Can a teenager get bifocals?

I’m 16, and I got glasses for the first time about 3 months ago. They’re just fine, but in the past few days I’ve realized that I’d been moving toward being dependent on them for close-up (I need them for distance). Since that realization, I’ve been doing the whole taking-them-off-and-putting-them-on-a-million-times-a-day thing. It has helped with the headaches, I think, and the transition between the two focusing powers (glasses and no glasses) isn’t that hard. I guess my vision is really adaptable, which is a good thing.

The thing is, it’s getting frustrating. I’m homeschooled, so I’ll be sitting in the living room or dining room concentrating on school, when someone will start talking to me, or I’ll take a short break and walk around the house or something, and I’ll have to put my glasses on. The worst is when I’m baking or doing a craft. Most of the time when I’m doing something like this, I’ll be staring into the distance – put the glasses on. Then I’ll need to look at the recipe or instructions – take ‘em off. I’ve tried looking under or over the lenses, but it just doesn’t work.

So… I’m wondering: Can a 16-year-old get bifocals? It seems like the most reasonable and most convenient option. My parents like the idea, too, and they’re willing to pay a bit more if needed. I have an appointment scheduled with the ophthalmologist next week, so I’d like to know what my options are.

It really seems like I should be able to. It’s just a different lens, right? Why wouldn’t they be able to give it to me? Just because older people tend to need in more often than teenagers doesn’t mean they won’t let me… right?

Of course, all this is built on the assumption that the bottom half of the lens can be 0 magnification. Can it? It seems like it could.