Bifocal Contacts?

Question

Has anyone had any experience with bifocal contact lenses? I only have one "good eye" and I can't see far away. I don't want to sacrifice my close up vision but I hate not being able to see!

any other suggestions? glasses make me feel weird. The vision isn't "right" or something. Now, my close up vision is starting to get sketchy, so I'm wondering it bifocal contacts would be a good option, thanks

Answer 1

If you are now 40+ and are beinning to have presbyopic difficulties on top of your short-sight, while bifocal contacts are not an obvious good option, it could do no harm to obtain a trial with them if you wished to try.  There are a variety of brands with rather different optical characteristics: some prefer one over another, there being no simple "best" lens".

But generally bifocal contacts are not recommended for someone relying on one eye.

The compromise which adds back in the flexibility for focussing different distances inevitably also compromises the best possible vision (especially driving at night, or reading in relatively poor light)  You can't get something for nothing here, but the effect tends to be somewhat less subjectively for people with binocular vision though. even here, there are plenty of people who cannot tolerate the visual effects of bifocal contacts.

A bifocal contact might just suit you *sometimes*:

yes for social occasions, no for officework or driving.

It is possible to have a contact lens on that basis if the benefit outweighs the downsides of cost and planning ahead when to wear it.

Answer 2

I think you mean that your good eye is near-sighted, right?  And your other eye is amblyopic, or lazy?  So even with correction it doesn't see very well?   If that's the case obviously the monovision option would not work well for you because you really only have one eye to work with.  I think the bifocal contact lens option would be worth trying.  You could also wear a distance-only contact lens and just have some dollar store readers laying around to wear over top when you need to read.

Answer 3

Well close up vision is lost when we turn about 45.  Bifocal contacts can be a pain because the distance vision is in the center of the lens and the near is in the outer ring.  Every time you blink they can move a little and you have to wait for them to settle.  Now if you are willing to try mono-vision that is another option.  It is where if you have a good distance eye then the other would only where a contact for near.  Either one could be beneficial, it depends on which you like better.

Answer 4

do you need bifocal lenses on your glasses? if not, bifocal contacts will not work for you. if you have astigmatism, there are special-order contacts available called toric lenses. acuvue and bausch and lomb both have versions of toric contacts. they are a lot more expensive than regular contacts, but they are very good if you need them

Answer 5

ChipinCA,

Yes they are very helpful, my daughter had them made a few

years ago, and she loves them. They have some getting used to, but in time I'm sure you'll love them as she does.

GOOD LUCK!