Multifocal Contact Lenses

 As we get older, our vision begins to deteriorate from natural aging of the lens inside the eye.  This condition, Presbyopia, makes it difficult to focus on near objects.  Reading glasses over contact lenses used to be the only option available to contact lens wearers who wanted to read a menu or do other everyday tasks that required good near vision.  But now with many different multifocal contact lens options, we can often have the best of both worlds — good near and distance vision — without wearing glasses.

One such lens is the Biofinity Multifocal.  This monthly replacement, highly breathable contact lens gives many different lens power options, using Coopervision’s “Balanced Progressive Technology.”

For patients with higher distance vision demands, a “D lens” is used.  In this design, the multifocal power is placed in the periphery of the lens.  For  those with higher near demands, an “N lens” is used.  In this design, the multifocal power is concentrated in the center of the lens.  A combination of these two designs can be used to give patients clear vision at both ranges.  And for those with more demanding intermediate vision needs, such as computer use, lower powers in either design style are often used.

If multifocal lenses aren’t tolerated by a patient, often monovision lenses are an option.  In this circumstance, the dominant eye lens power is set for clearest distance vision, while the non-dominant eye’s power is set for the patient’s desired reading distance.

Whatever your circumstance, know that multifocal and monovision contact lenses may be an option for you!