Purevision Multi-Focal vs SofLens Multi-Focal

eye2eye · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 04:34 PM

These two contact lenses have very similar names. How much do they really have in common?

Lynda Baldelli · #2 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 09:20 AM

Unfortunately though I wear Soflens, I cannot wear Purevision. They irritate my eyes - I think the base curve is a different size, and they don't do a base curve the same size as my Soflens. Shame.

brite · #3 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 07:26 AM

I actually emailed the company and asked what the difference was and was told to ask my 'eye care professional'. I buy my lenses online (so much less expensive!) and there is a considerable difference in the cost with the PureVision being about $20 per box more. I've looked at the company's website as well to see if they had any info to explain the difference, but they don't. All they say is that they are comparable to the Soflens Multifocal, which is what I currently use. My next step is to contact the online company and ask if they know the difference (their description is vague as well). My 'eye care professional' will charge me $85 for the consult if I have to ask her.

Lynda Baldelli · #4 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 10:29 AM

I do know the lens material is different.

I found that the focusing abilities and clarity are the same, but I can sleep in the Purevision successfully. If I even doze off for ten minutes in the Soflens, my eyes feel like they have welded together!

I just don't understand why they don't make the same base curve sizes?

Earthshock · #5 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 10:35 AM

I compared the two on lens.com and found that the Purevision is 64% balafilcon A and 36% water, while the Soflens are 62% polymacon and 38% water.

Very similar, but not identical.

I can't tell you why the base curves are different though, but it probably has to do with the material they're made of.

Can anybody give a better answer than my guess?

Resistoon · #6 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 06:06 PM

I have tried both the PureVision and Soflens multi focal contacts. The PureVision contacts seem to be a bit thicker and easier to put in my eyes because they don't fold and stick together as much. But the Soflens feel better in my eyes, I can hardly even feel them.

brite · #7 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 09:15 PM

The thing that I am looking for, and I am beginning to think is not attainable, is better vision with contact lenses. I am farsighted with presbiopia (sp?). This means that not only have I lost my reading vision, but my near distance is getting worse as well and I am slowly becoming somewhat nearsighted. This happens to those of us who are truly farsighted over time. As well, I have astigmatism in my left eye. Farsightedness is much more difficult to correct and it changes regularly. We are not great candidates for laser correction etc.

The biggest mistake I have made, was finally caving into progressive lens glasses instead of using my very light distance prescription and using my reading glasses as needed. I started to find it bothersome to be on and off all day with the 2 pairs... I am an acupuncturist and need to see up close. Although the progressive glasses are handy dandy, they have made my eyes lazy and have totally altered my ability to adjust to the various ranges of vision. Before I started wearing the progressive glasses, I was just fine with my distance contacts and readers as needed. I could adjust my vision for things like eating or doing many up close activities with no problem. Now that my eyes want those progressive glasses, I am even finding it difficult with the progressive contacts to do things up close and end up taking them off and wearing the glasses to avoid straining my eyes and brain. I have to wear the contacts when I am applying my makeup or drying my hair so I do wear them daily but only briefly. I've had the lenses tweaked many times and have come up with a compromise but am still sacrificing my up close vision and still cannot wear the contacts for any length of time.

What I was wondering is whether the PureVision would give me better sight and this is what I can't get an answer to. Unless I can get a trial pair, I'll stick with the Soflens.

Resistoon · #8 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brite

I am farsighted with presbiopia (sp?). This means that not only have I lost my reading vision, but my near distance is getting worse as well and I am slowly becoming somewhat nearsighted.

I'm confused. You are able to see far and losing your near vision (for reading) yet you are becoming nearsighted? Which is being able to see near and losing your distance vision. This would mean you are not farsighted, but nearsighted.

I found no difference between Purevision and Soflens contacts concerning clarity. I only noticed a comfort difference and ease of application to my eyes.

brite · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 07:06 AM

There are 2 types of farsightedness. One is me, where I've always been far sighted and needed glasses to read since the age of 9. The other is age related where most of us lose our ability to read and see up close. With those like myself, over time, our ability to see 'near distance', like around the room etc diminishes. As we go along, this area of diminished near distance gets further and further away. I can see distance without my glasses, but not as sharply as I do with them. The further I look without glasses (I can count branches on trees 2 houses away) is sharper than looking across the room. On top of this, my reading vision is getting worse because I am over 40. My 'near distance' is about +1.75 and my reading is about +4.75. Confusing, I know... this is why contacts are so difficult for me. Good thing I like funky glasses!

Lynda Baldelli · #10 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brite

There are 2 types of farsightedness. One is me, where I've always been far sighted and needed glasses to read since the age of 9. The other is age related where most of us lose our ability to read and see up close. With those like myself, over time, our ability to see 'near distance', like around the room etc diminishes. As we go along, this area of diminished near distance gets further and further away. I can see distance without my glasses, but not as sharply as I do with them. The further I look without glasses (I can count branches on trees 2 houses away) is sharper than looking across the room. On top of this, my reading vision is getting worse because I am over 40. My 'near distance' is about +1.75 and my reading is about +4.75. Confusing, I know... this is why contacts are so difficult for me. Good thing I like funky glasses!

