Question about the Various Types of Multi-Focal Contacts

thecure · #1 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 11:20 AM

OK. There are three types of multi-focal contact lenses, right? Concentric, aspheric and translating? Can someone tell me about these three different types of contacts? How do they work? How are they different from one another? Do these three types represent a progression from one type of lens to a better one, good, better and best, or are they each for a different type of eye defect that requires vision correction?

OptixWizard · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 02:09 PM

Okay, here we go.

Concentric - These contacts are kind of like a target. It has alternating rings for near and far vision.

Translating - This design is a lot like bifocal eyeglasses. The top half is for distance viewing and the bottom is for close work. There's a flat part on the bottom of the contact lens that keeps it lined up and allows you to look through the bottom half. This lens is only available as a gas perm, as far as I know.

Aspheric - Aspheric contacts have the near and distance elements blended together. Your brain soon learns which part of the lens to use for near and distance viewing.

The types of contacts is not a matter of "good, better, best." Each person wears the best type for them. It's a matter of comfort and Preference.

Thanks for such a good question!

thecure · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptixWizard

Okay, here we go.

Concentric - These contacts are kind of like a target. It has alternating rings for near and far vision.

Translating - This design is a lot like bifocal eyeglasses. The top half is for distance viewing and the bottom is for close work. There's a flat part on the bottom of the contact lens that keeps it lined up and allows you to look through the bottom half. This lens is only available as a gas perm, as far as I know.

Aspheric - Aspheric contacts have the near and distance elements blended together. Your brain soon learns which part of the lens to use for near and distance viewing.

The types of contacts is not a matter of "good, better, best." Each person wears the best type for them. It's a matter of comfort and preference.

Thanks for such a good question!

Thank you for such a good answer, Optix Wizard. That was a very well-presented response.

traveller · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptixWizard

The types of contacts is not a matter of "good, better, best." Each person wears the best type for them. It's a matter of comfort and preference.

Hi2all,

I've always preferred glasses to contacts, but now that I am becoming presbyopic, I want to turn to contacts. My diaopters are relatively low (-1.5, both eyes) and afaik, I just need roughly +1 for presbyopic correction.

So far I've only tried two multifocals, J&J Acuvue "Bifocal" and B&L's Puresvision "Multi-Focal".

The Acuvue are extremely thin - which is almost always an advantage, but I'm always fighting to focus on near-subjects with them

Based only on images shown here at Lens 101, I am assuming they are Concentric.

On the other hand, I have little trouble with the B&L, which are Aspheric. I would stop my search and stick to these but in low-light conditions, they are still unacceptible for near-subjects (reading, computers, etc.) :-/

So I was thinking of trying a few other Aspheric types but most manufactures do not indicate the design (type) used. Is there a list of currently available bi/multifocal lens anywhere on this forum I might be able to reference? I tried to research each subforum, but there are no "sticky-posts" or such with basic info about each lens. A shame, as this would be a great benefit to the forum and forum members... .

Thanks,

Traveller 8^)

Curlupndye · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

Hi2all,

I've always preferred glasses to contacts, but now that I am becoming presbyopic, I want to turn to contacts. My diopters are relatively low (-1.5, both eyes) and afaik, I just need roughly +1 for presbyopic correction.

So far I've only tried two multifocals, J&J Acuvue "Bifocal" and B&L's Puresvision "Multi-Focal".

The Acuvue are extremely thin - which is almost always an advantage, but I'm always fighting to focus on near-subjects with them

Based only on images shown here at Lens 101, I am assuming they are Concentric.

On the other hand, I have little trouble with the B&L, which are Aspheric. I would stop my search and stick to these but in low-light conditions, they are still unacceptible for near-subjects (reading, computers, etc.) :-/

So I was thinking of trying a few other Aspheric types but most manufactures do not indicate the design (type) used. Is there a list of currently available bi/multifocal lens anywhere on this forum I might be able to reference? I tried to research each subforum, but there are no "sticky-posts" or such with basic info about each lens. A shame, as this would be a great benefit to the forum and forum members... .

Thanks,

Traveller 8^)

Hi there Traveller. Thanks for stopping by.

I did a quick search, but I could not fond a website that said "here is a list of aspheric bifocal contact lenses." The closest thing I could find was right here on Lens 101. The contacts are divided by type, and they do have a section for bifocal and multifocal contacts, but there's no indication of which of them--if any--are aspheric. Maybe that's something that the Lens 101 gurus can work on.

In the meantime, you can go to Lens.com and do a search for the key word "aspheric" and you'll see 32 matches. That at least narrows it down. Then you can go through those 32 matches and find the bifocal and multifocal contacts.

