Does my son need to wear bifocals?

[cheap glasses]

My son who is 11-year-old and he is shortsighted. His doctor suggested that he be fitted for hard contact lenses and reading glasses. The doctor also suggested that he should wear bifocals. Are bifocals common in children, and is this trying to accomplish the same effect as the hard lenses with reading glasses?

[children eyeglasses]

I totally agree with using rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses to control nearsightedness. Research shows that, in many cases, fitting myopic youngsters with GP lenses may slow the progression of their nearsightedness. Studies have shown that bifocals and/or reading glasses can have an impact on slowing down myopic progression.