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.
Two Ways to Get Multifocal Contact Lenses
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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 making 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
DAILIES TOTAL1™ MULTIFOCAL
See clearly at all distances, near through far, in a multifocal contact lens that feels like nothing.1,2
DAILIES™ AQUACOMFORT PLUS™ MULTIFOCAL
See clearly at all distances, near through far3, in an affordable daily disposable contact lens that features Blink-Activated Moisture for refreshing comfort with every blink.4
AIR OPTIX™ PLUS HYDRAGLYDE™ MULTIFOCAL
See clearly at all distances, near through far, in a comfortable5 monthly replacement contact lens that’s surface is surrounded in moisture.6-8
Quick comparison
DAILIES TOTAL1™ MULTIFOCAL
DAILIES™ AQUACOMFORT PLUS™ MULTIFOCAL
AIR OPTIX™ PLUS HYDRAGLYDE™ MULTIFOCAL
Multifocal Lens Features
Multifocal Lens Features
Multifocal Lens Features
Multifocal Lens Features
See clearly near and far
See clearly near and far
See clearly near and far
See clearly near and far
Water gradient technology
Water gradient technology
Water gradient technology
Water gradient technology
For an active lifestyle
For an active lifestyle
For an active lifestyle
For an active lifestyle
Daily disposable lenses
Daily disposable lenses
Daily disposable lenses
Daily disposable lenses
Monthly reusable lenses
Monthly reusable lenses
Monthly reusable lenses
Monthly reusable lenses
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. Perez-Gomez I, Giles T. European survey of contact lens wearers and eye careprofessionals on satisfaction with a new water gradient disposable contact lens. Clin Optom. 2014;6:17-23.
2. Hartwig A., Nick J., Wong, B., Land J. Voyager Multifocal Lens Design Evaluation (US). Internal Alcon Study, 07.01.2013.
3. Merchea M, Evans D, Kannarr S, Miller J, Kaplan M, Nixon L. Assessing a modified fitting approach for improved multifocal contact lens fitting success. Paper presented at Optometry's meeting; June 20-24, 2018: Denver, CO
4. Pruitt J et al. Triple-action moisturisers for increased comfort in daily disposable lenses. Optician 2007:27–28.
5. Woods J. Woods C, Fonn D. Visual performance of a multifiocal contact lens versus monovision in established presbyopes. Optom Vis Sci. 2015;92(2):175-182.
6. Lemp J, Muya L, Driver-Scott A, Alvord L. A comparison of two methods for assessing wetting substantivity. Poster presented at: 2016 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS); January 21-24, 2016; Las Vegas, NV.
7. Marx S, Sickenberger W. Wettability of different silicone hydrogel lens materials and blister solutions measured using non-invasive keratographic drying up time (NIK-DUT). Optom Vis Sci. 2016;93:E-abstract 165113.
8. Tucker R, Lemp J, Guillon M. In vitro and on eye wettability of lotrafilcon B lenses packaged with a substantive wetting agent. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017;58: ARVO E-Abstract 3070.
Consult your eye care professional for wear, care, precautions, warnings, contradictions and adverse effects.
