Multifocal contacts are customized lenses designed to assist people with presbyopia. Presbyopia is an aging-related near-vision impairment that reduces the ability to see clearly at a close distance. It usually begins in the late 30s and early 40s and progresses throughout the aging process. Reading glasses or bifocals can help overcome this issue, but multifocal contacts are designed to be a more convenient alternative.
Differences Between Traditional and Multifocal Contact Lenses
Multifocal contacts are unique compared to other corrective lenses. Traditionally, contact lenses or glasses only have a prescription to rectify one issue. Multifocal contacts have both the near and farsightedness prescription incorporated into the lens design. As a result, individuals who wear multifocal contacts can see things clearly up close and far away, without the need for additional glasses.
One perceivable benefit of traditional glasses that contacts lack is that multifocal contacts do not have a specific region designed solely for near work, such as bifocals. Tasks such as looking at eye level or above eye level can be challenging with traditional bifocal glasses. While some activities, like working under a car and looking into mirrors, can be uncomfortable with non-multifocal glasses. However, multifocal contacts allow for more comfortable and versatile correction.
Who Can Wear Multifocal Contacts?
In general, anyone who experiences presbyopia can benefit from using multifocal contacts, as the design allows for seeing clearly both up close and far away. Multifocal contacts are a reasonable choice for individuals who require visual assistance for both distance and near vision. People who find the use of bifocals or reading glasses cumbersome can take advantage of multifocal lenses. Moreover, frequent contact and glasses users will find multifocal contacts to be an easy and versatile option.
How to Get Multifocal Contacts
A prescription from your eye doctor is necessary to obtain multifocal contacts. Your eye doctor will complete a comprehensive examination of your eye health and determine the appropriate lens fitting, and prescription, and order the lenses. After checking the fit and vision provided by the contacts, your doctor will give you multifocal lenses if the lenses are optimal for you. The doctor will make recommendations and adjustments based on your daily activities and visual needs.
Can Presbyopia Contacts Replace Reading Glasses?
The design of multifocal contact lenses is to balance the desired clear distance, intermediate, and near vision. Typically, distance vision is the biggest priority to ensure safety while driving and other long-range viewing tasks. Then, the intermediate or computer-distance is valued, and finally the near or reading distance.
The reading correction in multifocal contact lenses is often less than what is worn in bifocal glasses or reading glasses. This allows better distance vision and intermediate vision.
However, it also means that there are likely instances in which reading glasses may need to be worn over the top of the multifocal contacts.
These circumstances are usually rare and include times of prolonged near work or reading, working at a very near distance, or reading extremely small print.