Presbyopia correction : bifocals, multifocals?

jess46 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 11:30 AM

I’m 46 and I’ve just begun to have difficulty reading maps and fine print up close, I feel I need to turn on a light to read clearly. I guess its what you call Presbyopia.
I’ve never worn glasses or contact lenses and but I feel that contact lenses might be the best solution to correct my presbopia (I play lots of sport and do a fair amount of close up work, also who wants to look ancient with a pair of those granny glasses hanging off on their noses …).

I asked my local optometrist about it but it all seems pretty confusing; he wasn't very clear. he spoke about bi-focal and multi focal lenses, I don’t really understand the difference can someone help me?
I’ve read a lot of threads on forums saying that with MFCL , ok your near vision is better but your distance vision is blurry, is this true? What will change?
Is it hard to adapt to contact lenses at 46 when you’ve never worn them before?

Thanks for your help

Vita_man · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jess46

I’m 46 and I’ve just begun to have difficulty reading maps and fine print up close, I feel I need to turn on a light to read clearly. I guess its what you call Presbyopia.
I’ve never worn glasses or contact lenses and but I feel that contact lenses might be the best solution to correct my presbyopia (I play lots of sport and do a fair amount of close up work, also who wants to look ancient with a pair of those granny glasses hanging off on their noses …).

I asked my local optometrist about it but it all seems pretty confusing; he wasn't very clear. he spoke about bi-focal and multi focal lenses, I don’t really understand the difference can someone help me?
I’ve read a lot of threads on forums saying that with MFCL , ok your near vision is better but your distance vision is blurry, is this true? What will change?
Is it hard to adapt to contact lenses at 46 when you’ve never worn them before?

Thanks for your help

Hi there, jess46. Thanks for joining us.

I don't blame you for wanting to dodge those "granny glasses." Contact lenses would definitely look better.

Your doctor talked about bifocal and multifocal contact lenses. Let me see if I can clear up some confusion.

Bifocal contacts work the same way as bifocal glasses. The bottom half is for reading and the top half is either clear or helps you to see distances. These lenses have little notches at the bottom to keep them from flipping in your eyes. Either that or they have very thin weights called "ballasts" on them to keep them in the right orientation.

Multifocal lenses are a bit more complex. They have the distance part around the edges and the near vision zone in the center. Somehow you get used to that arrangement and you're able to see everything.

Adaptation is different for everyone. I can't realistically say that you'll be wearing those lenses comfortably in two weeks or whatever. You'll just have to try them. 46 is a little late to get started in contact lenses, but with some practice, patience and good medical care, you'll be fine. Let us know what you decide to do, okay?

jess46 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 11:58 AM

thanks a lot Vita_man for your rapid answer.

And what about the distance vision? I mean, I've read threads and people say they have a worse distance vision than before wearing lenses. Am I supposed to forget how I was seeing before?

I'm sorry I'm a bit supsicious about contact lenses but I remember when I was younger my friends wearing contacts . It was such a hassle, so many complications and so uncomfortable. I know that the technology has evolved and it’s better now but I keep on wondering how its gonna be to wear lenses and if I have to make too many compromises!

Have you already had bad experiences with contacts?

Vita_man · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jess46

thanks a lot Vita_man for your rapid answer.

And what about the distance vision? I mean, I've read threads and people say they have a worse distance vision than before wearing lenses. Am I supposed to forget how I was seeing before?

I'm sorry I'm a bit supsicious about contact lenses but I remember when I was younger my friends wearing contacts . It was such a hassle, so many complications and so uncomfortable. I know that the technology has evolved and it’s better now but I keep on wondering how its gonna be to wear lenses and if I have to make too many compromises!

Have you already had bad experiences with contacts?

This is a pretty quick exchange. I don't usually have a dialogue going here.

I don't know how well those contacts will work for you. I can't tell you how they work for me because I don't wear them. Even if I did, my experience may not be the same as yours.
I don't know either how long it's been since you were younger and your friends were wearing contact lenses that they weren't very happy with, but you're right; contact lens technology has marched on. Really the only way you'll know how contact lenses will work for you would be to ask your eye doctor for a trial pair. You may have to make some compromises, but hopefully it won't be too many.

luvbostonxo2's · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vita_man

Hi there, jess46. Thanks for joining us.

