What signs might indicate the need for bifocal or progressive lenses?

Difficulty reading fine print is a common sign that may indicate the need for bifocal or progressive lenses. This difficulty often arises due to presbyopia, a natural aging process that affects the eye's ability to focus on close objects. As a person ages, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to switch focus from distant to near objects. Bifocal or progressive lenses are specifically designed to help individuals in this situation by providing different lens powers within the same lens, allowing for clear vision at both near and far distances.

In contrast, improved reading ability and clear vision at all distances would not indicate a need for new lenses; rather, these scenarios suggest that vision is currently adequate. Increased focus on screens may not directly correlate with the need for bifocals or progressives, as it could relate to other visual concerns or habits, but does not specifically point to difficulties with near vision that bifocal or progressive lenses address.