Bifocal and Multifocal Contact Lenses

Who are Bifocal and Multifocal contacts for?

After the age of 40, most of us develop an eye condition referred to as presbyopia, mainly resulting in problems with near vision. The issue is caused by the ageing of the lens of the eye, which becomes less flexible and slowly loses its ability to adjust to various distances.

Traditionally, contact lens wearers with presbyopia needed to wear reading glasses over their lenses for near work or switch back to glasses entirely. This was very annoying to those who were used to the freedom and other benefits provided by contact lenses. Fortunately, bifocal and multifocal contact lenses solve the problem, making it possible for all of us to wear contacts for as long as we want to.

Featuring at least two optical zones for perfect vision in all conditions, bifocal/multifocal contact lenses offer fantastic convenience and make you look as young as you feel. Also called alternating vision or progressive contact lenses, they allow people with presbyopia to see clearly without the need to wear glasses. Bifocal contact lenses feature two different prescriptions, most often correcting near and far-sightedness in people over 40 years old. Multifocal contact lenses are equipped with more than two different powers for people with more complex eye correction needs. Thanks to these contact lenses you can get rid of your reading glasses and, as a matter of fact, of any glasses - they will correct all your vision problems at once. Plus, thanks to the use of the latest materials, they are wonderfully comfortable and safe.

What progressive contacts should I choose?

Multifocal and bifocal contacts are available in a variety of modalities. We offer both standard monthly lenses as well as ultra-modern daily disposable contacts. The latter ones require very little maintenance and provide unbeatable safety and comfort. Below are the most widely used multifocal contacts.

• Daily - This is the most convenient option. It's recommended for people who use lenses only occasionally or suffer from allergies and sensitivity. Proclear 1 day Multifocal, Dailies Total 1 Multifocal, and 1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal are some examples.
• Monthly disposable lenses for presbyopia which require care and maintenance using a lens cleaning solution. Air Optix Plus Hydraglyde Multifocal, Biofinity Multifocal and PureVision 2 for Presbyopia are examples of such products.
• Multifocal toric lenses - These lenses combine two types of vision correction, multifocal and toric. They are extremely advanced and can treat both presbyopia and astigmatism simultaneously. They are designed to meet the vision correction needs of many people, allowing them to be used in places where glasses would not be an option. CooperVision's Proclear Multifocal Toric is an example of such a product.

Normally, addition powers range from 0.5D through 3.0D because most people only require that much correction up close. Proclear Multifocal XR is an option if you require a more specific range of ADD powers. It features a large selection of ADD powers and spherical powers that can be used for near- or farsightedness.

It is important that you have a prescription from a qualified doctor before you can buy bifocal contact lenses. A prescription for progressive glasses is different from one for contact lenses. This means that even if your prescription is for glasses, it doesn't mean you can switch to multifocal lenses. An eye doctor must perform a lens fitting of your eyes to determine the best lens for you and then issue a detailed prescription with all pertinent parameters. Sometimes, such a prescription includes a specific brand that the optometrist considers to be the best for you. Consultation with your eye doctor is recommended if you are interested in trying a different brand.

If you are a new bifocal/multifocal contact lens user, you might need some time to get used to the sensation and for your eyes to adapt to this new situation. Don't worry though, it won't take long and you will enjoy clear, healthy vision and beautiful, glasses-free look that you have always wanted.