I don't blame you for wanting to dodge those "granny glasses." Contact lenses would definitely look better.

Your doctor talked about bifocal and multifocal contact lenses. Let me see if I can clear up some confusion.

Bifocal contacts work the same way as bifocal glasses. The bottom half is for reading and the top half is either clear or helps you to see distances. These lenses have little notches at the bottom to keep them from flipping in your eyes. Either that or they have very thin weights called "ballasts" on them to keep them in the right orientation.

Multifocal lenses are a bit more complex. They have the distance part around the edges and the near vision zone in the center. Somehow you get used to that arrangement and you're able to see everything.

Adaptation is different for everyone. I can't realistically say that you'll be wearing those lenses comfortably in two weeks or whatever. You'll just have to try them. 46 is a little late to get started in contact lenses, but with some practice, patience and good medical care, you'll be fine. Let us know what you decide to do, okay?

also pupil size will determine succes with ANY bifocal or multifocal soft or rgp lens.
However rgp multifocal lenses have the higher success rate due to the precision involved ordering them. The multifocal essential lens design 1, 2, or 3 with boston rgp material is the most success Ive had with my patients. If your near correction is low, disposable soft lenses like ciba vision aqua multifocal is a good choice.

Fresa · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

also pupil size will determine succes with ANY bifocal or multifocal soft or rgp lens.
However rgp multifocal lenses have the higher success rate due to the precision involved ordering them. The multifocal essential lens design 1, 2, or 3 with boston rgp material is the most success Ive had with my patients. If your near correction is low, disposable soft lenses like ciba vision aqua multifocal is a good choice.

Thanks for chiming in, luvbostonxo2's. I didn't realize the pupil size was so important. That's good to know.

naturallygood · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

also pupil size will determine succes with ANY bifocal or multifocal soft or rgp lens.
However rgp multifocal lenses have the higher success rate due to the precision involved ordering them. The multifocal essential lens design 1, 2, or 3 with boston rgp material is the most success Ive had with my patients. If your near correction is low, disposable soft lenses like ciba vision aqua multifocal is a good choice.

I didn't know that clear contact lenses even HAD a pupil size. How does that work?

luvbostonxo2's · #8 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturallygood

I didn't know that clear contact lenses even HAD a pupil size. How does that work?

SPecifically i was referring to multifocal disposable softlenses....there is (although u may or may not be able to see it) a power zone on soft contact lenses.

Pupil size determines the success of any multifocal soft or rgp lenses. Rgp lenses can be ordered with wider optical zones for those requiring multifocal prescription with larger pupils.

Havoc · #9 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbostonxo2's

SPecifically i was referring to multifocal disposable softlenses....there is (although u may or may not be able to see it) a power zone on soft contact lenses.

Pupil size determines the success of any multifocal soft or rgp lenses. Rgp lenses can be ordered with wider optical zones for those requiring multifocal prescription with larger pupils.

Would you mind explaining what an "optical zone" is for those of us who may not be familiar?

Shamrocker · #10 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 11:33 PM

Don't some people also deal with presbyopia by wearing just one contact for reading, or two different contact lens strengths, one for distance and the other for reading? I think they call it monovision. I guess the brain somehow adapts and trains itself to automatically use one eye to see things far away and the other for things up close. Weird, but I guess it works for some people. The human body is amazing!

Petra · #11 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrocker

Don't some people also deal with presbyopia by wearing just one contact for reading, or two different contact lens strengths, one for distance and the other for reading? I think they call it monovision. I guess the brain somehow adapts and trains itself to automatically use one eye to see things far away and the other for things up close. Weird, but I guess it works for some people. The human body is amazing!

Yes, that's right Shamrocker. Some people wear a different lens in each eye and it's called monovision.

Vita_man · #12 (**permalink**) 01-17-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havoc

Would you mind explaining what an "optical zone" is for those of us who may not be familiar?

Interesting. I did a search for "contact lens optical zone" and even though I got literally almost three million results, none of them in the first three or four pages could give me a definition.

Can you help us out here, luvbostonxo2's?

Fresa · #13 (**permalink**) 01-19-2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vita_man

Interesting. I did a search for "contact lens optical zone" and even though I got literally almost three million results, none of them in the first three or four pages could give me a definition.

Can you help us out here, luvbostonxo2's?

Yes, tell us what an "optical zone" is.