Frequently Asked Bifocal Contact Questions Answered In South Windsor

If you need bifocals, you may not realize that you can get those bifocals as contact lenses. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on this type of lens from our South Windsor, CT optometry team.

  • What are bifocal or multifocal lenses? Multifocal lenses are eyeglass or contact lenses designed to correct your vision at multiple distances. Bifocals contain separate fields that correct both near and distance vision.
  • Why do many people need this kind of vision correction? The most common reason people require bifocal lenses is a condition known as presbyopia. This refractive error occurs when the intraocular lens becomes stiffer, making it harder for it to bring near objects into clear focus. If you already had myopia (nearsightedness), this means you now have two distance ranges to correct.
  • I didn’t need bifocal lenses before, so why do I suddenly need them now? Presbyopia is an age-related disorder that begins after the age of 35 and usually becomes noticeable only after the age of 40. It’s considered a natural effect of the aging process, so if you’re in this age range, you very likely have developed presbyopia.
  • How do bifocal contacts correct for presbyopia? Like their eyeglass cousins, bifocal contacts include two ranges of vision correction based on your presbyopia prescription. But unlike bifocal glasses, bifocal contacts handle these ranges in either of two principal designs known as translating and simultaneous bifocals.
  • What are translating bifocal contacts? Alternating bifocal contacts, also called alternating contacts, put the distance and near vision fields in discrete sections of the lens. This arrangement is much the same as that of bifocal eyeglass lenses, with the eye flicking upward or downward to select different fields.
  • What are simultaneous bifocal contacts? Simultaneous bifocals contacts place both vision fields in front of the pupil, with the brain sorting out which field to focus on at any given moment. The fields may be arranged in separate concentric rings or in a blended aspheric pattern.
  • What if I can’t get used to bifocal contacts? Not everyone finds that they can adapt to bifocal contacts easily. But don’t worry — our South Windsor CT optometrist can also fit you with monovision contacts. These contacts put the distance vision field in one eye and the near vision field in the other, with the brain interpreting both simultaneously.
  • Are bifocal contacts available as soft lenses? Bifocal contacts are available both as soft lenses and as RGP (rigid gas permeable) lenses, as well as hybrid lenses that combine a soft rim and a rigid center. Disposable and extended-wear versions can suit different lifestyles and needs. Lenses made from silicone hydrogel can make extended-wear lenses safer and more comfortable for the eyes.

Ask Your South Windsor CT Optometrist About Bifocal Contacts

Your South Windsor CT optometrist on our three-practitioner team can help you choose the right pair of bifocal contacts. So get your questions answered by calling (860) 644-3364 for an appointment!