Presbyopia — the natural, age-related decline of close-up vision — tends to strike in our early to mid-40s, setting the stage for a new era of eyesight. When this happens, if you already suffer from myopia, i.e., nearsightedness, you’ll need to balance your vision needs to ensure you’re able to see close-up objects, things in the distance, and everything in between. You have a few dual-vision options, which you can discuss with your eye doctor, but if you’re looking for a convenient, all-in-one option, multifocal contacts might be just what you’re looking for.
How Do Multifocal Contacts Work?
Multifocal contacts blend multiple prescription powers into a single lens, allowing your eyes to access the correct focus depending on where you’re looking. There are three popular design options for multifocal contacts:
- Concentric Lenses: This design consists of concentric circles, with each circle alternating between near and distance vision. You can think of it like a target in which the bullseye is either a distance vision zone or a near vision zone, and then all the rings outside of that central area alternate between the two.
- Aspheric Lenses: An aspheric design includes multiple prescription zones for near, intermediate, and distance vision, which are blended across the lens. Typically, the center has the distance prescription strength, and the outer edges are for near vision.
- Segmented Bifocal Lenses: Segmented lenses (sometimes called translating or alternating lenses) are similar to bifocal glasses. They have distinct sections for distance vision and near vision, and you shift your gaze between the zones as needed. Typically, the lower portion is for near vision, and the higher portion is for distance vision.
Inserting Multifocal Contact Lenses
Most soft multifocal contacts can be inserted like any other contact lens, but some types, like segmented lenses, have a clear top and bottom that must be correctly aligned on the eye. Fortunately, segmented lenses are typically designed to orient themselves on the eye within a few minutes. The bottom may be slightly flat or weighted, which helps the contact move into place.
Getting Used to Multifocals
As with any new eye prescription, your eyes will need some time to adjust to wearing multifocal contacts. During this period, it’s important to wear the contacts consistently to give your eyes and your brain practice. After an initial adjustment period, you’ll learn to quickly select the right focus zone depending on what you’re looking at. And before long, you’ll be able to look through the appropriate zone without a moment’s hesitation!
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If you dream of being able to read a book, drive your car, and check your phone without switching lenses or grabbing a pair of reading glasses, multifocal contacts might be the perfect option for you. Discuss multifocal contacts with your eye doctor to learn if you’re a good candidate. Or, ask about other options. You might find that bifocal glasses, progressive glasses, or even monovision contact lenses (one eye corrected for distance, one eye corrected for near vision) are a better fit for your lifestyle.
If you live near southwest Missouri, contact Heffington’s. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to asktheexperts@heffingtons.com, or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!