Multifocal contact lenses: what they are, advantages and disadvantages of multifocal lenses

With age, many people experience serious changes in their vision. After 40 years, the lens begins to thicken, its elasticity is lost, its shape changes, and the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for focusing, weakens. A person with good vision ceases to distinguish objects at close range, especially at dusk. This condition is called presbyopia. Multifocal contact lenses have been developed to correct this pathology. What are they and how to choose them correctly?

Description and characteristics

Multifocal lenses are lenses that can correct various visual impairments. Such contact optical devices allow you to see at far, near and intermediate distances, which makes them especially interesting for patients suffering from varying degrees of age-related farsightedness.

The special design of multifocal lenses allows for excellent vision at any time of the day at home, on the street or on the go, even for people suffering from a high degree of farsightedness

Their main difference from bifocal contact lenses is the smooth transition from near vision to distant vision. Whereas bifocals have clear distinctions: either for close distance or for long distance. This is due to the special arrangement of zones around the circumference of the lens.

Like classic contact lenses, multifocal ones are also divided into two main categories:

Alkon contact lenses and reviews about them

Rigid gas permeable.
Soft gas permeable.

And also multifocal contact lenses are classified into different types of design. For example, there are multifocal lenses with concentric circles for different distances. Ring-shaped zones for different distances alternate in such lenses one by one. And there is a mixed design that allows you to correct vision in the center of the eye by influencing specific points of vision aberration.

Aspheric multifocal CLs are considered the most progressive. The central zone usually corrects near vision, and the refractive power varies from the center to the periphery. Such a large selection of options allows you to optimally correct vision in cases where it is different in two eyes.

Like regular lenses, multifocal lenses also vary in terms of service life. You can choose:

One-day multifocal CL.
With short-term planned replacement - from 14 to 30 days.
Long-term operation - from three to six months.
For continuous wear (no need to take it off at night) or only for daytime wear (at night the CL is removed and stored in a special solution).

Consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist and customer reviews will help you decide on the type and type of multifocal contact lenses,

Multifocal contact lenses make the life of people after forty several times more comfortable and allow them to get rid of several different optical devices

Benefits of multifocal contact lenses

According to reviews from many who have started using multifocal lenses, they literally change their lives, as they allow them to play golf, draw, and watch sporting events where switching between viewing different objects is required. This is one of those cases when it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times!

Features of choosing multifocal contact lenses

Selecting the best multifocal lenses will be faster and easier if you know their pros and cons. The advantages include:

Guaranteed sharp vision at any distance.
A softer transition when correcting near or far vision.
The ability not to use several different methods of vision correction.

Multifocal lenses of any type can rotate freely, they do not need to be in a stable position all the time, which does not affect the quality of vision at all. That is, after the adaptation period is completed, they are practically not noticeable before the eyes. But there are also certain disadvantages:

If the patient has previously used another type of contact lenses or glasses, he will need time to adapt. Some people never get used to multifocal contact lenses.
During the period of adaptation, side effects may occur such as blurred visual images at long or near distances, bright flashes at night.
Multifocal contact lenses are not suitable for patients who have too great a difference between distance and near vision.
Relatively high cost, the most expensive are progressive multifocal contact lenses with a complex design.

Helpful advice: if multifocal contact lenses are still not suitable, as an alternative you can use glasses for work and reading, and ordinary lenses when going outside or driving a car. For some, bifocal lenses are ideal. And for others, it makes sense to agree to surgery to replace the lens. In order not to make a mistake with the choice of vision correction method and make the right decision, you should contact a good ophthalmologist.

Disadvantages of using multifocal lenses

Along with the advantages, multifocal lenses also have a number of disadvantages. The first of them is discomfort when wearing. In most cases, it appears immediately, but goes away with addiction. In general, this is typical for all lenses. Some users note visual illusions that are associated with the fact that objects seem to be moving: they seem either farther or closer than they actually are. Therefore, at first, until you are accustomed to wearing lenses, you can get injured if you do not calculate the distance between objects.

Another inconvenience is the process of putting them on. Those who have trouble seeing close up understand the difficulty when you can’t see objects up close, especially small ones. Some users also cite the cost and, in general, the very need to purchase them as inconveniences. But still, amounts of about 1000-1500 thousand rubles for the enormous advantages and opportunities that were described above are a negligible payment.

Review of the most popular models

Today, in an online store or in an optician, you can choose multifocal lenses from various manufacturers in any price range. Below is a brief overview of the most popular and best-selling devices for contact vision correction today.

It is most convenient to order CL in online stores in economy packaging of 3,6 or 8 pieces at a competitive price

SoftLens Multi-Focal

These are soft hydrogel contact lenses from the famous manufacturer of products for optical vision correction Baush&Lomb. It is recommended to remove them at night and disinfect them using a special solution; the scheduled replacement period is 30 days. CLs have a balanced weight and rounded edges, which ensures quick donning and absolutely comfortable use. Thanks to the light blue tint, you won’t have to search for a long time in the container for the lenses.