I hope that helps.

traveller · #6 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlupndye

...go to Lens.com and do a search for the key word "aspheric" and you'll see 32 matches. ... I hope that helps.

Thanks for the tip

I'm having trouble accessing the site but I will try later.

In the meantime, I just got fitted for Coopervision Proclear (not sure if they are multifocal or "EP") but I will get two individual lenses where one will have a central area for close subjects and the other for distance. The presbyobic-oriented lens is for my "dominent" eye.

Are we now talking about a completely different desgin here, or are they simply reversed concentric lenses...?

p.s. While waiting for those to ship in, I decided to try out Ciba-Vision's AirOptix Multifocals (Aqua). They are aspheric, but they must be different from the B&Ls as I am "struggling" with them... . I figure if they were using exactly the same concept (middle for near, outer-rim for far) they would be easy to adapt to... :/

babyblues · #7 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

Thanks for the tip

I'm having trouble accessing the site but I will try later.

In the meantime, I just got fitted for Coopervision Proclear (not sure if they are multifocal or "EP") but I will get two individual lenses where one will have a central area for close subjects and the other for distance. The presbyobic-oriented lens is for my "dominant" eye.

Are we now talking about a completely different design here, or are they simply reversed concentric lenses...?

I wonder why you couldn't access Lens.com? Just click on the big red rectangle up there at the top of this page that says "Lens.com" and then enter "aspheric" in the box that says "search" at the very top of the resulting page. You'll see those 32 brands of contact lenses that Curlupndye mentioned.

Now, when you talk about one lens for seeing close up, and the other for seeing in the distance, that's called "monovision" and you're right. It's not the same thing as multifocal.

traveller · #8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyblues

I wonder why you couldn't access Lens.com?

I cannot access the site (at this time); Maybe my EU-based DNS servers are having trouble resolving it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyblues

Now, when you talk about one lens for seeing close up, and the other for seeing in the distance, that's called "monovision" and you're right. It's not the same thing as multifocal.

No, it's not monovision. We even discussed monovision (as in I didn't like the idea) and I was told this is not a monovison solution (and that in fact, the monovison concept is rather outdated).

I'll do some more research at Coopervision's website and get back to you...

Lucyfur · #9 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

I cannot access the site (at this time); Maybe my EU-based DNS servers are having trouble resolving it...

No, it's not monovision. We even discussed monovision (as in I didn't like the idea) and I was told this is not a monovison solution (and that in fact, the monovison concept is rather outdated).

I'll do some more research at Coopervision's website and get back to you...

Hi traveller. Welcome to Lens 101. I hope you're able to access Lens.com soon. You're missing out.

What were you told about monovision?

I found the definition of monovision on a lot of websites, but this is the one I liked best:
"Monovision is the method of using one eye for distance vision and the other eye for near vision. Contact lenses, refractive surgery, and intraocular lenses are all methods used for monovision. When a patient chooses monovision, the dominant eye, or the one that would be used to focus on a camera, becomes the distance eye and the other eye is focused for close vision."

traveller · #10 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucyfur

What were you told about monovision?
"...the dominant eye, or the one that would be used to focus on a camera, becomes the distance eye and the other eye is focused for close vision."

@BabyBlues & Lucyfur: perhaps you are both right and perhaps I misunderstood my Optician. I "assumed" that monovision meant that the dominant eye receives only myopic support and the other eye only support for presbyopia. Indeed, the definition you selected above is too generalized, but I will assume it implies the central area of each lens.

Long story short, I will be using Coopervision's Multifocals: Coopervison's "buzz-phrase" for them is "Balanced Progressive Technology".

When I suggested above that this might be reversed concentric lenses I was pretty close. In reality they are a combination of spherical center & aspheric periphery. For the "dominant" eye, the center is for myopic, the non-dominant, presbyopia. The aspheric area "compliments" the lens with the exact opposite. Thus the lenses are reversed (a)spherics.

There's a brilliant Flash on Coopervision's site depicting the concept, but I cannot post hyperlinks... but here's a masked version (just add the one "dot"):
coopervision com/us/Fitting_Tutorial_Web/

My optician feels there is now way to improve "low-light" reading vision with standard aspheric lenses but says these will do the job... well, I'll let you all know a couple of weeks (I get them next week & I want to test them for a week before sharing my findings).

p.s. It may feel like I've hijacked this thread with a specific brand of lenses but hopefully it will be clear to all that I'm after the technology behind said lenses

dragongirl81 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

@BabyBlues & Lucyfur: perhaps you are both right and perhaps I misunderstood my Optician. I "assumed" that monovision meant that the dominant eye receives only myopic support and the other eye only support for presbyopia. Indeed, the definition you selected above is too generalized, but I will assume it implies the central area of each lens.

