What Are Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Do you find yourself constantly switching between your glasses and contacts?
Or maybe you’re only wearing contacts but are still relying on reading glasses for close work?

Well, there’s a solution! Multifocal contact lenses give you the freedom of being able to see near, far, and everything in between—without having to wear multiple pairs of glasses or juggle multiple contact lenses. But how do they work? Let’s take a closer look.

There are two types of multifocal contact lenses: simultaneous vision and alternating vision. Simultaneous vision lenses have two distinct focusing powers in one lens, while alternating vision lenses have annular (ring-shaped) regions with different powers. As you can probably guess, this allows your eyes to focus on both near and far objects at the same time. So, whether you’re driving or reading a book, you can see clearly without having to switch lenses or fiddle with your glasses. And because the different powers are blended together in both types of multifocal contact lenses, they look just like regular contacts!

Depending on your needs, there are several different types of multifocal contact lenses available on the market. Monovision is a good option for people with mild presbyopia who don’t mind sacrificing some sharpness in their distance vision in exchange for better near vision. If you have more advanced presbyopia and want to maintain excellent distance vision, simultaneous vision or alternating vision contact lenses might be a better option for you. And if you wear bifocals or progressive glasses now, there are also special multifocal contact lens options available that can replicate the prescription of your current glasses.

Multifocal contact lenses are a great option for people who want the convenience of being able to see both near and far without having to juggle multiple pairs of glasses or contacts. And with so many different types available, there’s sure to be a multifocal contact lens that’s perfect for you!