPS, then back to the road

If that’s you, keep reading — your ideal lens might be reading glasses + another pair, or multifocals.

Prescription reading glasses — when “near only” is genuinely enough

Prescription reading glasses are designed to help you focus up close. They’re especially common once presbyopia starts (age varies, often noticed from late 30s onward).

Signs prescription reading glasses are the right tool

You may be a good fit if:

• You read menus, books, your phone, and labels — and that’s what’s bothering you
• Your distance vision is fine (or already corrected separately)
• You don’t do long computer sessions (or you’re okay moving your screen closer)

Common “near-only” moments:

• Reading in bed
• Looking at receipts
• Using your phone at the café
• Hobby work like knitting or model building

Why reading glasses can fail for screens

A monitor usually sits further away than a book. Reading lenses set for near can make you:

• Lean forward
• Raise your chin
• Pull your monitor closer
• Feel neck strain and eye fatigue

If you’re doing hours at a computer, you’ll often want something optimised for intermediate, or a lens design that covers both intermediate and near.

Prescription vs off-the-shelf readers

Off-the-shelf readers can be handy for occasional use, but prescription reading glasses are more tailored if you:

• Have astigmatism
• Have different strengths in each eye
• Want clearer comfort for longer sessions

Multifocals (progressives) — one pair for a multi-distance life

Multifocals (often called progressives) combine distance, intermediate, and near in one lens. For many Australians juggling screens and driving, they’re the closest thing to an “all-day” solution.

The real benefit: less swapping, more flow

Multifocals can be ideal if your day looks like:

• Morning emails and Slack
• Meetings and whiteboards
• Phone use on the go
• School pickup or commuting
• Cooking dinner and reading recipes
• A bit of TV, then scrolling your phone

You can move through your day without switching between pairs constantly.

The trade-off: adaptation and fitting matter

Because multifocals blend zones, there’s usually:

• A learning curve (especially with stairs or quick head movements)
• A smaller “sweet spot” compared to single vision
• A need for accurate measurements and frame fit

How to adapt faster:

• Wear them consistently for the first week or two
• Point your nose at what you want to see (especially early on)
• Use your head/eyes together rather than only your eyes

Multifocals for screens — good, but not always perfect

Standard multifocals give you intermediate vision, but if your job is 6–10 hours of screen time, you might still prefer:

• A dedicated computer solution, or
• A lens design built more specifically for desk distances (often called occupational lenses)

Multifocals for driving — what to expect

Many people love multifocals for driving once adapted because you can:

• See the road clearly (distance)
• Glance at the dashboard (intermediate)
• Check quick near details (like a parking ticket or GPS, depending on where it sits)

If you do a lot of night driving:

• Consider anti-reflective coating to reduce glare
• Make sure your fitting height is accurate so the distance zone sits naturally when you’re in driving posture

The Aussie decision guide (choose based on your real day)

Use this as a practical shortcut.

If you mostly drive and watch TV (distance priority)

Choose:

• Distance single vision
• Anti-reflective coating if glare bothers you at night

If you mostly read and do close work (near priority)

Choose:

• Prescription reading glasses
• A separate distance pair if you also need driving correction

If you mostly work on a computer (intermediate priority)

Choose:

• Computer-optimised single vision (intermediate)
• A lens option that supports intermediate + near if you also read a lot at your desk

If you switch constantly between screen, phone, and driving (mixed priorities)

Choose:

• Multifocals (progressives)
• A short adaptation period
• Better flow through the day with less swapping

If you’re unsure, this rule of thumb helps

• If one distance is the issue → single vision
• If near only is the issue → reading glasses
• If two or three distances matter daily → multifocals are often worth considering

When you’re ready to compare styles and lens-ready frame options, you can shop prescription glasses online and narrow down what suits your routine.

What to look for on your prescription (without overcomplicating it)

You don’t need to be an optometrist to understand the key cues.

The common terms

• SPH (sphere): overall short-sightedness or long-sightedness correction
• CYL / AXIS: astigmatism correction (how your eye focuses unevenly)
• ADD: extra near power added for close work (commonly linked with presbyopia)

If you see an ADD, it’s a strong clue you may benefit from a near solution (reading glasses) or a multi-distance solution (multifocals), depending on your daily tasks. For a plain-English explanation of why near vision changes with age, see Healthdirect’s presbyopia guide.

Common mistakes Australians make (and how to avoid them)

Buying reading glasses when the real issue is screens

If you work on a laptop all day and buy strong readers, you may feel better for close-up — but worse for intermediate. The fix is often:

• A computer-optimised lens, or
• Multifocals if you also need distance correction

Expecting multifocals to feel perfect instantly

Some people put them on for 15 minutes, hate the “weird” feeling, and give up. In reality, your brain often needs time to map the zones. If you’re adapting:

• Wear them consistently
• Avoid switching back and forth with old glasses during the first week

Choosing lenses without thinking about driving posture

Your head position changes in the car. If your distance zone sits too low, you’ll unconsciously tilt your chin up. That’s why fitting accuracy matters so much — especially for frequent drivers.

Buying prescription glasses online in Australia (and getting the result you expect)

Online ordering can be convenient and cost-effective, but your experience depends on getting the fundamentals right.

The essentials to get right

• Your most recent prescription details
• Accurate measurements (especially pupillary distance if required)
• The right lens type for your daily tasks
• A frame shape that supports your lens choice (particularly for multifocals)

Frame fit matters more than people think

For multifocals in particular, you want a frame that:

• Sits comfortably without sliding
• Has enough vertical depth for the lens zones to work well
• Feels stable when you’re walking, driving, and looking down to read

Think about your “two-pair strategy”

A lot of people end up happiest with:

• One pair optimised for driving/distance, and
• One pair optimised for screens/desk work

Even if you choose multifocals, a dedicated screen pair can be a game-changer for heavy office days.

If you’re comparing value, fit, and lens options, browse affordable prescription glasses options and focus on what supports your real routine — not just what sounds most premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are reading glasses the same as single vision?

Not exactly. Reading glasses are usually a type of single vision lens set for near tasks. Single vision can also be set for distance or intermediate, depending on your needs.

Do I need multifocals if I work on a computer all day?

Not always. If your main challenge is intermediate distance, computer-optimised single vision can be ideal. Multifocals are more useful when you regularly switch between distance, intermediate, and near.

Are multifocals safe for driving?

Yes, for most people — once adapted. Many drivers like being able to see the road and glance at the dashboard. If you feel odd at first, give yourself a consistent wear-in period and make sure the fitting is correct.

Why do multifocals feel strange at first?

Your brain is learning how to use different zones in the lens. Mild distortion at the edges and a “swim” sensation can happen early on, and usually improves with consistent wear.

What’s better for night driving: single vision or multifocals?

If driving is your main activity, distance single vision can feel the cleanest. If you need dashboard and GPS clarity too, multifocals can be excellent once fitted well. Anti-reflective coating often improves comfort either way.

Final checklist (choose confidently)

Before you commit, ask yourself:

• What do I do most: drive, screen work, or near tasks?
• Do I swap between distances all day?
• Is my biggest frustration blur, fatigue, or posture/neck strain?
• Do I want one all-rounder pair, or the best tool for each job?

When your lenses match your life, your vision feels effortless — and that’s the point.