Bifocal Contacts

[smiley]

I've been wearing bifocal glasses for about 10 years now and am thinking about trying some bifocal contacts. Though, I've never worn contacts before.

Has anyone out there tried bifocal contacts? If so, what kind of luck have you had with them? Are there brands that are better than others. What kinds of questions should I ask my optometrist about them?

I know these are lots of questions. Thanks for your time.

 

[krissy3483]

this may not be of much help, but i'll try anyway....

my mom switched to bifocal contacts a few months ago (after wearing a contacts and glasses combo), and it definitely took her a few weeks (probably around a month) to get used to them. (i'm assuming that they're all the same and that one contact is for seeing up close and the other is for far away). the brand she uses was brand new when she started, and she was one of her doctor's trial patients. I could find out the brand for you if you want. I know it definitely took a lot of getting used to, but now she loves them and sees just fine (and so much better than before).

 

[Microcell]

I work for an Ophthomologist and they say about 40% of the patients that ask for them like them. It takes some getting used to because you look to the outside for the bifocal. Depending on your prescription you could also try monovision- one eye for distance and the other for reading. That does ork for some.

 

[Microcell]

Sorry, duplicate!

 

[krissy3483]

Thats it, I remember now. My mom originally had the bifocal lenses and couldn't get used to them, so she switched so that one is for near and the other for far. Sorry.....I thought that was the same thing, then it just dawned on me that they arent. Whoops!

 

[oogieboogie]

I tried them once and just couldn't get the hang of it, so now I just use regular contacts and reading glasses since I primarily use it for computer use.

 

[smiley]

Yes, I've heard about using regular contacts for distance then reading glasses, but I thought that would be a little strange. I would constantly need to carry my reading glasses with me and putting them on anyway. I also thought about the one for distance and far away, but thought that would be strange, but if that seems to work better than the bifocal lenses maybe I should go that way.

Goodness, I never knew getting contacts would be so perplexing!!!

 

[bumcat]

I love them! I wear Bausch and Lomb. I have been wearing regular contacts for over 27 yrs and last yr. I had to start wearing close up glasses which I hated.
You have to make sure you get the vision correct for the bifocals, I think that is why some people have problems with them.
I tried monovision and couldn't get use to that.

 

[phamton]

I have the monovision and love it. I don't need corrective lenses for distance so I just wear one contact lens. The monovision lens goes in my left eye and I don't have any contacts in my right eye. I use my left eye for reading and close up work and my right eye for distance. It only took me a couple of days to get used to it.

The only problem is on days that I spend hours reading, my left eye gets tired.

 

[mtblujeans]

My DH has been wearing them for a couple of years now. He does not like to wear his glasses. Now, he wears the bifocal contacts with reading glasses. You might want to check into getting the lazer surgery. It is a more permanent option!