Trying to Adjust?

nicshow · #1 (**permalink**) 11-30-2011, 08:43 PM

I'm on my 2nd pair of contacts after the initial pair worked great for intermediate and distant but not so great for up close. This pair solved the up-close issue but now everything from about 4ft out to infinity is "soft."

I called back after I left the appt since the doctor said he thought this 2nd pair would be the right ones and wanted to go ahead and order a year's supply. I called and told them not to send the order in since I wasn't satisfied with intermediate to distant.

They called back and said the dr wants me to try a different lens only for one eye to help with distance. I will get that tomorrow.

I'm just wondering if this experience is unusual? My biggest problem is with the up-close stuff and have just a slight correction for distance so no one has ever said that I have a difficult situation to correct. The contacts seem to fit fine so I'm really hoping I can have up-close AND distance correction but I don't know how persistent to be. Does it sometimes take 3 or trys?

I'd just like to have some perspective, please!

Thanks!

Nic

RedeyeJedi · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicshow

I'm on my 2nd pair of contacts after the initial pair worked great for intermediate and distant but not so great for up close. This pair solved the up-close issue but now everything from about 4ft out to infinity is "soft."

I called back after I left the appt since the doctor said he thought this 2nd pair would be the right ones and wanted to go ahead and order a year's supply. I called and told them not to send the order in since I wasn't satisfied with intermediate to distant.

They called back and said the dr wants me to try a different lens only for one eye to help with distance. I will get that tomorrow.

I'm just wondering if this experience is unusual? My biggest problem is with the up-close stuff and have just a slight correction for distance so no one has ever said that I have a difficult situation to correct. The contacts seem to fit fine so I'm really hoping I can have up-close AND distance correction but I don't know how persistent to be. Does it sometimes take 3 or trys?

I'd just like to have some perspective, please!

Thanks!

Nic

Hi Nic. Welcome aboard. Sorry you're having contact lens growing pains.

Sometimes fitting contact lenses can be complicated. That's why you need someone with years of education and training to do it for you. I'm not very surprised that it's taking a few trials before you can see well. Just hang in there and know that it may take a few more tries before you can find the right balance of near and distance vision. You may want to start thinking about a second opinion at this point, but bear in mind that your second doctor may need two or three tries before you find the right contact lens prescription. Let us know what happens next, okay?

Timbo59 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicshow

I'm on my 2nd pair of contacts after the initial pair worked great for intermediate and distant but not so great for up close. This pair solved the up-close issue but now everything from about 4ft out to infinity is "soft."

I called back after I left the appt since the doctor said he thought this 2nd pair would be the right ones and wanted to go ahead and order a year's supply. I called and told them not to send the order in since I wasn't satisfied with intermediate to distant.

They called back and said the dr wants me to try a different lens only for one eye to help with distance. I will get that tomorrow.

I'm just wondering if this experience is unusual? My biggest problem is with the up-close stuff and have just a slight correction for distance so no one has ever said that I have a difficult situation to correct. The contacts seem to fit fine so I'm really hoping I can have up-close AND distance correction but I don't know how persistent to be. Does it sometimes take 3 or trys?

I'd just like to have some perspective, please!

Thanks!

Nic

I'm going through the same thing at the moment, with RGP lenses. We deliberately tried weak close-up power. The are no good for close up as expected.

They work like this: An area in the middle of the lens will have a strength for distance vision, around this area is set for close vision. Now, as you look through both these areas at the same time, you will see the two images superimposed over each other. If you look far away, the distance image is sharp, but you will also see the out-of-focus close image as well. This can cause a soft-focus effect. Some can get on with it, some people hate it.
As a compromise, the optician will often try one lens with a moderate difference - (for you the one you now have), and in the other eye one with a stronger value for closer distances, (the one he will order). It's not unusual to mix and match. Some people can cope with this difference, some not. Try it and see.

The bigger the difference between the strengths of the two areas the bigger tis effect will be. I'm curious to see what my next strength lenses will be like.

Banditcat · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbo59

An area in the middle of the lens will have a strength for distance vision, around this area is set for close vision. Now, as you look through both these areas at the same time, you will see the two images superimposed over each other. If you look far away, the distance image is sharp, but you will also see the out-of-focus close image as well. This can cause a soft-focus effect. Some can get on with it, some people hate it.

I've heard of those lenses with the close up vision in the middle and the distant vision around the edges, but I can't remember what they're called.

Timbo59 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banditcat

I've heard of those lenses with the close up vision in the middle and the distant vision around the edges, but I can't remember what they're called.

I've no idea either :-)

These concentric ones can be either soft lenses or RGP, and you can have either the distance in the centre with near outside, or the other way round depending on what you need them for. eg if you are a librarian you'd need good near vision all around, when you look up or down. A skier or motorcyclist may need good distance vision when looking left/right.

The ones where there is a wedge of near-vision at the bottom tend to be reserved for RGP lenses, and the lens would then sit on the upper edge of the lower eyelid and allow you to look down through it.

luvbostonxo2's · #6 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedeyeJedi

Hi Nic. Welcome aboard. Sorry you're having contact lens growing pains.

