If you have worn contact lenses for a long time, you may notice that they no longer provide clear vision at all distances. You could once switch from seeing up close to seeing at a distance with no issue, but changes to your eyes as you age can affect the ability of mono-focal contact lenses to provide consistently clear vision.
Opting for multifocal contact lenses can help you avoid using contact lenses and corrective glasses. Keep reading to learn five things you should know about multifocal contact lenses.
1. They Were Developed to Correct Presbyopia
Multifocal contact lenses were first developed to correct presbyopia or age-related farsightedness. By age 55, approximately 80% of all people will have developed some degree of presbyopia.
Presbyopia is caused by the natural lens becoming less flexible. As the lens loses its flexibility, it can no longer easily change shape to focus on objects or text on things up close.
Until the development of multifocal contact lenses, most people relied on glasses with magnifying lenses to correct presbyopia. If a person with nearsightedness developed presbyopia, it could mean multiple pairs of glasses or bifocals were necessary to see clearly at all distances.
2. There are Three Basic Types of Multifocal Contact Lenses
Depending on a person’s needs, there are three basic types of multifocal contact lenses for vision correction: bifocal, trifocal, and progressive lenses.
Just like the bifocal lenses used in prescription glasses, bifocal contact lenses can correct vision at two distances. A bifocal contact lens combines two different prescription strengths in a single lens.
Trifocal contact lenses can correct vision at three distances: near, far, and intermediate. Impaired intermediate vision can make it challenging to work at a computer or prep food for a meal.
Progressive multifocal contact lenses are very similar to bifocal or trifocal contact lenses, but their progressive technology can make it easier for your eyes to change focus. They are specially designed to mimic your eye’s natural focusing ability.
3. They Can Offer Clear Vision at Multiple Distances Without Needing Glasses
Choosing multifocal contact lenses to correct your presbyopia can free you from the need and expense of relying on one or more pairs of glasses to see clearly. They offer all the benefits of visual aids without the inconveniences.
Multifocal contact lenses are perfect for people who have very active lifestyles. They can eliminate the need for specialty eyewear, like prescription swimming or skiing goggles.
4. They May Take Some Getting Used To
When you first start wearing multifocal contact lenses, it may take some time for your eyes to adjust. At first, you may experience blurry vision at one or more distances being corrected.
Eventually, your eyes will adapt to these lenses. You can help this process by briefly wearing your multifocal contact lenses and gradually increasing wear time over several days.
5. They Can Be an Excellent Alternative to Vision Correction Procedures
There is a surgical option to correct presbyopia called refractive lens exchange (RLE). Refractive lens exchange can correct presbyopia by replacing your natural lens with an intraocular lens.
While RLE can effectively correct presbyopia, it isn’t the right solution for everyone. For instance, you may not meet the requirements for RLE, you may not want to undergo an eye procedure, or you may not be able to afford it, as insurance usually doesn’t cover RLE.
If your contact lenses no longer allow you to see clearly at all distances, you might be looking for a better solution than using multiple pairs of glasses. Multifocal contact lenses are an effective and convenient way to restore your near, intermediate, and distance vision.
Learn more by calling Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare in Buffalo, NY, to request an appointment at 1-800-309-2020 now!
