Bifocal contact lenses may be the answer for you.  “Why do I need bifocals” is a very common question.  As children, we have a tremendous capacity to focus at near.  As we get older our ability to focus at near slowly decreases to the point where around 40 years of age we begin to notice that it takes a significant effort to read.  We need more light than we used to.  The print quality has to be good.  We can’t read as well in the afternoon.  Sometimes we can read at near, but when we look up the distance is blurry.    From the age of 40 to approximately the mid 60’s we notice the decline of our near vision.  These are all signs of presbyopia (prez-bē-‘ō-pē-ə).

 

The good news is we have better options available than ever before.  Bifocal contact lenses really do work.  Progressive addition bifocal glasses also are better than they have ever been.  More than 90% of our patients over 40 have chosen lineless progressive lenses over the old style lined lenses.

Bifocal contact lenses offer great lifestyle options.  80 percent of our patients that try bifocal contact lenses are successful.  Bifocal contact lenses typically satisfy 60 to 80% of a patient’s near point needs.  Bifocal contact lenses improve a patient’s lifestyle options by making it possible to do things like sign checks and read menus.  Without bifocal contacts, when someone hands you something to read the first thing you do is look for your reading glasses.  If you are wearing your bifocal contact lenses you can probably read without your reading glasses.  You may need reading glasses for something very small such as taking a sliver out of a finger or reading the back of a medicine bottle, but fortunately, we don’t do those things often.

 

Bifocal Contact Lens Options

There are many options with bifocal contact lenses.  Modern bifocal contact lenses are available in gas permeable and soft lens materials.  We now have much more flexibility in our contact lens wearing schedules as well with daily disposable, 2 week, monthly and quarterly replacement options.  In the past, a patient with astigmatism would have to use reading glasses over their contacts or have to choose gas permeable bifocal contact lenses; however, we now have a new, soft bifocal toric contact lens that has worked very well for our patients.

Bifocal contact lenses have come a long way in recent years.  Don’t be afraid to give them a try.

If you would like to see if bifocal contact lenses are right for you please call us to find out more.