When small details and fine print become difficult to read or when a person has to hold printing at arm's length to read, he probably needs bifocals. Presbyopia is a condition that affects people beginning around the age of 40 and is corrected by using bifocals. Multifocal contact lenses work similarly to bifocal lenses in glasses and help a person to see in the distance and up close.
Types of Material
Multifocal, also called bifocal, contact lenses are available in different materials and styles. The contacts are made of a plastic, either a soft, gel-like plastic or a more rigid plastic called gas permeable or RGP lenses. The type of lens a person receives depends on the prescription, tolerance for certain sensations in the eye and the shape of the cornea, the outer surface of the eye.
For someone who works with fine detail, RGP lenses are a good choice. The University of Illinois Department of Ophthalmology states that RGP lenses usually provide better detail and image quality than soft-lens bifocals.
Features
In addition to material, multifocal contact lenses are available in several other options. Contacts are made with the bifocal inside the lens, just like glasses lenses, or they are available as "monovision" contact lenses. Monovision is a type of vision correction that allows a person to use one eye for distance and the other for close vision.
Cost
The cost of bifocal contact lenses varies, depending on the type of material. The examination for bifocal contacts usually involves more time for the doctor, so the initial cost is generally higher than standard contact lenses. Monovision lenses are priced similar to regular soft lenses, and gas permeable and true multifocal lenses cost considerably more than standard lenses, as much as two to three times as much or even higher.
Purchasing Lenses
Once someone has a valid multifocal contact lens prescription, he can buy contacts from any reliable contact lens seller. The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission regulate contact lenses as a medical device. Contact lens patients can buy lenses from their own optometrist, ophthalmologist, optician, optical retail or wholesale, mail order or online sellers.
Considerations
Contact lenses have a "breaking in" time called an adaption period. During the first few weeks of wearing bifocal contact lenses, it is normal to notice night time glare, hazy vision and shadows. Most people learn to adjust to the compromise of multifocal contact lenses and get used to them within six weeks.
