Bifocal contacts

[wvjules]

So I have been wearing progressive lenses (glasses) for a year now. I got tired of wearing glasses all day so at my last appointment I went to distance contacts and reading glasses. I don't think this is really working for me because I do a lot reading while doing other things so I either squint to read or am constantly taking the glasses on or off. I also have monocular vision so not sure that a different contact in each eye will work either. (Distance and reading)

My next option is to try bifocal contacts before I go back to glasses that I loathe. I hope to get a trial pair today at my follow-up appointment but I'm curious as to if anyone here has them and how they like, or dislike, them.

 

[bcla]

Are you talking about toric lenses? I have mild astigmatism, so my eye doc always recommended single vision lenses, even though it made it harder to read text. I suppose a magnifier could be used to compensate for near vision.

I haven't tried torics, but they have a specific orientation, with the thicker (I think positive diopter) side on the bottom. It's going to require a learning curve to be able to focus on near objects. They can go out of orientation. Some have indicator marks for the top.

 

[Christine]

Anxious to read your replies. I wanted to try them to but my optometrist, for some reason, totally talked me out of it and said I wouldn't like them. Progressives don't work for me because I can't find that sweet spot at all for my computer screen. Bifocal glasses are great when I'm in a meeting and need to look up at people or down at my papers, but not for the computer. It's so frustrating.

 

[wvjules]

bcla, no I have toric single vision lenses for astigmatism in right now, for distance only, and use reading glasses (same concept as magnifying glass) but I find that I go back and forth multiple times in a short span so its really not working out very well. Glasses on, glasses off, glasses on, glasses off, glasses on, glasses off....etc, etc., etc.....

 

[kirstenb1]

I have them. You sacrifice a little distance vision clarity to get the ability to read too. I'm 49 and have had them 3 yrs. I can read a newspaper with them most of the time, unless my eyes are very tired. My doctor said his main goal is to let patients read their smartphones, etc without having to constantly put on reading glasses. My prescription has changed each year, as my ability to squint out reading is getting less and less good as my eyes age. I also have progressive glasses. I love the clarity of them for distance (better than the contacts). But I have a very active life, so the contacts are a good match for me.

 

[Lynne M]

I've been wearing the Air Optix multifocals for years, and I love them. There was no adjustment period at all for me.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We tried the multi focal contacts when I first had to get glasses. Didn't work. While it (sort of) sharpened the close up vision, the distance vision suffered. I was constantly blinking to keep the orientation correct.

So just got the progressive glasses. After a few years, I, too, got tired of wearing the glasses (never had them until I had to get them for this). So we tried the single vision contact in one eye, none in the other (distance vision was really minimally bad, so opted not to correct it). Turns out that my brain can separate the two information inputs from each eye, and couldn't just make one (or the other) be the dominate one for any given task.

So it was back to glasses.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Are you talking about toric lenses? I have mild astigmatism, so my eye doc always recommended single vision lenses, even though it made it harder to read text. I suppose a magnifier could be used to compensate for near vision.

I haven't tried torics, but they have a specific orientation, with the thicker (I think positive diopter) side on the bottom. It's going to require a learning curve to be able to focus on near objects. They can go out of orientation. Some have indicator marks for the top.

Progressive bifocal contacts are different than toric lenses, so no. Wouldn't be the same learning curve.

 

[johnsontrio]

OMGosh, that is the topic of the hour here! I despise wearing glasses and enjoyed perfect vision until age got me. Ughhhh! I wore readers for the longest time until I needed bifocals. Got the progressives and had a hard time adjusting. Feels like you're spinning when you walk down long corridors, have to hang on for dear life on the stairs, etc.. Not to mention the constant fogging up every time you take the dogs out in winter or open the oven. My Dr. doesn't recommend contacts in these cases (age related changes and never having worn glasses) because he says people don't adapt well to them, and that you lose something (clarity, I'm assuming) on both near and far. I decided I have had enough and that I'm gonna try them and wear them until my brain adjusts! Well then DH decided he's gonna try them also.

