Multifocal Contact Lenses
As you age, the lenses of your eyes become less flexible. That’s called presbyopia, and it makes it more difficult to focus on things up close, like reading a menu or texting. Multifocal lenses can help.
Multifocal lenses and presbyopia
Multifocal contact lenses are for people with presbyopia - a condition that makes it more difficult to focus. But who gets presbyopia in the first place? Almost everyone will start to see the effects of aging eyes around age 40. It isn’t caused by diet or lifestyle, just the number of candles on your birthday cake.
Is presbyopia the same as farsightedness?
Nope. Presbyopia is what happens when the eye's lens loses flexibility. Farsightedness is what happens when the eyeball is too short. The symptoms are similar, but unlike presbyopia, farsightedness is due to the size and shape of your eye.
Do you have presbyopia? Ask yourself these three simple questions.
- Are you wearing reading glasses while taking this quiz? (or do you usually wear readers)
- Does larger than normal font size make reading more comfortable?
- Do you hold your phone very close while reading it? Or feel like you have a “trombone” arm?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have presbyopia.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
AIR OPTIX™ PLUS HYDRAGLYDE™ MULTIFOCAL
See clearly at all distances, near through far,2 in a comfortable monthly replacement contact lens.6-8
Frequently asked questions
As you age, the lenses of your eyes become less flexible. That’s called presbyopia, and it makes it more difficult to focus on things up close, like reading a menu or texting.
Alcon multifocal contacts are aspheric. That means the near power is in the center of the lens, and gradually transitions to the intermediate and distance powers as it moves outward.
This depends upon the modality you are wearing. Daily disposable contact lenses are developed to last from application in the morning until removal in the mid to late evening. Monthly contact lenses should be worn for a maximum of 1 month. In all cases, we advise wearers to carefully follow the recommendations as advised by your eye care professional.
Multifocal lenses let you see clearly near, far and in-between, so typically there’s no need for glasses or readers while you’re wearing them.
No, our multifocal lenses are not weighted, so they are about the same thickness as regular contact lenses.
We do not offer a Toric multifocal lens yet, but at Alcon we are always thinking of our lens wearers’ needs.
While it might take some time to get used to your new multifocal contact lenses, most people adjust successfully.
All of our multifocal lenses offer prescriptions from +6.00D to -10.00D in .25D steps.
References:
1. Merchea M, Evans D, Kannarr S, et al. Patient and ECP Satisfaction in the United States with a Novel Water Gradient Daily Disposable Multifocal Contact Lens. Presented at the American Optometric Association Annual Meeting, June 20-24, 2018. Denver, CO.
2. Lemp J, Kern J. Alcon multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia correction. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Optometrists Congress; June 28-30, 2017; Ottawa, ON.
3. Based on a survey of 544 presbyopic contact lens wearers; Alcon data on file, 2017.
4. Perez-Gomez I, Giles T. European survey of contact lens wearers and eye care professionals on satisfaction with a new water gradient daily disposable contact lens. Clin Optom. 2014;6:17-23.
5. Pruitt J. et. al. Triple-action moisturisers for increased comfort in daily disposable lenses. Optician 2007:27-28.
6. Eiden SB, Davis RL, Bergenske PD. Prospective study of lotrafilcon B lenses comparing 2 versus 4 weeks of wear for objective and subjective measures of health, comfort, and vision. Eye & Contact Lens. 2013;39(4):290-294.
7. Based on a 30-day clinical study of 75 habitual lotrafilcon B lens wearers; Alcon data on file, 2017.
8. Lemp J, Kern J. A comparison of real time and recall comfort assessments. Optom Vis Sci. 2016;93:Eabstract 165256.
Consult your eye care professional for wear, care, precautions, warnings, contraindications and adverse effects.
If you feel unwell, ask your doctor