Multifocal contact lenses are yet another way to tackle presbyopia, a condition making it difficult to focus on objects up close. Presbyopia, or farsightedness, affects nearly 111 million people in the United States with a large effect on individuals in their mid 40’s. If you suffer from near and farsighted vision, you may have thought glasses were your only option for corrective lenses. Think again! Similar to progressive or bifocal lenses , you can also wear bifocal or multifocal contact lenses to provide a natural transition between your near and distance vision.

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia, a very common refractive error often referred to as age-related farsightedness, is a gradual, age-related loss in the ability to clearly view up-close objects. If you begin experiencing eye strain after reading or are holding reading materials at an arm’s length away to clearly view, schedule a visit with us to talk about your vision. While there is no way to stop or reverse the effects of presbyopia, factors that can lead to a higher risk of developing presbyopia include age, medical conditions, and drug use. Our practice offers a wide range of eyecare services, and vision correction including frames, lenses, and contact lens options to fit your vision needs and keep you seeing your best.

Why Use Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Multifocal contact lenses create a more natural viewing for the wearer because both eyes are corrected for distance and near vision. There are a variety of options available for multifocal contact lenses that can be worn depending on your preferences and lifestyle. From single and part-time to everyday use, there is a multifocal contact lens option for you.

If you have started experiencing signs of farsightedness and are interested in multifocal contact lenses, schedule your next appointment today to talk with our team. It is much easier to adjust the multifocal lens correction provided on lower prescription needs. If you have a strong prescription and would like to try multifocal contact lenses, contact our office today.

The Pros and Cons

Pros of Multifocal Contact Lenses

• Convenient to use
• Provide a variety of powers in one lens to allow for great vision at all distances
• Offer a smooth transition between different prescriptions without the distinct lines found in bifocal contact lenses

Cons of Multifocal Contact Lenses

• Some wearers find their vision is not perfect at both near and distance, in these situations a compromise is made so one distance vision is better than the other.
• Adjustments are difficult with higher prescriptions
• More difficult to adjust when compared with standard contact lenses
• People who suffer from dry eyes may have more difficulty wearing contact lenses, which may not make the multifocal lenses a good solution to their presbyopia.

Types of Multifocal Contact Lenses

Simultaneous Design

The simultaneous vision design provides a gradual change between near and distance vision. Different zones of the lens are made for near, far, and intermediate vision providing a more natural transition and viewing experience.

Concentric and aspheric lenses are the most common simultaneous vision designs. The concentric design allows for the center of the lens to be the primary viewing zone and the rings around it gradually switch between near and distance vision. Aspheric lenses have a more gradual shift in prescription throughout the lens.

Segmented Design

Segmented contact lenses have a bifocal design. The distance vision is in the upper and central parts of the lens and the near vision is in the lower section of the lens. The two zones are separated by a visible line. When the user looks down the contact lens remains in place due to the flattened bottom edge.

Ready to try out multifocal contact lenses? Give us a call or schedule your next appointment today!

Soft contact lenses were approved by the FDA in the 1970s, yet many myths about them persist. People have all kinds of incorrect ideas about the risks and even some interesting “benefits” to wearing contact lenses, so let’s bust the top contact lens myths right now.

First, many people don’t try contacts because they think they will be uncomfortable. After all, how could it be comfortable to have something in your eye? Well, the beauty of soft contact lenses is that they are very flexible, thin, and practically weightless. After a few minutes, you shouldn’t feel your contacts at all. People new to contacts should be careful because sometimes they’re so comfortable, you forget you’re wearing them and fall asleep. Sleeping with contact lenses in is not recommended!

Another contact lens myth is that they’re hard to put in. Not true! If you have a steady hand, a mirror, sink, and light, you’re in good shape. Your eye care professional will illustrate how to insert and remove your contact lenses during a new wearer training session, and will make sure you’re comfortable with the steps before sending you home with your new lenses. Then you can practice at home, and you should quickly become a pro. If you are getting frustrated or finding that the method they showed you isn’t working, just be patient and keep trying. You can also call your doctor’s office to get more advice and training if you need it. There’s more than one way to put in and take out your contacts. As long as you’re washing and drying your hands, and following your eye doctor’s instructions for care, you can do it whichever way works for you.

Maybe it’s because humans think mystery and danger lurk around every corner, but another popular contact lens myth is that your contacts can disappear behind your eyes. Unlike a plastic doll with eyeballs floating around in her head, your eyes are firmly rooted in place, making it impossible for your contact to roll back behind your eye and into your head somewhere. The wonderful thing about the anatomy of your eyes is that there’s a thin membrane called the conjunctiva that lines the inside of the lids and then folds back and covers the white part of your eyeball. There’s no way a contact lens could slip between your eyeball and eye socket because the conjunctiva simply wouldn’t allow it.

Popular culture can be blamed for this next myth: contacts fall out easily. Romantic comedies depict people with contact lenses falling out of their eyes all the time. We can put your worries at ease and let you know that it’s very rare for contacts to fall out. If they’ve been properly fit and you’re not rubbing your eye, there’s almost no instance where your contact would slip off of your cornea. Don’t count on your contact lens to fall out as a way for you to meet someone interesting. Sorry!

People also sometimes think that wearing contact lenses causes eye problems and worsens your prescription. While misuse and wearing your contacts for far longer than prescribed can cause health issues, as long as you take care of your lenses and change them when instructed to do so, wearing contact lenses is totally safe and won’t worsen your prescription.

Another common concern is that the contact lens can get permanently stuck in your eye. Although they can stick if your eye is dry, it is impossible for a contact to get permanently stuck. Even if your eyes become excessively dry, you can moisten your eye and remove the contact lens. Don’t lose sleep worrying if your contacts will become a permanent part of your eye!

Finally, people with difficult prescriptions sometimes believe that they can’t wear contact lenses. While it is true that some people are unable to wear them, some unusual and extreme prescriptions can comfortably wear contact lenses. Due to advances in lens technology, there are many different types of contact lenses for a wide variety of eyes and people. Just ask your eye care professional if you have questions or are interested in getting contact lenses.