Multifocal Contact Lenses

When people get older, usually after 40, they develop a condition called presbyopia. This condition, which affects everyone even those with good eyesight, increases the blur zone in distance vision due to physical changes in the eye. Individuals with good eyesight can fix this problem through a pair of weaker glasses, such as reading glasses. These help reduce nearpoint stress that occurs with presbyopia.

However, many other individuals would not be able to see with just weaker glasses, because their vision was already bad due to other developmental visual problems. In the past they would have to actually use corrective lenses alongside weaker glasses. Now, with multifocal contact lenses all of their visual needs are taken care of with just one pair of lenses and no glasses. This article will provide basic information regarding multifocal contact lenses. It will also discuss what a person can do if multifocal contact lenses do not work for them.

Multifocal contacts come in the same type of varieties as contacts that are not geared to correcting presbyopia. This includes soft, disposable contacts or gas permeable contacts. Disposable multifocal contacts can last for as little as a day to 30 days. They can be worn either throughout the day and taken out the night or worn all day and night. Two companies offering multifocal all day and night contacts are Bausch and Lomb, (through their Purevision series) and Ciba, (through their Focus Night and Day series). Other features multifocal contact lenses have that are common to normal contacts include UV protection and continuous moisturization. Multifocal contacts can also have a color tint, if a person wants to change their eye color while correcting their vision.

Almost all major contact lens companies make multifocal contacts. Usually, however, they are designated as a separate brand. The only difficulty one might have is if they want to find novelty contacts with multifocal capabilities. Individuals with minor presbyopia may be able to get novelty contacts that they can still see out of, otherwise the best suggestion is that if novelty contacts must be worn, it should be done on a temporary basis during a situation where a person would not have to rely as much on their vision.

What does a person do if multifocal contacts do not work for them? They will have to use a technique known as Monovision. Monovision utilizes contact lenses that allow the dominant eye to be used for distance vision, while the weaker eye is used for near vision. It may take a few weeks for a person’s eyes to get used to Monovision.

In conclusion, when presbyopia occurs, multifocal contact lenses can be used to help solve the problem. Multifocal contact lenses come with the same freedom and features of most contact lenses, though they are not as common among novelty contacts. However, if multifocal contact lenses do not improve a person’s vision, and they do not desire to use reading glasses, they can make use of Monovision. Indeed, with multifocal contact lenses and Monovision, a person does not have to let their vision deteriorate as they age.

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