Sharing my experience trying out comfilcon multifocal contact lenses for the first time! Read on if you are wondering what’s it like to wear multifocal contacts for presbyopia.

After getting LASIK in 2003, I thought I’d never need contacts again. But 45 rolled around and so did the presbyopia, and by 48 it’s gotten to where I can’t do anything without my glasses. I have the hardest time putting on makeup, and I wanted to be able to see my face up close without glasses, so I made an eye doctor appointment to see what my options were.

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a common age-related vision condition that affects the ability of the eye to focus on close objects. It typically becomes noticeable in people around the age of 40 and continues to progress with age. I first noticed it at 42 when things up close started to look a little fuzzy.

The human eye has a natural lens that is flexible and changes shape to help focus on objects at varying distances. With age, the natural lens becomes less flexible, making it difficult for the eye to focus on close-up objects, such as when reading or working on a computer.

The symptoms of presbyopia include the need to hold reading materials at arm’s length, difficulty focusing on close-up tasks, and eyestrain or headaches after prolonged close work.

Comfilcon Multifocal Contact Lenses

Comfilcon multifocal lenses are a type of multifocal contact lens designed to correct presbyopia, allowing wearers to see clearly at various distances. The term “comfilcon” refers to the material used in the lens. (I thought it was the brand name at first)

Comfilcon is a high-performance silicone hydrogel material that combines comfort with breathability, allowing more oxygen to reach the cornea compared to traditional hydrogel lenses.

These lenses are typically designed with different zones to address distance, intermediate, and near vision. Comfilcon multifocal lenses are known for their comfort, and the silicone hydrogel material helps maintain a moist environment for the eyes.

It’s important to note that specific characteristics of comfilcon multifocal lenses, such as the design of the zones and the distribution of prescriptions, may vary depending on the brand and the specific product line within that brand.

Unlike traditional contact lenses that correct only one focal point (either for distance or near vision), multifocal lenses have multiple prescriptions within the same lens. This allows wearers to see clearly at various distances, such as near, intermediate, and far.

There are generally two types of multifocal contact lenses:

1. Simultaneous Vision Multifocals: These lenses have different prescriptions in different zones of the lens. For example, the center of the lens might be designed for close-up tasks like reading, while the outer areas are for distance vision. The brain learns to automatically select the appropriate zone for the desired distance.
2. Alternating Vision (or Translating) Multifocals: These lenses are designed with distinct zones for distance and near vision. When you look straight ahead, the lens provides distance vision, and when you look down to read, the lens shifts to the near-vision prescription. This shift is typically achieved by having the distance prescription in the upper part of the lens and the near prescription in the lower part.

Multifocal contact lenses work by allowing the eyes to adapt to different prescriptions based on where you’re looking. The brain learns to interpret the visual information coming from different zones of the lens and adjusts accordingly.

It’s important to note that the adaptation period for multifocal contact lenses may vary from person to person. Some individuals may find it takes a bit of time for their eyes and brain to adjust to the new way of seeing. It’s recommended to consult with an eye care professional to determine the most suitable type of multifocal contact lenses based on individual needs and preferences.

What Are the Lenses Like to Wear?

What are multifocal lenses like to wear? In one word: Weird.

I’m not even sure which type of lens I have, as I just have sample pair without a name brand. I went to America’s Best for the exam and felt a bit rushed, so I can’t really remember how the doctor explained it. I thought it was that the left eye was more for up close, and the right was for distance.

I still have 20/20 distance vision, so all I needed was the up-close part. With the contacts in, my up-close vision is good, and my distance vision is a bit blurry. The doctor said there was a bit of a trade-off, as the better you see close-up, the worse the distance vision will be.

I couldn’t drive home wearing them because I didn’t feel comfortable with the not-so-clear distance vision. I put them in when I got home and gave it a try putting on makeup.

Wow! They work!

It was pretty nice to be able to see my face without glasses. I will definitely be using these for getting ready, but I wasn’t sure about regular wear, so I left them in to test them out.

I loved not having to grab my glasses all day! But it was weird not to see everything else so clearly. I probably saved an hour overall just not running around looking for my glasses. I could definitely get used to wearing them around the house.

I gave them a try wearing them out to dinner and was very happy to be able to easily read the menu. Again, the distance vision was weird, but I did get used to it after wearing them for a while.

The Final Verdict

If you have presbyopia, I totally recommend trying out multifocal lenses! I’m going to keep trying this pair, as they are good for a month. Pretty sure I’ll be stocking up soon.