Presbyopia Treatment in Washington, DC
After age 40, it is typical to lose your ability to focus on objects up close. You may find reading the newspaper or a menu has become a challenge. Tasks such as painting fine details or sewing may cause you to squint or hold the object at arm’s length. Called presbyopia, this vision condition is the reason why many adults wear bifocals or reading glasses.
However, reading glasses and bifocals are often not preferred by people who wear contact lenses. Fortunately, there are alternative options for presbyopia treatment, such as multifocal contacts. If you suffer from presbyopia and are interested in wearing multifocal contacts, contact our Washington, DC, eye doctors to schedule a visit!
Intro to Multifocal Contacts
These specialized contact lenses are constructed with varying lens powers all in one contact lens. Therefore, you can see distance and near vision clearly without putting on additional eyewear. The lenses offer a gradual transition between the built-in prescriptions for reading and for distance, similar to the way progressive eyeglasses work. Multifocal contacts come in both hard gas permeable lens types and soft contacts. Our eye doctors in Washington, DC, will meet with you to determine the best type of multifocal lenses for your lifestyle and visual needs.
Multifocal contacts offer a convenient, comfortable and clear solution for many of our patients with presbyopia. Are you interested in learning more about this modern method of presbyopia treatment? Below is an outline of the pros & cons of this type of presbyopia treatment.
Pros of Multifocal Contacts
- Easy adaptation period
- Sharp, natural vision for varying distances from near to far
- Excellent depth perception
- Convenient, with little dependence on reading glasses or extra eyewear
- No need to wear unattractive bifocals
- Beneficial for people with irregular, cone-shaped corneas
Cons of Multifocal Contacts
- More expensive than other presbyopia treatment
- Optical inconsistencies, such as nighttime glare or seeing shadows in low light conditions
- Visual contrast may be diminished
- Objects may appear higher or lower than they are in reality
- Reading glasses are also necessary sometimes
Keep in mind that while many people love multifocal contacts, they are not the only option for presbyopia treatment. Contact us for an appointment in Washington, DC, for a thorough eye exam and to discuss your individual needs. Our optometrists will customize a vision correction plan for you that suits your personal requirements and preferences.
FAQs
For example, there is some loss of clarity and contrast with multifocal lenses, which can present a problem with night vision. Some patients also experience a glare or halo. In addition, you won't achieve 20/20 vision with multifocal lenses and may require additional vision correction solutions.
What are the problems with multifocal glasses? ›
Among the most common symptoms patients experience when wearing multifocal eyeglasses for the first time are headaches, nausea, dizziness and depth perception problems. You might feel a swim and sway effect, be uncomfortable using the stairs, and have a hard time focusing between intermediate and near distances.
What are the complaints about multifocal lenses? ›
- Difficulty seeing at close distances. Sometimes, this is an issue for people with multifocal IOLs. However, reading glasses usually, correct this problem. ...
- Night vision, halos, and glares. Some patients develop halos and glares surrounding lights after dark, as well as reduced nighttime vision.
There are three different types of multifocal lenses:
- Standard progressive.
- Premium progressive.
- Premium personalized progressive.
If someone has an ocular comorbidity in either eye (eg, severe dry eye disease, irregular astigmatism, epiretinal membranes, macular degeneration), he or she is not eligible for a multifocal IOL. In my practice, this means that 50% of patients are ineligible.
Who Cannot wear multifocal contact lenses? ›
Patients with astigmatism who have “gotten by” with spherical contact lenses in pre-presbyopic years may not be able to tolerate the combined astigmatic blur and multifocal aberrations. For most spherical multifocal designs, up to 1.00D of astigmatism can be tolerated.
What are the common complaints for first time multifocal wearers? ›
Common issues with wearing multifocal glasses
One frequently encountered issue is a sensation of eye strain and slight dizziness, particularly when your peripheral vision seems distorted.
Can you drive at night with multifocal lenses? ›
Wearing multifocal contact lenses resulted in significantly slower driving speeds at night, compared with wearing progressive addition glasses. Even at slower speeds, contact lens wearers were less able to recognize road hazards.
Which is better, progressive or multifocal? ›
With multifocal contacts, you can comfortably read without tilting your head, and have a larger reading area compared to progressives. It's much easier to read text that's above head level with multifocal contact lenses. The daily maintenance of contacts may be easier than glasses.
What is the alternative to multifocal lenses? ›
Monovision is another contact lens alternative for presbyopia particularly if you are having difficulty adapting to multifocal lenses. Monovision splits your distance and near vision between your eyes, using your dominant eye for distance vision and your non-dominant eye for near vision.
Usually this means the optics aren't working in your favor, and typically it's too high an add power. In some lenses, we can split the add and go down in the dominant eye, which clears up the vision. In other lenses, we may have started in too much add and can go down while still achieving good near vision.
Can I drive with multifocal lenses? ›
Driving with multifocal lenses can be both safe and comfortable with appropriate adaptation and preparation. Familiarising oneself with the lens dynamics, ensuring optimal glasses fit, and seeking professional advice can significantly improve the driving experience.
What is the disadvantage of multifocal? ›
Disadvantages of Multifocal Lenses
While multifocal lenses improve near, far, and intermediate vision, many people still have difficulty seeing up close. Although they can see the computer screen, their vision is blurry when trying to read a book. However, this can be corrected with reading glasses.
Which is better bifocal or multifocal lenses? ›
Multifocals and bifocals look very different. A bifocal has a noticeable line on the lens whereas the multifocal has a smooth unobstructed surface. Bifocals will only provide you with clear vision at two distances. Multifocals can cater for most of the distances that you need to see.
Are multifocal lenses worth the money? ›
Multifocal lenses are considered a safe and effective way for many patients to enjoy better vision at multiple distances without the need for glasses or contact lenses. Multifocal lenses may not be best for everyone.
How bad are halos with multifocal lenses? ›
Most patients with multifocal intraocular lenses (IOL) are aware of a slight halo around lights at night. Rarely, these halos can be very annoying or even debilitating. There are a few eye conditions, such as posterior capsular opacity (PCO)—treatable with a posterior capsulotomy—that may worsen this symptom.
Why can't I see close up with my multifocal contacts? ›
Usually this means the optics aren't working in your favor, and typically it's too high an add power. In some lenses, we can split the add and go down in the dominant eye, which clears up the vision. In other lenses, we may have started in too much add and can go down while still achieving good near vision.
Which is better, monofocal or multifocal? ›
While monofocal lenses provide focus at one distance only, multifocal lenses allow for vision at a range of distances, meaning they can correct both near, intermediate, and far distances. These are a more popular option for those who want to also eliminate their dependency on glasses.
After age 40, it is typical to lose your ability to focus on objects up close. You may find reading the newspaper or a menu has become a challenge. Tasks such as painting fine details or sewing may cause you to squint or hold the object at arm’s length. Called presbyopia, this vision condition is the reason why many adults wear bifocals or reading glasses.