First off, if you're under the age of 40 you can stop reading now. BiFocals are not for you. starting at age 40, many require assistance in seeing things up close. Yes, that means you.
Bifocal contact lenses are not for everyone, but they are an exciting option for many. If you're wearing reading glasses, BiFocals, struggling to read the newspaper, or even this article BiFocal contact lenses may be a great option for you.
First let's start off by qualifying a few details of the article. In the article, I am only talking about soft contact lenses. Next, when I refer to BiFocal contact lens fittings, this will only refer totrue bifocal contact lenses ( as seen on TV), this also shall refer to monovision ( one lens for distance and one lens for near), and every possible combination.
Here are a few things that would make you a good candidate for bifocal contact lenses, though keep in mind not a single one of these is an absolute requirement: a strong desire to not wear glasses, a willingness to accept vision that isn't quite perfect in exchange for adequate vision at all distances, being closer to age 40 than to age 60, prior contact lens experience, long-time glasses use, and an understanding that reading glasses may still be needed from time to time for small print or poor lighting conditions.
Why you might not be a good candidate: having an eye that doesn't see welleven with the best correction, need for Crystal clear vision, very dry eyes, high amounts of astigmatism, and intends the year of touching your eyes.
Here are just a few things to consider before trying on any type of bifocal contact lens. 1) bifocal contact lenses will not provide as clear a vision as bifocal eyeglasses. 2) each person adjust to bifocal contact lenses differently, therefore it may take several fittings with vastly different lens combinations before finding the best option for you.
The reason those two points are true is because bifocal contact lenses do not work in the same way as bifocal glasses. With bifocal glasses both eyes look through the distance portion of the glasses to see far away and both eyes look through the near portion of the glasses to see up close. With glasses, both eyes are always perfectly focused for whatever distance they are viewing. This is not possible with soft contact lenses - you cannot look through just one part of the lens at a time. Therefore, with contact lenses part of your vision is ALWAYS focused at a distance and part of your vision is ALWAYS focused up close. When you are looking at a distance your brain learns to concentrate on the part of your vision that is focused at a distance and block out the part that is focused up close, and vice versa when you look up close. Because part of your vision is always focused at the wrong location bifocal contacts cannot be as perfect as bifocal glasses. And because it is the brain that interprets what we see through bifocal contacts, every person experiences bifocal contacts differently and therefore the same type of fitting does not work for all people.
So what is the biggest factor in deciding whether someone will be successfully fit with bifocal contact lenses? Choosing the right doctor is a major factor. You want a doctor that understands how the different lenses work, a doctor must know what changes to make based upon your input, they must be patient, and should set the right expectations through educating you. While this can be a challenge, it's not impossible with the right doctor.
If you want to learn more about whether you are a good candidate or not then please contact a local Eye Doctor complete evaluation. If you're interested in trying contact lenses or bifocal contact lenses but aren't sure you want to risk the money on something that might not work, then stop worrying because many Eye Doctors offer patients a No Risk Contact Lens Guarantee. If you decide not to do contacts for any reason then you'll receive a refund on all fees associated with the fitting or purchasing of contact lenses. - 15995
Bifocal contact lenses are not for everyone, but they are an exciting option for many. If you're wearing reading glasses, BiFocals, struggling to read the newspaper, or even this article BiFocal contact lenses may be a great option for you.
First let's start off by qualifying a few details of the article. In the article, I am only talking about soft contact lenses. Next, when I refer to BiFocal contact lens fittings, this will only refer totrue bifocal contact lenses ( as seen on TV), this also shall refer to monovision ( one lens for distance and one lens for near), and every possible combination.
Here are a few things that would make you a good candidate for bifocal contact lenses, though keep in mind not a single one of these is an absolute requirement: a strong desire to not wear glasses, a willingness to accept vision that isn't quite perfect in exchange for adequate vision at all distances, being closer to age 40 than to age 60, prior contact lens experience, long-time glasses use, and an understanding that reading glasses may still be needed from time to time for small print or poor lighting conditions.
Why you might not be a good candidate: having an eye that doesn't see welleven with the best correction, need for Crystal clear vision, very dry eyes, high amounts of astigmatism, and intends the year of touching your eyes.
Here are just a few things to consider before trying on any type of bifocal contact lens. 1) bifocal contact lenses will not provide as clear a vision as bifocal eyeglasses. 2) each person adjust to bifocal contact lenses differently, therefore it may take several fittings with vastly different lens combinations before finding the best option for you.
The reason those two points are true is because bifocal contact lenses do not work in the same way as bifocal glasses. With bifocal glasses both eyes look through the distance portion of the glasses to see far away and both eyes look through the near portion of the glasses to see up close. With glasses, both eyes are always perfectly focused for whatever distance they are viewing. This is not possible with soft contact lenses - you cannot look through just one part of the lens at a time. Therefore, with contact lenses part of your vision is ALWAYS focused at a distance and part of your vision is ALWAYS focused up close. When you are looking at a distance your brain learns to concentrate on the part of your vision that is focused at a distance and block out the part that is focused up close, and vice versa when you look up close. Because part of your vision is always focused at the wrong location bifocal contacts cannot be as perfect as bifocal glasses. And because it is the brain that interprets what we see through bifocal contacts, every person experiences bifocal contacts differently and therefore the same type of fitting does not work for all people.
So what is the biggest factor in deciding whether someone will be successfully fit with bifocal contact lenses? Choosing the right doctor is a major factor. You want a doctor that understands how the different lenses work, a doctor must know what changes to make based upon your input, they must be patient, and should set the right expectations through educating you. While this can be a challenge, it's not impossible with the right doctor.
If you want to learn more about whether you are a good candidate or not then please contact a local Eye Doctor complete evaluation. If you're interested in trying contact lenses or bifocal contact lenses but aren't sure you want to risk the money on something that might not work, then stop worrying because many Eye Doctors offer patients a No Risk Contact Lens Guarantee. If you decide not to do contacts for any reason then you'll receive a refund on all fees associated with the fitting or purchasing of contact lenses. - 15995
About the Author:
Dr. Eric Stamper, O.D. is a Hendersonville, Tn Eye Doctor and owns Visionary Eyecare Center. Dr. Eric Stamper received his optometry degree in May of 2007 from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, where he graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of his class.
