Are there contact lenses available for people with presbyopia who have otherwise-normal vision?
I’d like to ditch my glasses for contact lenses – that pretty well says it all. I need something that will allow me to see at varying distances – i.e., a book in my lap, a computer screen, and ordinary distance viewing for just walking around and driving. Do such contact lenses exist?
Any and all information greatly appreciated!
Tagged with: computer screen • contact lenses • distances • ditch • glasses
Filed under: Presbyopia
Mono vision contacts may be a good solution for you, here’s some info:
An alternative to bifocal lenses, monovision contacts correct one eye for distance vision and the other eye for near vision. Today, more than 30 years since its invention, monovision still has an extremely high success rate, yet only a small percentage of presbyopes use this method. monovision offers the advantages of simpler fitting and less expensive lenses, but some patients don’t like the loss of binocular vision that it causes. (Binocular vision is the ability to use both eyes to see objects in three dimensions.)
Monovision usually requires a longer period of adaptation. Because depth perception is altered with monovision, additional correction may be needed for driving and operating heavy equipment. Under these circumstances, driving glasses to correct the reading eye for distance and improve binocular vision are recommended. Similarly, some wearers may require an additional near vision correction in the distance eye to allow prolonged or concentrated reading.
A variant of monovision, modified monovision, puts a bifocal contact lens in one eye and a single-vision contact lens in the other eye. This can give binocular vision for driving, while still permitting near vision for reading.
Yes there are. And, there are tons of them! Which one is best for your eyes and your vision must be determined by you and your doctor. Each lens has it’s own strength – really good near vision, really good far vision, really good intermediate (like your computer), really good health, cheap, comfortable. There are lots of things that vary. When you schedule your appointment, don’t be afraid to tell your doctor what your needs are – do you spend the whole day at the computer or are you golfing all day? That stuff is important to what lens they pick for you.
Good luck – bifocal contact lenses are fun!
Btw, do NOT do monovision! You’ll lose your depth perception and definitely will not be as satisfied as you would be with bifocals/multifocals!
A couple brands your doctor may try (and will send you home wtih trial pairs to make sure you like them) are:
Proclear Multifocals (the best ones to start with, in my opinion)
Soflens or Purevision Multifocals
Acuvue Bifocals (outdated technology and not worth trying!)