Long story short, I will be using Coopervision's Multifocals: Coopervison's "buzz-phrase" for them is "Balanced Progressive Technology".

When I suggested above that this might be reversed concentric lenses I was pretty close. In reality they are a combination of spherical center & aspheric periphery. For the "dominant" eye, the center is for myopic, the non-dominant, presbyopia. The aspheric area "compliments" the lens with the exact opposite. Thus the lenses are reversed (a)spherics.

There's a brilliant Flash on Coopervision's site depicting the concept, but I cannot post hyperlinks... but here's a masked version (just add the one "dot"):
coopervision com/us/Fitting_Tutorial_Web/

My optician feels there is now way to improve "low-light" reading vision with standard aspheric lenses but says these will do the job... well, I'll let you all know a couple of weeks (I get them next week & I want to test them for a week before sharing my findings).

p.s. It may feel like I've hijacked this thread with a specific brand of lenses but hopefully it will be clear to all that I'm after the technology behind said lenses

Hi Traveller,

I think we have our terms mixed up here. You're talking about multifocal lenses, where both lenses help you see near and far, depending on which part of the lens you're focusing on:

Monovision, on the other hand, uses one kind of lens in one eye to see things close up, and another kind of lens in the other eye to see things far away.

Are we on the same page now?

traveller · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragongirl81

Hi Traveller,

I think we have our terms mixed up here. You're talking about multifocal lenses ... Monovision, on the other hand, uses one kind of lens in one eye to see things close up, and another kind of lens in the other eye to see things far away. Are we on the same page now?

Yes & no. Standard multifocals are symmetrical for both eyes (powers not withstanding). So one could say that Balanced Progressive Technology = a blend of monovision + multifocals

But thanks for chiming in; at least now we are all on the "same page" - you, me, babyblues, Lucyfur & the rest of the gang...

traveller · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 06:37 PM

Well since this thread's about multifocal technologies, here's the next variant I've come across. Unfortunately, Accuvue Oasys are not yet available in my neck of the woods...

Stereo Precision Technology

"Stereo Precision Technology is a unique multifocal design that is only available Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia contact lenses. It combines the advantages of spheric design lenses and ring designs while cutting down on the cons. It works with your eyes natural function providing a balanced vision near, far and between with less interference in varying lighting conditions."

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a more [technically] detailed description... :|

Jawa · #14 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

Well since this thread's about multifocal technologies, here's the next variant I've come across. Unfortunately, Accuvue Oasys are not yet available in my neck of the woods...

Stereo Precision Technology

"Stereo Precision Technology is a unique multifocal design that is only available Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia contact lenses. It combines the advantages of spheric design lenses and ring designs while cutting down on the cons. It works with your eyes natural function providing a balanced vision near, far and between with less interference in varying lighting conditions."

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a more [technically] detailed description... :|

How about this from acuvue-now.com? "Stereo Precision Technology offers wearers clear and comfortable vision correction at all distances with less dependence on illumination than older generation multifocal contact lenses."

Also: "Stereo Precision Technology provides wearers with a smooth transition in power over the front surface of the lens to provide balanced near and distance vision with less dependence on illumination and minimal glares, haloes or ghosting."

dragongirl81 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

How about this from acuvue-now.com? "Stereo Precision Technology offers wearers clear and comfortable vision correction at all distances with less dependence on illumination than older generation multifocal contact lenses."

Also: "Stereo Precision Technology provides wearers with a smooth transition in power over the front surface of the lens to provide balanced near and distance vision with less dependence on illumination and minimal glares, haloes or ghosting."

It looks like all the fuss is about being able to see better in low light conditions with these lenses. Is this really a problem?

traveller · #16 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

How about this from acuvue-now.com?
"Stereo Precision Technology provides wearers with a smooth transition in power over the front surface of the lens to provide balanced near and distance vision..."

Yes, I saw that too but you could easily describe all aspheric-type lenses like that... I was hoping or a detailed diagram like the one I got off of Coopervision (see above). I'm just very curious on the technical advances in contact lens designs, particularly with multifocals

@dragongirl81: I don't quite understand your point but yes, improvement in low-light conditions is exactly what I'm after...

K-9 · #17 (**permalink**) 01-07-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragongirl81

It looks like all the fuss is about being able to see better in low light conditions with these lenses. Is this really a problem?

Is there anyone else who has an issue with seeing in low light? I've been on this forum a long time and this is the first I've heard of it.

