
If you have more than two refractive errors, bifocals probably do not offer enough visual correction.
Famously, bifocal lenses in glasses have a top section for your dominant refractive error, like myopia, and a bottom section for presbyopia treatment. There are different sections in multifocal lenses for different prescription powers. For example, you can look at the GPS on your phone while you are stopped and then read road signs while you drive. Wearing multifocal lenses allows you to alternate between multiple activities. Bifocal lenses are the most familiar to most people, but there are other forms of multifocal lenses, including trifocals and progressive lenses. How Do Multifocal Contact Lenses Work?Īny type of contact lens that has two or more “powers,” or prescriptions, is a multifocal contact lens. They are not for everyone, but they can be very helpful for some people who have more than one refractive error. Multifocal contact lenses allow you to see near, medium, and far distances with better visual acuity and less juggling of other devices, like wearing contacts and also wearing reading glasses. However, you may not want to wear glasses again, and instead, you want to stick with contact lenses. Your optometrist may recommend bifocals or multifocal lens glasses for times when you need to consistently correct all refractive errors.


Often, this means you end up wearing a set of contacts to correct your existing refractive error and then wearing reading glasses when you need to for up-close work. It is common for people in middle age or older adulthood to have myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. There are several methods for managing refractive errors, and soft contact lenses are among the most common devices.Īs you age, you are likely to develop presbyopia with other refractive errors. For example, myopia and astigmatism together are very common. Many people have more than one refractive error. If you have a refractive error, you may have myopia ( nearsightedness), astigmatism, hyperopia ( farsightedness), or presbyopia ( age-related farsightedness). Multifocal Contact Lenses Correct Multiple Refractive ErrorsĬontact lenses are plastic devices that rest on top of your cornea and correct a refractive error. Ultimately, the best way to decide whether to get multifocal contact lenses is to work with your eye doctor.

While there are many great reasons to try multifocal contact lenses, there are some downsides to consider too. Bifocals are a type of multifocal lens, but there are other types that may work better for you. There are a few types of multifocal contact lenses based on where the powers are located on the lens itself, which determines how your pupil adjusts to see at different distances. Multifocal contact lenses can help if you develop presbyopia along with more than one other refractive error - most often, myopia and astigmatism together. Refractive errors are common vision problems. Implantable Miniature Telescope Surgery.
