- "Modern contact lenses fall into two categories: soft lenses that are made from water-containing plastics, and GP or 'oxygen permeable' rigid contact lenses," states AllAboutVision.com.
- Aspheric multifocal contact lenses place both prescriptions in the central visual area of the lens. The wearer must learn to ignore objects outside the field of focus. Look at something near at hand, and you must ignore distant objects. Focus on something in the distance and you will ignore things nearer to you.
- Picture a dartboard and you will have a fair idea of how a concentric contact lens works. The center is the prescription for near vision. The outer ring is the distance prescription. For bifocal lenses, there will be only two rings. For more complex vision problems, practitioners add a third ring in between the two. Transition from one prescription to the other flows smoothly because the border where two prescriptions meet blends into a gradual change, much like graduated bifocal or trifocal glasses.
- Translating lenses fill the need for distinct and separate visual areas. Much like early, bisected bifocal eyeglass lenses, an obvious change line crosses the contact lens. The wearer physically shifts eye position in order to shift vision focus.
- For some wearers, a multifocal lens fails to provide satisfactory correction. In that case, a monovision fit--one eye fitted with a near vision lens, the other with a far vision prescription--offers an alternative. The wearer learns to focus with the appropriate eye and ignore how the other sees.
- Modern contact lenses address astigmatism by helping reshape the eye. Firmer lenses are more successful than softer lenses for astigmatism.
- Care for your bifocal contact lenses as you care for any other contact lenses. Bifocals require no special care beyond basic lens maintenance.
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Talk with your eye care practitioner about bifocal contact lenses before making a decision. Express any concerns you may have about the product.
Bifocal contact lenses are generally less expensive than bifocal glasses.