Jawa · #18 (**permalink**) 02-23-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-9

Is there anyone else who has an issue with seeing in low light? I've been on this forum a long time and this is the first I've heard of it.

I've read a few things about people having trouble seeing in low light with their contact lenses. I did a Google search but all I found was discussions on whether or not it's harmful to read in dim light, but there wasn't much talk about using contact lenses in dim light, so I'm guessing it's not a major issue.

Lucyfur · #19 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

I've read a few things about people having trouble seeing in low light with their contact lenses. I did a Google search but all I found was discussions on whether or not it's harmful to read in dim light, but there wasn't much talk about using contact lenses in dim light, so I'm guessing it's not a major issue.

Thanks for doing the research, Jawa. It's good to know that contacts aren't usually affected by low light, but it's probably not much help for those who are having trouble seeing in dim light with their contact lenses in.

Tonythetiger · #20 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

I've read a few things about people having trouble seeing in low light with their contact lenses. I did a Google search but all I found was discussions on whether or not it's harmful to read in dim light, but there wasn't much talk about using contact lenses in dim light, so I'm guessing it's not a major issue.

Thanks for looking and then reporting on what you found, Jawa.

comicbookguy · #21 (**permalink**) 08-24-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragongirl81

Hi Traveller,

I think we have our terms mixed up here. You're talking about multifocal lenses, where both lenses help you see near and far, depending on which part of the lens you're focusing on:

Monovision, on the other hand, uses one kind of lens in one eye to see things close up, and another kind of lens in the other eye to see things far away.

Are we on the same page now?

Thanks for those pictures, Dragongirl81. They really help me to understand the difference between multifocal and monovision contact lenses.

Tonythetiger · #22 (**permalink**) 08-24-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comicbookguy

Thanks for those pictures, Dragongirl81. They really help me to understand the difference between multifocal and monovision contact lenses.

Yeah, I thought the pictures were helpful too.

Lucyfur · #23 (**permalink**) 08-30-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comicbookguy

Thanks for those pictures, Dragongirl81. They really help me to understand the difference between multifocal and monovision contact lenses.

See how much we can accomplish when we work together?

babyblues · #24 (**permalink**) 08-30-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucyfur

See how much we can accomplish when we work together?

It's a beautiful thing, Lucyfur.

dragongirl81 · #25 (**permalink**) 08-30-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

I've read a few things about people having trouble seeing in low light with their contact lenses. I did a Google search but all I found was discussions on whether or not it's harmful to read in dim light, but there wasn't much talk about using contact lenses in dim light, so I'm guessing it's not a major issue.

Did those reports say that it's harmful to read in dim light?

Jawa · #26 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucyfur

Thanks for doing the research, Jawa. It's good to know that contacts aren't usually affected by low light, but it's probably not much help for those who are having trouble seeing in dim light with their contact lenses in.

Well, I can't do everything.

Jawa · #27 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonythetiger

Thanks for looking and then reporting on what you found, Jawa.

Hey, it's what I do.

comicbookguy · #28 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragongirl81

Did those reports say that it's harmful to read in dim light?

That's what my Mom always told me.

dragongirl81 · #29 (**permalink**) 09-20-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comicbookguy

That's what my Mom always told me.

Well, that's good enough for me. Thanks, comicbookguy.

Jawa · #30 (**permalink**) 09-20-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comicbookguy

That's what my Mom always told me.

I'm glad your Mom was willing to impart her wisdom upon you, comicbookguy.

Lucyfur · #31 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawa

I'm glad your Mom was willing to impart her wisdom upon you, comicbookguy.

Yes, it's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

thecure · #32 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

Yes & no. Standard multifocals are symmetrical for both eyes (powers not withstanding). So one could say that Balanced Progressive Technology = a blend of monovision + multifocals

But thanks for chiming in; at least now we are all on the "same page" - you, me, babyblues, Lucyfur & the rest of the gang...

Thanks for that illustration, traveller. I'm on that page too, right?

Droopy · #33 (**permalink**) 11-22-2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptixWizard

Okay, here we go.

Concentric - These contacts are kind of like a target. It has alternating rings for near and far vision.

Translating - This design is a lot like bifocal eyeglasses. The top half is for distance viewing and the bottom is for close work. There's a flat part on the bottom of the contact lens that keeps it lined up and allows you to look through the bottom half. This lens is only available as a gas perm, as far as I know.

Aspheric - Aspheric contacts have the near and distance elements blended together. Your brain soon learns which part of the lens to use for near and distance viewing.

The types of contacts is not a matter of "good, better, best." Each person wears the best type for them. It's a matter of comfort and preference.

Thanks for such a good question!

Nice going, OptixWizard. I thought you handled that question quite nicely.