Multifocal Contact Lenses

Multifocal contact lenses are made with multiple prescriptions built into a single lens. They help the wearer to focus on objects up close, at intermediate distances and further away. This convenient configuration is effective for treating presbyopia, a common age-related eye condition.

The combination of near and far correction in one lens means users don't need to take reading glasses on and off every time something at a different range is viewed.

The terms 'bifocal', 'varifocal' and 'multifocal' lenses are often used interchangeably, which can be a little confusing. While varifocal and multifocal lenses are the same, multifocal is the most commonly used term and refers to all lenses that have multiple corrective powers for a gradual transition from near to far sight.

In the sense that they provide close and distance vision, multifocal lenses are very similar to bifocal lenses, but there's a crucial difference between them. Despite multifocal being used as a catch-all term for all lenses with multiple corrective powers - which includes bifocals – there's a key difference to be aware of. Bifocal contact lenses and glasses have a clear line between near and far prescriptions, whereas multifocal contact lenses blend several powers together to cover all distances.

There are two main types of multifocal lenses that offer correction via different methods. Lenses with a concentric ring design have your standard prescription in the centre with multiple rings surrounding it. Each ring has a different corrective power depending on the distance.

Aspheric multifocal contact lenses blend the different prescriptions directly in front of the pupil, making the eye choose the right correction for the object you're looking at. While this might sound a bit tricky, your eye soon becomes accustomed to it and you won't even notice the difference.

Watch this video for advice and tips on buying and wearing multifocal contact lenses.

Multifocal lenses correct vision affected by the condition presbyopia.

Presbyopia is an age-related blurring of close-up vision which usually occurs in people aged over 40, although it can sometimes develop at a younger age. It often starts off with a slight blurring before getting progressively more severe. You may have noticed friends or family who don't wear vision correction squinting to read a menu or holding it at various distances away from their face, this is a common sign that they have presbyopia.

Presbyopia is a prevalent condition with the number of people affected growing every year. It's widely reported that 2.1 billion will have the condition by 2020. Unlike conditions such as short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism, presbyopia is not a refractive error and instead is caused by a change in your eye's elasticity.

To focus light properly, your eye's lens needs to be able to relax and contract depending on what you're looking at and the lighting conditions. For you to see a clear image, light needs to pass through the lens to the cornea where it's deflected onto the retina, which then transmits the image to your brain.

As you get older, the muscles in your eyes can become a little worn and so your lens will not always contract as easily, making it difficult to look at close-up objects. This results in the light not being focused on the retina, but behind them, leading to a distorted and blurry image.

If you have presbyopia, it is important to take steps to correct it. As the effects of presbyopia become more severe as time goes on, your eyesight will only get worse. Not wearing some form of corrective lens means that you'll end up straining your eyes more, causing you discomfort and possibly headaches.

While bifocal contacts are one way you can solve the problem, they're not particularly common any more. It's easier to get bifocal glasses, but if you're looking for the most convenient, fuss-free way to treat presbyopia, then multifocal contact lenses are the answer.

Wearing multifocal lenses means that you'll have clear vision at all distances, without the need to change into glasses or hold something at arm's length. They help to make a potentially irritating condition far more manageable and are available in a range of wearing patterns to suit your needs.

If you're still unsure whether multifocal lenses will work for you, below you'll find some of the main pros and cons of the lens type.

• A more convenient option than switching between lenses and glasses
• The eye naturally chooses the correct prescription
• A range of convenient wearing patterns

• Typically more expensive than other lenses
• Can take time to adjust to multiple prescriptions in a lens
• Multifocal lenses lead to occasional night time glare

• Easy to use
• No need to store in solution overnight
• Apply in the morning and dispose before sleep
• Have a lengthy expiry date, so ideal for irregular wearers

• Simple wearing pattern – 30 consecutive days
• Just clean and store in solution every night
• Comfortable clear sight at an affordable price

• Middle ground between dailies and monthlies
• Fresher and more hygienic than monthlies, more convenient and affordable than dailies
• Clean and store in solution for 14 consecutive days wear

If you're looking to buy multifocal contact lenses, check out our most popular selling lenses below:

If you need any advice about how to buy your contact lenses online, we're here to assist you via web chat, phone or email. Got a question about ordering from Vision Direct? Check out our handy how to guides.

• Understanding your prescription
• Base curve and diameter information
• Delivery information
• Cancellation and returns information