So off we go, and the lady at the optical shop is not too thrilled to have us there as she knows our Dr. and knows he thinks it won't go well. So I put mine in, easy peasy, and it was like a miracle. At least in my left eye. I figure I might need an update in my prescription. Taking them out a little more of a challenge, but I got the hang of it. DH on the other hand, can't see squat with them in, everything is blurry. He struggles taking his in and out and has given up. I am determined! I am continuing to wear my contact. Yes, that's right, my contact. As in singular. The left eye is very clear, the right, not so much. So I put the left in and then put the right in. Except I couldn't really tell if it was in or not. Thinking I had worn it all day, went to take it out and apparently it wasn't there. Maybe the dog ate it, might have gotten vacuumed up, wadded up in a towel, who knows? The funny thing is that when you take them in and out, you can't see them and the bifocal contacts aren't available tinted. Yes, those that need them the most, can't get tinted contacts. I'm doing pretty well with one, unless I need to read for extended periods or work on the computer. I go back Thursday for another set until my eye appt in May. I'm not giving up yet.

Good luck with yours.

 

[FINFAN]

I am currently waiting on my bi-focal gas permeable lenses to come in. Multifocal didn't work out die to my freakish astigmatism in BOTH eyes. I will also be getting my first pair of progressive glasses once I see how well (fingers crossed) the bifocal contacts work out. I have worm hard and then GP lenses for over 40 years, the loss of sharpness when trying soft lenses is a deal breaker. I really hope they work , I am losing my mind (and all my readers I have around the house)

 

[wvjules]

So she had to order them. I need the ones that correct the astigmatism so they will be $217 per box. Eek. So I'm thinking I will get a nice new pair of progressive lenses and also the distance contacts for special occasions. Ugh.

Oh in the meantime I have distance in one eye and reading In the other. Not going well so far but I will give them a try tomorrow all day at work and see how they do. I'll bring my glasses just in case.

 

[Maryr1]

I wear distance in one eye and reading in the other with astigmatism correction in both eyes. I was able to get used to them pretty quickly-I can wear them as long as 10 hours without much trouble. I have daily wear disposable and I am very happy with them......Good luck! Give them chance-it may take a bit of time for your brain to adjust.....

 

[GAN]

I have them. You sacrifice a little distance vision clarity to get the ability to read too. I'm 49 and have had them 3 yrs. I can read a newspaper with them most of the time, unless my eyes are very tired. My doctor said his main goal is to let patients read their smartphones, etc without having to constantly put on reading glasses. My prescription has changed each year, as my ability to squint out reading is getting less and less good as my eyes age. I also have progressive glasses. I love the clarity of them for distance (better than the contacts). But I have a very active life, so the contacts are a good match for me.

This is my experience as well -there is definitely a sacrifice to distance, not horrible and mostly noticeable when I drive.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I tried multi-focal lenses about 5 years ago and could not stand them. I just felt dizzy the whole time I had them in. About two years ago I gave up my contacts completely. My eyes are just too dry as I get older and I have a hard time with drops. I never had an issue with my progressive glasses, but I do miss the freedom of contacts. I wonder if I should try them again.

 

[monorailsilver]

I just started having issues with my farsightedness, I am 44 and have been wearing contacts for nearsightedness since I was 14/15.

I hate glasses, which I am wearing now since it's nearly bedtime for me.

My last eye dr. Appt in January he told me to either try the multifocals, get cheaters or try the contacts-one for close up and one for distance. In the same sentence that he tells me I am old, aka over 40, and my eyes are changing, he tells me I am young enough to tolerate the multifocals.

So I got a 5 day trial supply from them and let's say they lasted for 2 weeks! I switched back and forth every few days and I just couldn't decide. Reading the iPad or my phone with my old contacts sucked but then I would put in the multifocal and I could see but I wasn't convinced.

