Multifocal Contact Lenses: Why You Might Need Them

Multifocal Contact Lenses

If you have blurry vision, multifocal contact lenses might help you see better. Aside from cosmetic lenses, most contact lenses are primarily designed to help with vision problems. In fact, refractive errors are the most common eye problems that you can correct with contact lenses.

Here are the major types of refractive errors that you need to be aware of:

Nearsightedness (myopia) – People with myopia often find it hard to see things clearly when they’re far away. If you have myopia, you can use contact lenses to enhance your vision and see distant objects more clearly.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) – In contrast to myopia, people with hyperopia have a hard time seeing objects that are close to them. For this reason, they need corrective lenses that can make their close-quarter vision clearer.
Astigmatism – This vision problem occurs when the cornea of your eye has an uneven curve. The unusual shape of your eye causes your vision to distort and blur. Unlike the previous errors, astigmatism causes your vision to blur at any distance.
Presbyopia – Do you notice how your grandparents have a hard time reading the paper? As we get older, our eyes tend to lose their ability to focus on close objects clearly. This natural vision problem is called presbyopia and every one past the age of 40 is going to experience it. Previously, you could only use reading glasses to help with this vision problem. However, you can now use multifocal contact lenses for this particular vision problem.

What Are Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Multifocal lenses are basically the contact lens equivalent of reading glasses. However, unlike reading glasses, multifocal lenses are frameless and really sleek. In fact, people will hardly even notice if you’re wearing these lenses.

Today, millions of people use contact lenses for both vision correction and cosmetic purposes. Though cosmetic colored lenses that change your eye color are fun to use, multifocal lenses are more functional.

After all, these lenses can improve the quality of life for people with near-vision problems. Put simply, multifocal contact lenses have different lens powers that help you see better at any distance—it’s like having two lenses in one!

How Multifocal Contact Lenses Work

As previously mentioned, multifocal contacts have different lens power that works similarly to reading glasses.

The main idea behind this type of lens is that it allows you to see things clearly at both near and far distances. This makes it the perfect lens for people who have specific visual needs.

There are basically two types of multifocal contact lenses that you can choose from which are segmented and simultaneous.

Though they have subtle differences, both of these designs provide the same functionality through different methods.

1. Simultaneous vision Multifocal Contact Lenses

With a simultaneous design, the lens is separated into different regions for your near and far vision. When you use this lens, you will be able to easily identify which region to use for certain distances.

Put simply, certain regions of the lens provide a clear visual experience for a certain distance. There are two kinds of simultaneous designs available.

These are the two main types of simultaneous vision design lenses:

Concentric multifocal contact lenses – A concentric multifocal design has a set of parallel rings that surround the center of the lens. The middle part of the lens acts as the main viewing zone, while the outer layers are for different distances.

Basically, looking at the center of the lens allows you to see distant objects clearly. On the other hand, the outer layers are usually for your close-up vision.

Though different manufacturers may provide varying lens configurations, they generally function similarly.
Aspheric multifocal contact lenses – Similar to the concentric design, an aspheric multifocal lens has different lens powers from the center to the sides.

The only difference is that the lens power gradually changes as you look farther away from the center. This offers a smoother visual experience as you transition from looking at far objects to ones closer to you.

Put simply, aspheric lenses are designed to function very similarly to progressive eyeglass lenses.

2. Segmented Multifocal Contact Lenses

Segmented multifocal contact lenses are designed very similarly to bifocal eyeglass lenses. This means that your lens is divided into two specific regions for both your near and far vision.

Normally, the upper part of the lens is more prominent in size as it acts as the main lens. The upper lens is primarily for looking at distant objects. On the other hand, the lower part of the lens is designed for your close-quarter vision—think of it as your reading glasses.

When you use a segmented lens, you will mostly use the center part of the lens for just about most of your daily activities.