Sometimes fitting contact lenses can be complicated. That's why you need someone with years of education and training to do it for you. I'm not very surprised that it's taking a few trials before you can see well. Just hang in there and know that it may take a few more tries before you can find the right balance of near and distance vision. You may want to start thinking about a second opinion at this point, but bear in mind that your second doctor may need two or three tries before you find the right contact lens prescription. Let us know what happens next, okay?

Pro viewpoint!!

Agreed!

I usually fit my clients bang on the first go!

Measurements have to be precise for the fitting of multifocal, bifocal and toric lenses.

KITT · #7 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

Pro viewpoint!!

Agreed!

I usually fit my clients bang on the first go!

Measurements have to be precise for the fitting of multifocal, bifocal and toric lenses.

Do you know what those lenses are called that have the close up vision in the middle and the distant vision around the edges (or was it the other way around)? Are those called "multifocal" lenses?

luvbostonxo2's · #8 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KITT

Do you know what those lenses are called that have the close up vision in the middle and the distant vision around the edges (or was it the other way around)? Are those called "multifocal" lenses?

yes the technical term is concentric multifocal and they are available in both designs.

Proclear EP has both distance powers in the center and near in the outer portion.

Proclear mulitifocal has either or depending on the correction u need.

Earthshock · #9 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

yes the technical term is concentric multifocal and they are available in both designs.

Proclear EP has both distance powers in the center and near in the outer portion.

Proclear mulitifocal has either or depending on the correction u need.

Those are multifocal lenses, as opposed to bifocal lenses which simply have distance vision on the top half and close vision on the bottom, right?

luvbostonxo2's · #10 (**permalink**) 12-06-2011, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthshock

Those are multifocal lenses, as opposed to bifocal lenses which simply have distance vision on the top half and close vision on the bottom, right?

well the term multifocal is most often used with "bifocal" soft contact lenses. the term is used loosely and although concentric lens design is most common for soft and rgp multifocal correction, bifocal rgp lenses can be ordered in the segmented style.

Curlupndye · #11 (**permalink**) 12-06-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

well the term multifocal is most often used with "bifocal" soft contact lenses. the term is used loosely and although concentric lens design is most common for soft and rgp multifocal correction, bifocal rgp lenses can be ordered in the segmented style.

Thanks for explaining that for us, luvbostonxo2's.

nicshow · #12 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011, 10:31 PM

I'm now in the 3rd combination with a lens that works well for up-close in the left eye and the one that worked well for distance in the right eye. I'm adjusting as time goes on.

The one time I notice the most problem is in driving in the car at night. Oncoming headlights are blurry and it just seems more difficult to see - I wonder if anyone else experiences this with contacts?

Oddly, the other time I've just not been able to see well was in a high school gym Friday night. I don't know if it was the lighting or the distance from my eyes to the floor but I never could get comfortable.

I've resigned to wearing my glasses when driving at night or in other situations but I'm just curious if anyone else experiences or has experienced this kind of odd, situational difficulty?

Nic

luvbostonxo2's · #13 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicshow

I'm now in the 3rd combination with a lens that works well for up-close in the left eye and the one that worked well for distance in the right eye. I'm adjusting as time goes on.

The one time I notice the most problem is in driving in the car at night. Oncoming headlights are blurry and it just seems more difficult to see - I wonder if anyone else experiences this with contacts?

Oddly, the other time I've just not been able to see well was in a high school gym Friday night. I don't know if it was the lighting or the distance from my eyes to the floor but I never could get comfortable.

I've resigned to wearing my glasses when driving at night or in other situations but I'm just curious if anyone else experiences or has experienced this kind of odd, situational difficulty?

Nic

That effect your describing is called "scattering" which occurs with night vision with multifocal soft lenses.

That is largely due to pupil size. Unfortunately only a custom ordered rgp lens in a multivision correction will solve that problem.

Wendy94 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

That effect your describing is called "scattering" which occurs with night vision with multifocal soft lenses.

That is largely due to pupil size. Unfortunately only a custom ordered rgp lens in a multivision correction will solve that problem.

So people who wear soft lenses will always see this "scattering" effect?

KITT · #15 (**permalink**) 01-19-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy94

So people who wear soft lenses will always see this "scattering" effect?

It sounds like they will if they don't get those fancy customized contact lenses.

Earthshock · #16 (**permalink**) 02-02-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicshow

I'm now in the 3rd combination with a lens that works well for up-close in the left eye and the one that worked well for distance in the right eye. I'm adjusting as time goes on.

The one time I notice the most problem is in driving in the car at night. Oncoming headlights are blurry and it just seems more difficult to see - I wonder if anyone else experiences this with contacts?

Oddly, the other time I've just not been able to see well was in a high school gym Friday night. I don't know if it was the lighting or the distance from my eyes to the floor but I never could get comfortable.

I've resigned to wearing my glasses when driving at night or in other situations but I'm just curious if anyone else experiences or has experienced this kind of odd, situational difficulty?

Nic

Did luvbostonxo2s' suggestion help?