PureVision2 Multi-Focal

Another option for soft multifocal contact lenses from the same manufacturer. CLs are made of hypoallergenic, “breathable” silicone hydrogel, which makes them absolutely invisible to the eyes. Thanks to a special optical design, the eyes themselves “find” the optimal zone and achieve optimal focusing. These lenses should also be removed at night, and routine replacement is recommended after thirty days. According to customer reviews, these contact lenses provide better visual acuity than bifocals.

AIR OPTIX AQUA MULTIFOCAL

These are multifocal contact lenses made of silicone hydrogel from the well-known company Alcon, their feature is the ability to be worn continuously for seven days, or for thirty days if worn during the day. Air Optics are available in three degrees of addition for different stages of farsightedness. Buyers emphasize particularly comfortable wearing with quick adaptation after classic contact lenses, excellent visual acuity even at night, quick and easy donning due to a well-thought-out design.

Biofinity Multifocal

Silicone hydrogel multifocal contact lenses to eliminate manifestations of presbyopia at different stages, manufactured by Cooper Vision. Thanks to the unique formula of the material, CLs perfectly retain moisture and at the same time perfectly allow air to pass through, which ensures the most comfortable wearing for seven days or thirty days.

Dailies Aqua Multifocal

One-day multifocal contact lenses from Alcon. The lenses provide three optical ranges with smooth transitions between them, which ensures comfortable wearing and clear vision at any distance. CLs have a special rounded profile, making the lens easy to put on and take off and completely invisible to the eye. This is an excellent choice for those who do not like or do not have time to disinfect and clean contact lenses every day, or are just getting used to the contact method of vision correction.

Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia

These are daily soft multifocal contact lenses for the correction of presbyopia from the American company Bousch&Lomb. In terms of moisture content, these CLs are not inferior to the natural moisture level of water in the cornea of the eye, perfectly transmit oxygen and provide a clear picture at three distances - near, far and medium.

PureVision Multi-Focal

Affordable and high-quality silicone hydrogel multifocal contact lenses from Baush&Lomb with scheduled replacement after thirty days. Provide visual acuity at near, far and intermediate distances. The special aspherical design allows you to see clearly even in twilight and darkness.

Baush&Lomb optical products are deservedly considered one of the best in the world today; they are preferred by more than half of customers

Note: multifocal contact lenses are a relatively new product on the optical products market, which is why their cost is an order of magnitude higher than conventional lenses. Experienced buyers recommend ordering the necessary goods from online stores several months in advance, taking advantage of the discount.

Why does presbyopia occur?

Good vision at different distances is due to accommodation - the ability of the lens to tense or relax when looking at different distances. Accommodation is the normal physiological state of the eye, when all muscles are relaxed when looking into the distance. When viewing nearby objects, the ciliary muscle tenses, and the lens increases its curvature, becoming more convex. Its optical power increases, and the near image becomes clear. With age, the lens becomes less elastic, its core hardens, and it gradually loses its ability to accommodate well. An age-related form of farsightedness—presbyopia—begins to develop, even if the person had good vision before. To correct this pathology, special lenses are produced - multifocal.

Reviews

Reviews from real customers will help you make your final choice.

Marina, 32, Volgograd: “So, my story began five years ago, when I first tried regular CL. I spent a long time preparing for the purchase and trying it on, I consulted with two doctors, then with the seller at the optician. In the end, I bought the wrong thing anyway. Then, over the course of several years, there was a series of trials, searches and errors, but I could not settle on any one manufacturer. Either the clarity is not the same, or there is an allergy, or they tear and wear out quickly... Until a year and a half ago, I heard about multifocal lenses. I had nothing to lose, so I decided to buy and test this type as well. So, I got a box of PureVision Multi-Focal multifocals for a month. What can I say? I see perfectly both in poor light and in the dark, clarity is maintained even at the end of its service life. I tried wearing it once for a month and a half - and nothing. By the way, I didn’t have the difficult adaptation that everyone scares me about. For now I continue to buy only these.”

Sergey, 38, Moscow: “I’m a programmer, I work at the computer sometimes for eight hours straight, and sometimes for 20! That’s why I have special requirements for lenses. For now I am buying one-day multifocal Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia. My eyes do not become red or inflamed, even if I forget to drop Artificial tears on time. For those who don’t have time to tinker with all these containers, solutions and tweezers, I recommend this particular brand. Plus, they can be purchased in very economical six- or eight-packs. I do just that, and immediately for three months I have excellent lenses at a super price.”

Alexander, 43, Rostov-on-Don: “As a system administrator, I work on a computer every day, it’s a big load for my eyes. A couple of years ago I noticed how my vision began to deteriorate, especially in the evening, I went to the ophthalmologist and immediately ordered the best thing he had - as he told me. I can say that it took a long time and was difficult to get used to multifocal ones. My eyes were watering, turning red, there was a fog in front of my eyes all the time... I wanted to give up altogether, but then everything got better! Now there are no problems, I can see perfectly even while driving, even at the computer, day or night. I can advise beginners: don’t rush to conclusions, take proper care of your eyes and lenses, and everything will be okay.”

Clariti 1 day Multifocal

The presence of the required level of gas permeability, optimal surface moisture, low modulus of elasticity, comfortable aspherical surface - all these characteristics indicate that Clariti 1 day Multifocal should be ordered by people suffering from presbyopia. During the day, they also reliably protect the visual organs from harmful ultraviolet rays.