Multifocal, or varifocal contact lenses
Multifocal, or varifocal contact lenses
Also known as varifocal contacts, multifocal contact lenses accommodate multiple vision types into one little lens. So you can see in all situations without the need for additional glasses.
What are multifocals?
Multifocal contact lenses are designed to address the age-related vision changes we experience with presbyopia, a condition that affects our close up vision. This means that we’ll start to need different prescriptions for different things.
Multifocals are designed to include all of your vision requirements, so you can easily switch between seeing close-up, in-between, and far away. Great for when you want to change up your look, play sports, read a menu, or just rid you of that niggling feeling that you’ve forgotten your reading glasses.
What’s the difference between bifocals and multifocals?
Bifocal lenses have two sharply divided sections for two types of prescription - one for distance, and one for close reading. Multifocal or varifocal contact lenses have more of a gradual change between prescriptions to incorporate more than two vision requirements from close-up, midrange, and distance.
How do multifocal contact lenses work?
There are two main designs of multifocal contact lenses that work in different ways:
Simultaneous vision
Probably the most common type, these lenses have specific zones for close or far vision. These zones can be distinct or can be more blended to allow for a gradual change in prescriptions. Essentially, your eye will look through both prescriptions at the same time, but will use the section of the lens that you need, depending on what you’re looking at.
Segmented or alternating vision
This design works in a similar way to bifocal glasses - the middle and top segment of the lens contain your prescription for distance, and the lower segment has your prescription for close vision.