The Guide to Buying Bi Focal Contact Lenses

The first step in buying bi focal contact lenses is to determine whether you need them, and why.  Have you noticed that when you read, the words look blurry?  Have you found that it helps to hold whatever you are reading a little further away from your face, at about arm's length?  Then you might have presbyopia.

Presbyopia is a condition of the eye that usually happens to people in their early forties, sometimes earlier.  It is believed that as we age, our eyes become slightly less elastic; which results in blurry vision when trying to read up close.  It does not mean you “are going blind,” and it eventually happens to almost everyone.  Most importantly, it is easily fixed without surgery, and without having to wear “old people” bifocal eyeglasses! 

Until fairly recently, most people didn't know that these contact lenses even exist.  The bifocal contact lense has actually been around for awhile; however recent technology has increased the accuracy of the bifocal vision, and also made the lenses more comfortable.   Now, they are easily available and nearly every major contact lens brand makes bi focal contact lenses.   

Bifocal contact lenses work very similarly to bifocal eyeglasses. 

Within the lens, there are two separate prescriptions; one to correct your vision for close-range vision (for reading); and one to see normal or far away distances.  Just like with bifocal eyeglasses, there is a definite line of distinction between the two prescriptions.  However, the contact lenses are designed to stay in place within your eye, so they don't rotate around over time or when you blink. 

Bi focal contact lenses are very similar, but not the same, as multifocal contact lenses.  Multifocal lenses have multiple “powers,” or prescriptions, within each lens, instead of only two.  This is usually a good choice for people with more advanced stages of presbyopia, or who have different vision correction requirements for various distances. 

There are two types of bifocal and multifocal contact lenses:

1. Alternating (also called “translating”) vision: this is when the lens only uses two distinct prescriptions, as mentioned above.  The eye must alternate up and down between the two powers according to what you are trying to see.

1. Simultaneous vision: this multifocal design allows the eye to choose among a variety of powers within the lens.  Simultaneous vision lenses come in two types, concentric or aspheric (also called “progressive”).  The aspheric lens blends a variety of powers across the lens, and has become one of the most popular of the multifocal contact lenses. 

As you can see, bi focal contact lenses are considered to be specialty contact lenses and require careful “fitting” by a qualified eye care professional.  Your eye doctor can also recommend which of the many types of bifocal lenses are right for you.  For this reason, it is imperative that you get a contact lense prescription; you can't merely take your prescription from your bifocal eyeglasses and make it work. 

With all of these extensive options, you are bound to find the right bi focal contact lenses for you; and put away your eyeglasses forever!

More Reading:

Colored Bifocal Contact Lenses

Bifocal Toric Contact Lenses

Bifocal Contact Lenses Work

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