Like the other Poster said - there is no difference between the lenses for clarity, they are both as good.

It is your PRESCRIPTION which needs to be correct and if it is, either of these lenses will enable you to see close AND far. I have a similar problem to you, with only +1.50 but an astigmatism in my left eye. It has taken 8 months to get the prescription right - and now I see perfectly.

I too, can see branches on a tree miles away, but cannot read a book. With my lenses, now I can do both clearly.

brite · #11 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 12:04 PM

I'm jealous! I have worked with both my optometrist and optician and neither has been very patient with me. The prescription I have now is the closest I've come but it's still not great. Guess I should ask my optometrist again if she has any other ideas. What she keeps telling me is that I may be one of the unlucky ones who can't wear multifocals! Also, from what I've seen, Soflens doesn't have a lens for astigmatism... what do you do for yours? I've often wondered if my problem has more to do with that than my other vision issues.

Resistoon · #12 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brite

I can see distance without my glasses, but not as sharply as I do with them.

Then are you losing your farsightedness.

I am in the same exact situation. My vision used to be 20/10 then at age 47 I started losing my distance vision, my reading vision was fine or so I thought. My eye doctor though my eyes were cramping up from reading and prescribed very low strength reading glasses. By age 48 I it got worse and I was prescribed glasses for distance -0.50 strength. By age 49 I needed reading glasses more often as it was now age related and my distance vision got worse, -0.75. Then this year, at age 50, my distance got better and went back to -0.50, with my reading prescription staying the same.

I have tried bifocal glasses for driving so I can see the road ahead and my dash, but I am having issues with them. I want to keep using contacts so I can wear any sunglasses and not have to carry glasses around with me. I have tried contacts just for distance and used glasses for reading. Recently I have been using muti focal contacts but there is a compromise with them. Add Low contacts alllow me keep most of my usual distance vision and see the dash in my car fine but I can't read well with them. Add High contacts let me see things great for reading but distance is so bad I can't drive with them. I have also tried the mono vision thing and I can't adjust to them.

To top it all off, now I am at the early stages of cataracts in both eyes.

eye2eye · #13 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 02:33 PM

Look at that! Almost a dozen replies to my questions and it looks like a new thread is spinning off. I feel so special.

Thank you everyone for giving me your input. Now maybe for an encore you can poke around in the sunglasses section and see how much help you can be there.

Resistoon · #14 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 08:58 PM

Another difference is that the PureVision contacts are rated for 30 days continuous use, while the SofLens are for 2 weeks. And while PureVision cost more per box, the SofLens contacts cost more in the long run.

disciple · #15 (**permalink**) 06-07-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resistoon

Another difference is that the PureVision contacts are rated for 30 days continuous use, while the SofLens are for 2 weeks. And while PureVision cost more per box, the SofLens contacts cost more in the long run.

I've been wearing regular Soflens 38 lenses for years. They're made of the same material as the Soflens Multifocals. Soflens 38 replaced Optima FW a few years back, which were "extended wear". My optometrist at the time told me that only the name had changed, and that the "new" Soflens 38's could also be worn for longer than 2 weeks (not continuously). I've found that if I take the Soflens 38's out every night and clean them in the morning before putting them back in, they last for 3 or 4 months, sometimes as long as 6 months. I haven't tried the Soflens Multifocals yet, but I assume the results would be similar.

Resistoon · #16 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 12:55 AM

Really? The Bausch & Lomb site says a two week wear period. I would think the manufacture knows their product better than your Optometrist.

disciple · #17 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resistoon

Really? The Bausch & Lomb site says a two week wear period. I would think the manufacture knows their product better than your Optometrist.

Don't forget B&L's motivation to sell more contacts. B&L seems to leave the wear schedule up to the optometrist: http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer/visioncare/product/softcontacts/soflens38.aspx
Under "Planned Replacement": "The SofLens®38 lens is available on a planned replacement schedule. The lenses can be worn on a daily basis or extended wear for up to 7 consecutive days. Ask your eye care professional for the replacement schedule that works best for you."
I've been wearing the Soflens 38's as daily wears for years, and haven't had any issues with infections, etc. The lenses never bother me. Most other contacts I've tried are slightly irritating right away, and only get worse after a few days. Even the PureVision Multifocals are like that. I plan to try the Soflens Multifocals next.

Jawa · #18 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disciple

I've found that if I take the Soflens 38's out every night and clean them in the morning before putting them back in, they last for 3 or 4 months, sometimes as long as 6 months.

Does your eye doctor know you're wearing your Soflens 38 contacts for up to six months? I hope so, because they're only supposed to last for two weeks at best if you only wear them during the day and take them out every night.

If your eye doctor has examined your eyes and gave you the okay for six months of wear, then fine. I just don't want anyone to see this thread and conclude--without consulting their doctor--that they should start wearing their own Soflens 38s for six months. When their eye doctor sees damage from over wearing, I don't want them to say "disciple did it on Lens 101. I thought it would be okay."

