HEALTH Close-up on multifocal contacts

End in sight for reading glasses


Health
Clodagh McGovern

The old reliable reading glasses may soon find themselves relegated to the bin, thanks to new ‘multifocal’ contact lens.
More and more, my patients enquire about the possibility of ridding themselves of their reading or bifocal spectacles. Often, they find themselves frustrated or annoyed by their spectacles, which they need to carry with them to read, drive or work on their computer.  
As we get older, our sight changes and frequently we require bifocal spectacles to manage presbyopia, a natural condition brought on by age, where the eye’s natural lens stiffness loses the ability to focus on close objects.   
If you develop presbyopia, you’re not alone: Eventually almost everyone does – usually after age 40. The reality is, as we get older most of us will require ‘reading’, bifocal or progressive lenses that correct near, intermediate or long-vision.
The good news is you don’t have to plump for the usual bifocal or multifocal solution, thanks to a new type of contact lens that is designed to allow the wearer to see both close up and distance, as well as correct astigmatism. The multifocal contact lens provides clear vision, comfort and most importantly, a smooth transition, as the wearer’s eyes move naturally from one focal distance to another.
For most presbyopes, the key benefit is the fact that the multifocal contact lens eliminates  inconvenient, sometimes unattractive spectacles, providing a comfortable, convenient solution. With patients from both ends of the age spectrum using contact lenses nowadays, they are a simple eyewear option to become accustomed to. Though they are not for everyone, most wearers find that they get used to their contact lenses and the lens routine within an initial trial period.  
If you’re thinking of ridding yourself of your ‘readers’ or bifocals, why not consider contact lenses? Ask for a trial – you’ve nothing to lose!

Clodagh McGovern is proprietor of the award-winning Eye World (www.eyeworld.ie) practice in Westport.