Extended Wear Bifocal Contact Lenses

Cheezhed · #1 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 12:48 AM

Merry Christmas!

Hello. Things have settled down here a bit now, and so I can tiptoe away and go online to ask a question.
I don't know much about the history of contact lenses or anything like that, but I'm pretty sure that bifocal contacts are a fairly new thing. Like many new things, I supposed it takes a while for them to get all the fancy features. Like the new VCR's that can do pretty much everything but cancel all your appointments so you can watch American Idol. Which leads me to my question. Is there a such thing as extended wear bifocal contact lenses? I figure that contact lenses have been around a while, and bifocal contacts came along later. Maybe contact lens technology is advanced enough nowadays to allow for bifocal contacts that you can wear for a week or two. Has anyone had any experience with these technological marvels, if they even exist?

OptixWizard · #2 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 05:48 PM

You may want to check out the PureVision Multi-Focal contacts. Their web site says that they can be worn for thirty days.

Cheezhed · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptixWizard

You may want to check out the PureVision Multi-Focal contacts. Their web site says that they can be worn for thirty days.

I looked those up on Lens.com, but I don't think they're bifocal. I looked up "multifocal contact lenses" and found a great page. Then I searched for "bifocal contact lenses" on that page and was directed to almost the exact same picture. On the left is what was pictured under "bifocal contact lens." A "multifocal contact lens" is on the right. Can you spot the difference?

I'm confused now. Is "multifocal" just another name for "bifocal"?

petern · #4 (**permalink**) 11-22-2009, 12:36 PM

I am wearing a multifocal contact lens by air optix that can be worn one week at a time.

SandiStix · #5 (**permalink**) 11-23-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petern

I am wearing a multifocal contact lens by air optix that can be worn one week at a time.

Great, petern. Thanks for your help. Do you think you can help Cheezhed (and me) by explaining the difference between bifocal and multifocal contact lenses, even though those two pictures are almost identical?

petern · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2009, 08:28 PM

SandiStix

I will try. This is really over simplified but essentially Bifocal lenses have two areas on each lens one for near and one for far. Mutifocal lenses have powers that progress from far to near. There are many designs available today. Not every design works for everyone so your Dr may try several until he/she finds one that meets your vision needs.

Tiger · #7 (**permalink**) 11-24-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petern

SandiStix

I will try. This is really over simplified but essentially Bifocal lenses have two areas on each lens one for near and one for far. Mutifocal lenses have powers that progress from far to near. There are many designs available today. Not every design works for everyone so your Dr may try several until he/she finds one that meets your vision needs.

It seems bifocals give you near vision and far off vision, but nothing in between, while the multi-focals cover those intermediate regions. Does that sound right?

Cheezhed · #8 (**permalink**) 11-25-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger

It seems bifocals give you near vision and far off vision, but nothing in between, while the multi-focals cover those intermediate regions. Does that sound right?

I've not used either kind of lens, but your explanation seems to agree with the bifocal and multifocal descriptive names.