Bifocal Contact Lenses

Focusing On Information About Bifocal Contact Lenses

Often an older adult puts any reading material an arm’s length away from the face before studying it. That adult has developed the condition known as presbyopia. That adult could benefit from added knowledge about the bifocal contact lens.

Some fifty plus years ago, all the adults that wanted to correct for the symptoms of presbyopia had to decide between two possible solutions, both of which called for the wearing of glasses. They could have their eye doctor write a prescription for a pair of reading glasses, or they could get a prescription for a pair of bifocals (framed lenses). At that time, a diagnosis of presbyopia all but ruled out the use of contact lenses.

Today, however, any adult with presbyopia can choose from among four different bifocal contact lenses. They can purchase soft contacts, RGD contacts, disposable contacts or the bifocal contact lens that recently came on the market. That new type of lens is a soft multifocal lens, one made out of silicone hydrogel. The FDA has approved use of that new lens, a lens that can be worn continuously for 30 days.

One aspect of bifocals has not changed much during the past fifty years. A diagnosis of presbyopia precedes the making of a choice. Today, anyone that seeks out information on the bifocal contact lens will soon learn that the buyer of such contacts must choose between two groups of contacts. The purchaser of contact lenses needs to select either translating lenses or simultaneous lenses.

The wearer of alternating contact lenses forces both eyes to alternate between an upper and lower lens, each of which has a different power. Most alternating lenses are also GP lenses. Their diameter is smaller than that of a soft contact lens. Alternating lenses sit on the portion of the eye above the lower eyelid.

The wearer of simultaneous contact lenses looks through lenses with two different powers at the same time. Someone can stare at the same time through lenses with two different powers! How is that possible? Contact lens makers have achieved that “feat” in two different ways. The wearer of simultaneous contacts must rely on lenses with either aspheric designs or concentric ring design.

When a pair of contact lenses has aspheric designs, then the two different powers of its lenses have been blended together. When eyes look out at the world through contacts with such designs, then they develop the ability to select whatever power is needed for any particular function. In contrast to the aspheric designs, the concentric ring design places the prescription power in the center of the pupil. The lens with a power that allows it to correct for presbyopia forms a concentric circle around that center.

If after reading all of the above information about the bifocal contact lens, you decide that you would like to buy a pair of bifocal contact lenses, then you should become familiar with the two factors that must be considered prior to the purchase of such lenses. Those factors concern characteristics of the eye patient’s visage and clarity of vision.

The size of a patient’s pupil can influence an eye doctor to either favor or rule out the writing of a prescription for bifocal contact lenses. The other factor of significance is called the “add.” That term refers to the prescription for the power that corrects for whatever eye problem existed prior to the appearance of symptoms associated with presbyopia.

After an eye doctor has studied carefully those two specific characteristics, then he or she possesses the information needed for determining whether or not a patient would benefit from the use of contacts with bifocal lenses.

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Tagged as: alternating contact lenses, bifocal contact lens, Bifocal Contact Lenses, Bifocal Contacts, multifocal contacts, presbyopia, presbyopia symptoms, simultaneous contact lenses, symptoms of presbyopia