Should You Get Multi-Focal Glasses or Contacts?

CousinMuscles · #1 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 02:49 PM

I'm going to be forty soon, sooner than I care to admit

and I'm thinking about needing some kind of multi-focal vision correction. I wear glasses for myopia now, and maybe when I need the reading glasses I'll go with multi-focal contact lenses. I don't like the idea of multi-focal or progressive glasses very much, but is forty years of age the best time to be trying contacts for the first time?
I know, I know. "It's different for each person." Still, that shouldn't stop me from gathering as much information as possible before I make my decision, right? If someone who is a lot like me can make the switch to contacts late in life, I think I can reasonably expect if not identical results, then at least similar results, anyway.
So. Tell me your story.

DaBrat · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 08:25 PM

Hi! I am 46 and trying contacts for the first time due to presbyopia as well! I don;t think its ever too late to try them as some companies makes glasses for just this condition. They know that 50 is the new 30 and our grandma's little window glasses just won't do!!

I had been wearing progressive glasses for about the past 1o years and decided to try multis just to spend out my HRA before year-end.

Knotlob · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CousinMuscles

I'm going to be forty soon, sooner than I care to admit

and I'm thinking about needing some kind of multi-focal vision correction. I wear glasses for myopia now, and maybe when I need the reading glasses I'll go with multi-focal contact lenses. I don't like the idea of multi-focal or progressive glasses very much, but is forty years of age the best time to be trying contacts for the first time?
I know, I know. "It's different for each person." Still, that shouldn't stop me from gathering as much information as possible before I make my decision, right? If someone who is a lot like me can make the switch to contacts late in life, I think I can reasonably expect if not identical results, then at least similar results, anyway.
So. Tell me your story.

Hello CousinMuscles

I think wearing contacts is more about motivation than age. I have needed reading glasses for quite a while now! I am trying RGP lenses for better long distance sight and initially they are not so comfortable as soft lenses, but the motivation is there to persevere with them until I get used to them.

If you truly want to wear contacts for whatever reason, then that is a good start and age is less of a concern.

I've never worn multifocal contact lenses, but have worn standard myopia correction lenses for about 35 years. I wear the long distance correction in favour of multifocal lenses because I want very good long distance sight and wear a pair of reading glasses for close up work. The problem is that it seems I need the reading glasses more and more, especially since I just got new contact lenses, which are stronger (and hence make my close range vision more difficult).

The reason I haven't so far explored multifocal contacts, is that I think there may be a trade off against long distance eye sight, though possibly in time this will improve with developments in contact lenses. Whether this slight loss of long distance vision is important to you, varies from one individual to another. Some people say their long distance vision is still OK, so it's a case of trying them.

I say go for it and let us know how you get on with them. Maybe I will be following you down that route is a year or two!

EDIT: I notice your original post is quite some time ago so I wonder did you try the contacts and how are you getting on with them?

knotlob

ForceBwitu · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBrat

Hi! I am 46 and trying contacts for the first time due to presbyopia as well! I don't think its ever too late to try them as some companies makes glasses for just this condition. They know that 50 is the new 30 and our grandma's little window glasses just won't do!!

I had been wearing progressive glasses for about the past 1o years and decided to try multis just to spend out my HRA before year-end.

Hi.

I must admit, I don't run into too many 46 year old Brats, but I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

Thank you for your posting. I like your "grandma's little window glasses" comment. I was trying to find a picture to post here to illustrate the look you described, but I couldn't find anything.

Well, nothing appropriate for a family oriented web site. You find some surprising things when you do a search with the keywords "grandma with tiny glasses."