This is because the lower part of the lenses usually comes in handy when you need to read a book or write a letter. In short, you’ll only need to use the lower half when you’re focusing your vision on very close objects.

Additionally, this is very easy to use because you will clearly see a line that separates one lens power from the other.

Do You Need Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Now that you know more about multifocal lenses, the real question is do you need them?

The answer to this question depends entirely on your visual needs. Generally, people with nearsighted or farsighted will only need regular contact lenses for their vision problems.

However, people with other types of refractive errors can really benefit from using multifocal contact lenses.

Check out this list of reasons for multifocal lenses and find out if you need one:

Presbyopia – When you have presbyopia, only your nearsighted vision gets significantly affected.

However, your long-distance vision will generally stay the same. This means that a regular corrective lens with only one lens power won’t do you any good.

Luckily, a multifocal lens can help accommodate both your near and far vision needs.
Astigmatism – Multifocal lenses can also help people with astigmatism deal with having blurry vision at different distances.

With the help of the different lens powers of multifocal contacts, you will be able to enjoy sharp vision for both near and far distances.
Different Near and Far Vision – There may be a few instances when a person’s visual needs require the aid of different lens powers.

Whether it’s due to natural errors or eye injuries, multifocal lenses can help you deal with your visual challenges.

Depending on your situation, your eye doctor may recommend that you use a certain type of multifocal lens that suits you best.

Good Contact Lens Habits to Keep Your Vision Safe

Whether you’re using multifocal lenses or regular contacts, you need to know the proper ways of keeping them clean.

After all, the quality of your vision and the health of your eyes depend on the quality of your lenses. If you wear dirty worn out lenses, you can expect to experience serious eye problems in the long run.

However, keeping your lenses in top shape can maximize your entire contact lens experience.

1. Always Wash Your Hands

The first rule of handling contact lenses is to always wash your hands properly. Having dirty hands can easily contaminate your lenses and put you at risk of eye problems.

Imagine how irritated your eyes can get when you wear filthy contact lenses all day. If you’re not careful, you could end up suffering from eye infections and possible vision loss.

Additionally, never touch your lenses when you have liquids like lotion on your hands as they can also harm your contacts.

2. Clean Your Lenses Overnight

Different types of lenses require different care. However, the typical contact lenses that you can get require overnight washing.

This means that you need to practice good habits like taking off your lenses before going to bed, rinsing them with a solution, and soaking them overnight.

Doing this will ensure that no bacteria or dirt will build up and harm your lenses.

3. Use The Right Disinfecting Solution

Cleaning your contact lenses will only be effective if you use the correct disinfecting solution.

For example, washing your lenses with water could lead to water-based ocular diseases that can harm your vision. In contrast, using a proper contact lens disinfecting solution will ensure that your lenses will be safe for a whole day’s use.

You should also avoid reusing your solution or adding a new solution to an old batch.

Put simply, you should always throw away the used solution in your lens case and add a fresh solution every time.

4. Never Share Your Contact Lenses

Your contact lenses are specifically designed for your eyes only. This means that sharing lenses could harm both yours and your friend’s eyes.

Additionally, sharing lenses is very unhygienic and may lead to contracting infectious diseases. With this in mind, never share or borrow lenses from your friends or loved ones.

5. Don’t Overuse Your Lenses

There are many ways that you can overuse your lenses and all of them are bad for your eyes. Using expired contact lenses can lead to corneal scratches or eye infections that can permanently harm your vision.

Also, using your lenses for too long can lead to dry eyes, irritation, and more serious eye problems. In short, you should always give your eyes time to rest from your contact lenses whenever possible.

Final Thoughts

From multifocal contact lenses to cosmetic contacts, these ocular accessories play a huge role in our society. By owning a pair, you can enhance your quality of living through a better visual experience.

However, you should never forget the responsibilities that you have as a contact lens owner. After all, taking care of your lenses can help you keep your vision clear and eyes healthy. So go out there and discover more contact lenses that suit your personal needs!

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