Has anyone else tried multifocal contact lenses?

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NealB

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For the last couple of days, I've been trying some multifocal contact lenses, as, when it's raining, I hate wearing glasses for sailing and running.

I was hoping that the multifocal lenses, which have concentric circles (for short, long, short, long etc ), would be as successful as my varifocal glasses.

However, so far, I'm rather disappointed. The right lens gives me decent long sight, but is useless for close, whilst the left allows me to read but is not very sharp for distance. Both eyes are compromised, however (ie my varifocal glasses are better for both distance and for close vision, plus, of course, both eyes can do both 'jobs').

This doesn't seem very different to having 'monovision' lenses, which I'm going to try next.

Has anyone else tried multifocal lenses? How did you get on with them?
 
For some years now I have had the correct prescription in my right eye and half a dioptre less than correct in my left to assist close up work, reading etc. this works reasonably well, current correct prescription -6.0 in each eye. I tried the multifocal lenses but found them less effective overall, particularly for long sight.
 
Get rid of the spec's. I had the lenses removed from both eyes a week apart and replaces with tiny plastic ones that go inside the eye.

Just like you I hated spec's when sailing, getting salt water off without smears was a pain in the proverbial.

I now wera tinted sunglasses designed for fisherman that allow you to see through the water rather than just the surface.

This was done years ago and never a problem. It also means no chance of cataracts as you age because you original lens is completely removed in the procedure.

I must have saved a fortune on renewing my old spec's every couple of years.

The whole procedure takes just 45 minutes per eye.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
I agree with Vyv Cox's solution - the dominant eye "lensed" for distance and the other lensed for reading.
Works a treat!
I tried the so-called varifocal lenses without success, my optician said that less than 50% of users find them effective.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

I've just taken the multifocal lenses out after ten hours wearing (it's my 2nd day of trying them). I think I was beginning to adapt to them.

Whilst wearing them, I went for a long run along the sea wall, had a shower, watched some cricket on tv, read the Times thoroughly, checked emails a few times, strummed my guitar for an hour or so. After a while, I totally forgot I was wearing them (phew....what a hectic schedule, though!).

I'm now wearing my varifocal glasses, and realise how compromised both near and long vision was with the lenses, but I'll give them another try tomorrow.

After that, I'll be trying monovision lenses with the right (dominant) eye for distance and left for close.

I must find out more about lens replacement. Has anyone apart from oldsaltoz tried that fix?
 
I have multifocals but I do not wear them all the time, however, sailing is one thing I do use them for. I tried a couple of brands before settling on the ones that gave me clear distance vision but slightly poorer near vision. The near vision is much better than my single visions of course, but not good enough for clear reading of very small print - especially in low lighting. My suggestion is to try different brands and corrections, they do not all work the same way.

I was told that the maximum correction at present for near vision -2.5, which is what I have.
 
Very interesting discussion. My basic prescription is -6.0/-6.5 and have been using contact lenses for 40 years (am now 63).

The default always seems to be to prescribe contacts to correct distant vision, with the assumption that you then add reading glasses as necessary...in my case +1.5.

I have found that a far better compromise for 90% of the time is to specify the contacts at -4.5/-5.0 which gives me quite adequate general vision, and THEN top up by -1.5 glasses when long distant vision is important such as driving.

It does really annoy me that experimenting to find the optimum power of contact lens to suit is made so difficult.....I can, in practise, buy glasses to any power I wish without difficulty; .....but I am not allowed to choose the power, or even the MAKE of contact lenses without a specific prescription. (I agree that parameters such as BC and diameter should be as prescribed).
 
stuey_two said:
I agree with Vyv Cox's solution - the dominant eye "lensed" for distance and the other lensed for reading.
Works a treat!
Click to expand...

On the other hand, I've also given that method a try and although it 'works', I just couldn't get on with the poor stereoscopic vision. Just shows that different solutions suit different people and you need to experiment!
 
VicMallows said:
On the other hand, I've also given that method a try and although it 'works', I just couldn't get on with the poor stereoscopic vision. Just shows that different solutions suit different people and you need to experiment!
Click to expand...

+1. I need glasses for distance, but nothing for close up. I have tried wearing only one lens, having lower correction, etc. and currently am trialling some 'progressive' lenses. Not perfect, as they are correct for distance, but I find that I then need low correction reading glasses especially if the light is going.

Having said that, when sailing or doing other outdoor activities, it is nice not to have the problem of smeared, fogged up glasses with the added worry of getting them knocked off and lost overboard. the reading glasses go on when below doing chart work, so not as much of an issue.
 
davidpbo said:
But surely that is a fixed lens, how does it work with focusing at a distance and close to?
Click to expand...

Good question, I only wish I could give you the technical answer.

On the practical side, I can see very well both long distance (really well) over long distance. Very small print like the Oz phone book is not the best but manageble, some people get the reverse result, good close vision and only fair very long distance.

They must use the eye focal muscles because I can still blur my vision as before the procedure, Perhaps the lens is attached to them during the operation.

The whole thing is done through a 3 mm cut on the edge of the cornea ( the coloured bit of your eye, the lens and 3 legs are folded in half and slip through the incision after they have sucked out the old lens.

Sounds terrible and you are awake through the whole thing, just local anaesthetic yo you can still see the surgeon and all the bits heading your way but you very soon realise there is absolutely no pain at all.

Thoroughly recommend it for anyone who wants to get out of glasses and contact lenses.

By the way my old glasses were a bit like the bottom of Coke bottles so I was also very happy with no weight on my ears and nose. not to mention the odd looking sun tan.

Go for it I say. no regrets.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
U need one eye for each if over 50.
Contacts or lens implants or laser.

Works for sport / outside, IF set up accurately.
This can only be done if tweaked after = contacts.
Some of these adjustments are very slight but important to the wearer, you need contacts to do this.
Some of my clients have three lenses, as suggested b4.

Office / pc / long term reading, not in my experience of fitting them.

V foc contacts an expensive way of going about things, one eye for each works just as well.

pm me if needed.
 
nigelmercier said:
Laser doesn't work on age degenerated eyes, only for problems since childhood.
Click to expand...

I know quite a few over 50's who've had what they claim is very successful laser treatment.

Some have gone for distance vision, so they need to use reading glasses.

Others have opted for the one eye for distance, one eye for close, approach.

They all seem very happy with their own outcome.
 
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