There is a perception that adjusting to bifocals or multifocals is difficult, when it is actually as easy as adjusting to a new prescription of monofocal, or regular, glasses. Your eyes will need a period to adjust to any new prescription. You may feel like your vision is worse at first, but once your eyes adapt your vision will be better than ever.
While your eyes are adjusting, you may feel mildly dizzy or have difficulty focusing, but this is normal with all new glasses. The only strange part about adjusting to multifocal lenses will be training yourself to look through the proper zones of the lens.
Because regular eyeglasses contain only one prescription, you will have to learn where to focus and you might be inclined to tilt your head to look at something and then have to tilt your head back and refocus your eyes instead. This will become second nature over time, and once you learn to adjust your multifocal lenses will positively impact your vision experience.
Tips For Adjusting To Your New Multifocal Lenses
The Different Types Of Lenses. When switching to multifocal lenses, there are several options.Lenses with 2 or more prescriptions are considered multifocal, but lenses with only 2 prescriptions can also be called bifocal. Bifocal and multifocal lenses are both available in the forms of glasses and contacts. For multifocal glasses, they will either come as segmented lenses or progressive lenses. Segmented lenses have a distinct, visible line where the prescription changes. Progressive lenses blend from one prescription to another without any line, so the glasses look like monofocal lenses but function as multifocal lenses. There are also two main types of multifocal contacts: blended and concentric. Blended multifocal contacts mimic the natural viewing experience and are similar to blended glasses lenses. Concentric multifocal contacts have multiple rings for different distance viewing, creating a bullseye effect.
Wear Your New Lenses Often. Switching prescriptions will always take time to adjust to and it may leave you feeling like things are blurry or dizzying and make you want to switch back to your old glasses/contacts. Try to avoid this, as it will just extend and drag out the adjustment process. If you’re finding the adjustment too difficult at first and it makes some movements uncomfortable, try using your new lenses when you are sitting and then gradually incorporate them into your daily life. Using your new lenses as much as possible is ideal, but taking it slow can work in the interim to help you feel comfortable.
Look Through The Correct Zones In Your Lenses. Bifocal and multifocal lenses are aligned with your eye line so that each section of the lens has its own function. You will learn to focus your vision in that zone to achieve that vision correction. To focus on far away objects, look straight ahead as usual. For close up items, look through the bottom of the lense. For walking down stairs, tilt your head forward so that you’re looking down while your eye line is still focused through the general zone of the lens. Your eye doctor will explain the different fields of vision in your lenses while they are conducting your lens fitting eye exam.
Learn To Focus Your Eyes. With multifocal glasses you can move your eye to whichever zone you need to see through, but with multifocal contacts your eyes need to learn to focus on different depths with the contacts in. This might take more time, as your eyes will have a greater adjustment to make, but having multifocal contacts is great for those who don’t want to or can’t wear glasses. With multifocal lenses, you can avoid the need to tilt your head up to view a computer screen through a lower zone of your glasses lenses, so if you have a job that requires a lot of computer work, these can be an asset.
Get Your Multifocal Lenses From Blink Eyewear in Calgary
Don’t miss out on multifocal lenses because you’re wary of the adjustment period. Whether you opt for contact lenses or glasses, your multifocal adjustment will be no more difficult than your regular adjustment to a new prescription. If you’re interested in multifocal lenses, contact Blink Eyewear at one of our Calgary locations in Crowfoot, West Springs, or Creekside. Blink eyewear offers stylish frames for your multifocal lenses, as well as options for multifocal contact lenses and contact lens fittings. To book an eye exam or talk to one of our highly experienced staff members, call us at 1-403-516-2292 or fill out the contact form.
FAQ
Q: How do I know if I should get multifocal contact lenses or multifocal glasses?
A: It’s a matter of personal preference. If you live an active lifestyle that makes glasses a nuisance, if you are unable to wear them, or if you don’t like the feel or look of glasses on yourself, contacts would be better. If you are having a hard time deciding, ask for your optometrist's recommendation.
Q: Can I wear bifocal contact lenses with astigmatism?
A: Yes, in fact rigid gas-permeable contact lenses can be very beneficial for those with astigmatism. There are bifocal and multifocal contact lenses that are specifically designed for people with astigmatism.
Q: What if I don’t like my bifocal contact lenses but I don’t want to wear glasses either?
A: Blink Eyewear in Calgary also offers contacts called monovision. These contacts separate your near and distant vision between the eyes so that your dominant eye sees the distance vision and your non-dominant eye sees near vision. If you find that you don’t care for the regular multifocal contacts, this is what optometrists recommend.