Then I took my dtr to the Ped and had to sign/read something and I had in the old contacts and that day decided multifocal it is. I think I am on week 3 now, maybe week 4.

The only thing that sucks is that there are no discounts for the more you order. And they are more expensive. And you lose a little in your nearsightness. My eyes were R:-4.50 L: -4.25 before the last check up. My eyes got a little worse and went but with the multifocals even though they decrease the nearsightness my R is now -4.75 and my L stayed the same. I think it's a 0.5 they decrease it. So next eye visit I will really have to pay attention to "is this better or this". "The first one or the second?"

 

[Pakey]

I had them 3 years ago. I could not see good enough with the multi-focal (I'm sure it was due to the astigmatisms) and I bit the bullet and paid for the bifocals. My doctor said I was a good candidate and said that my vision in them was good. However, I could not see distance well enough to drive, especially at night. I could manage if I was familiar with the streets I was driving but if I needed to read street signs, forget it. For $800 a year, I wanted better. After I used my inventory that I had prepaid, I decided to go back to distance lenses with reading glasses. I wear progressive bifocals at work and if I'm hanging out at home, but if I'm out I wear distance contacts and use a drugstore pair of readers when needed.

 

[SharonZ]

I use monovision - which means that I wear a distance contact in my dominant eye, and in the other eye is for reading. I've done this for years and have had no problems. I had zero adjustment period. I will add that I use AirOptix contacts. I also can wear progressive bifocal glasses without issue.

 

[wvjules]

So far today isn't too bad. I can see my computer and workpapers just fine. I do have to concentrate at first to focus the proper eye but overall it is pretty decent. Oh, I did find a website that has the ProClear Toric Multifocus lenses for $98 per box. After my $150 insurance it would only be $250 for the year. If I see great in them it will be worth it. If not, then I'll go back to my earlier plan of glasses for everyday and distance contacts/readers for special occasions and outdoorsy stuff.

Sharon, I have in AirOptix toric lenses now. I can wear progressive glasses without issue. I just want a break from glasses for a while.

 

[FINFAN]

So I just got in the door from my "let's see how these work" appointment. So I am down to my last option~ trying gas permeable bi-focal lenses (actually have the line which is visible if you look hard enough) My eyelids close at a point over the lenses which cause movement/catch them so tons of measuring etc and accommodating my bogus astigmatisms also in play. Today is pair #1 (the process usually takes 4 or 5 pairs for me, about 5-6 months~ frustrating)
results are: comfort is fine but every time I blink I lose vision and it took 1 to 2 seconds for the lenses to fall back into place. Not really a solution or safe. The weights placed in the bottom of the lenses to counterbalance movement from eyelids need to be heavier or overall size of lens, as in cover more of my eyeball to help mask movement from eyelid/blinking, will be next step. I won't know which works best until we try them, trial and error approach seems to be my curse. Hopefully within 2 weeks I have pair #2 to try and we are keep getting closer. On the up side, if I didn't blink the prescription was awesome, could read up close and see far WITHOUT any readers, add that they were comfortable and I am so hopeful! We have a road trip planned to AZ 3 rd week of May, I just hope I have something by then because I really need to be able to see the road clearly and really, REALLY want to see the all the beauty there.
I plan to also get progressive glasses but man my eye place is so costly for them. I am worried if I go to another with my RX that if the glasses don't seem right, they will blame my RX from 1st doctor script, not their glasses. Having never had progressive eyeglasses before, I am expecting some issue/adjustments.

 

[Lynne M]

I plan to also get progressive glasses but man my eye place is so costly for them. I am worried if I go to another with my RX that if the glasses don't seem right, they will blame my RX from 1st doctor script, not their glasses. Having never had progressive eyeglasses before, I am expecting some issue/adjustments.

Have you looked at Zenni? I just got a pair of single vision eyeglasses there for $37, and they're sharp as could be. Perfect. The progressives would cost me about $80, and I'm getting those next.