Lynda Baldelli · #19 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 01:21 AM

The soflens multifocals are a different material and you CANNOT use them for extended wear, they need to be taken out daily. Purevision seem to be a multifocal extended wear alternative to Soflens.

Lynda Baldelli · #20 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brite

I'm jealous! I have worked with both my optometrist and optician and neither has been very patient with me. The prescription I have now is the closest I've come but it's still not great. Guess I should ask my optometrist again if she has any other ideas. What she keeps telling me is that I may be one of the unlucky ones who can't wear multifocals! Also, from what I've seen, Soflens doesn't have a lens for astigmatism... what do you do for yours? I've often wondered if my problem has more to do with that than my other vision issues.

Keep on trying!!! Go back to another optometrist. I changed mine several times before finding the lenses I was happy with. It took ages to get it right, but it's definitely worth the hassle.

disciple · #21 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynda Baldelli

The soflens multifocals are a different material and you CANNOT use them for extended wear, they need to be taken out daily. Purevision seem to be a multifocal extended wear alternative to Soflens.

Not sure if you were referencing my post, but I NEVER use my lenses as extended wear lenses. I haven't found an extended wear lens that worked as such for me, but I have no problem with taking lenses out at night and putting them in multipurpose saline solution.

Fresa · #22 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disciple

Not sure if you were referencing my post, but I NEVER use my lenses as extended wear lenses. I haven't found an extended wear lens that worked as such for me, but I have no problem with taking lenses out at night and putting them in multipurpose saline solution.

I looked at this thread and I was pretty confused. I think I got it now.

Perhaps Lynda got confused too about how long you wear your contacts. In an earlier post you said: "I've found that if I take the Soflens 38's out every night and clean them in the morning before putting them back in, they last for 3 or 4 months, sometimes as long as 6 months."

Maybe Lynda saw the "sometimes as long as 6 months" part and missed the "I take the Soflens 38's out every night and clean them in the morning before putting them back in" part.

That's what I did the first two or three times I read it.

What do you think, Lynda?

Lynda Baldelli · #23 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 07:24 PM

Fresa - yes kind of!

But it was this bit which also confused me, and I felt needed clarifying??....

Quote:

Originally Posted by disciple

They're made of the same material as the Soflens Multifocals. Soflens 38 replaced Optima FW a few years back, which were "extended wear".

If Disciple could wear her Optima as extended wear - and says the Soflens is the same material, I don't understand. Soflens are NOT extended wear lenses??

disciple · #24 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynda Baldelli

Fresa - yes kind of!

But it was this bit which also confused me, and I felt needed clarifying??....

If Disciple could wear her Optima as extended wear - and says the Soflens is the same material, I don't understand. Soflens are NOT extended wear lenses??

Just so I don't get more posts from this confusion of my clarification, I'll repost my clarification post from above:
"Not sure if you were referencing my post, but I NEVER use my lenses as extended wear lenses. I haven't found an extended wear lens that worked as such for me, but I have no problem with taking lenses out at night and putting them in multipurpose saline solution."

Further info re. Soflens 38, from Bausch and Lomb's site:

http://www.bausch.com/en_US/ecp/visioncare/product/softcontacts/soflens38_ecp.aspx

"...designed for use in the correction of myopia and hyperopia on a daily wear or extended wear basis. " Looks like B&L says they can be worn as extended wear (though I don't wear them as such).

BTW, I'm not a "her".

Lynda Baldelli · #25 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 01:05 AM

Sorry for giving you a sex change!

BUT I still don't understand that if soflens 38 are the same material, and indeed they appear to be so - why is it that soflens multifocal cannot be worn extended? They kill my eyes even if I just fall asleep for 20 mins....

Resistoon · #26 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disciple

Don't forget B&L's motivation to sell more contacts.

If this were 100% true then don't you think B&L would have done the same thing for their 30 day wear PureVision contacts?

eye2eye · #27 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 03:36 PM

Are we still talking about Purevision Multi-Focal vs SofLens Multi-Focal, which was the question that started this thread?

Fresa · #28 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye2eye

Are we still talking about Purevision Multi-Focal vs SofLens Multi-Focal, which was the question that started this thread?

Oh yeah. I almost forgot.

Thanks for getting us back on track, eye2eye.

Zuler01 · #29 (**permalink**) 12-16-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fresa

Oh yeah. I almost forgot.

Thanks for getting us back on track, eye2eye.

Right...any new contributions? I am interested too.

eye2eye · #30 (**permalink**) 12-16-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disciple

Under "Planned Replacement": "The SofLens®38 lens is available on a planned replacement schedule. The lenses can be worn on a daily basis or extended wear for up to 7 consecutive days. Ask your eye care professional for the replacement schedule that works best for you."

Your eye doctor can examine your eyes and see how healthy your eyes are and if you will be able to wear SofLens Multi-Focal contact lenses for one day or more than that.

Earthshock · #31 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brite

I actually emailed the company and asked what the difference was and was told to ask my 'eye care professional'.

That's a pretty lame answer, like "go ask your mother." When you say you emailed "the company" do you mean Bausch & Lomb? The manufacturers should know what the contacts are made of, don't you think?