As if being on lock down (stall rest) for COVID isn’t going to be a bad enough memory, my eyes having decided that now is the time to take a dive off of a cliff. I am 48, so I knew reading glasses were in my near future, but I did not realize it would happen so dramatically basically over night. Anyway, I’ve worn contacts for over 20 years to see things farther way, and I’d like to try bifocal contacts, so I can both see far away and not need reading glasses when my contacts are in. I was wondering if any of you have experience transitioning to bifocal contacts and if so, are the bifocal contacts working well when you are riding? Or do they interfere with finding your distance, etc.? TIA for any advice you may have!
I am the reverse of you. I started in bifocal glasses in my thirties, right out of the bag. I tried contact lenses but they never worked for me. I never got a hang of them and the quality of the vision was not good for my work which needs super 3D close detail.
Your doctor should be able to recommend for you. There are many different types and they will probably have to see what your prescription is before they can recommend. It may take some trial and error before you find they correct type and maker that works for you.
sadly you are at an age where your vision Rx may change every year, in my 50s, mine did. Be sure to be with the best eye doc you can, this is not where you want to go cut rate.
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My eye doc recommended using one contact for my nearsightedness and one contact for my farsightedness. He determined which eye was dominant far/near and then prescribed one strength for one eye for reading and one strength for the other eye for seeing far away, depending on dominance. After a few days, I adjusted and didn’t notice anything “weird.”
I stopped using contacts because I never could wear them too comfortably as much as I tried and as many different types as I tried over the years. Otherwise, I would’ve continued with that method. It worked fine for me.
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I have done mono-vision contacts from my late forties to now (20 years), I put them in and never took them out, I adjusted really well. But the last couple years, my vision hasn’t been as good and it is because each eye isn’t strong enough to carry the load, so I looked at bifocal contacts.
My only issue with them was that they work by concentric circles, so at night, if my eyes dilated to the wrong circle, I got halo’ing and blur. I only noticed it when driving (eek!) and oncoming lights, but too dangerous.
Now I am retired and don’t need to commute at night, but I have astigmatism, so I am trying one eye toric and one eye bifocal just to see if that would work. I have a wonderful optometrist who lets me try a lot of samples and combinations.
My prescription is not even that strong, so it is a bummer that I am having issues, but I am hopeful to find some combo. If not, I will have to settle for glasses if I am night driving or doing a lot of computer/reading.
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Tried bifocal contacts–did not get good vision with them. Monovision (one for close up, one for distance) worked like a charm.
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If u can wear rigid gas permeable contacts they make proper bifocal ones. Bottom part of the lens is reading, top is distance. My boss wears them, and I had them until my eyes decided to not tolerate rgp lenses. They work really well if u can tolerate the lenses. They work just like bifocal glasses
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I don’t have them yet, but will try them eventually (I am 51). I am currently also in a slightly mono-vision prescription, which worked much better when I was in an actual office versus always at my computer from home. My “distance” eye is getting strained from really focusing only about 2’ away for most of the day. So I am trying to take intentional breaks from my computer.
What my eye doctor has said about bifocals is to wait as long as you can - wait until you are begging for them. Because it is quite an adjustment for some people, but worth it when you need it. If you don’t really need it (and can make do without them), many people give up before they adjust.
Two comments – I would not be surprised if your ‘sudden’ vision change is because you may be doing something like I am – sitting at a computer more than you used (especially meeting via Zoom, versus in person…because in a real meeting your focal points will be maybe 6-8’ away instead of 2’)
And also eyestrain in general makes it hard to see as well. When I am tired, I have more trouble changing my focus from far to near.
Oh, and also lighting - if your work area is not as well-lit, you may have more trouble with close work.
So possibly change some of these things before jumping into bifocals?
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I have the multifocal soft lenses by Accuvue. I do not see quite as well with them as with my glasses, but I do not like monovision. They are expensive but I want as sharp vision as possible. I think that my doc does optimize one eye for distance and one for reading, but again, the results are better than monovisioin.
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I have monovision lenses, and on top of that one is for astigmatism. They work great for me.
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I have also done one contact for near and one for far, probably for 10 years or so now. In fact, right now, I only wear one contact to see things far away, because as my eyes have changed I can actually read perfectly without any lenses.
So I am really monovision!
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Bi focal s never gave me the “ahhh” moment of seeing distances clearly, like my normal long distance contacts do.
when I wear my long distance ones, I wear only one and alternate which eye gets to be dominant. I figure it’s good to make my brain work.
Each eye sees differently, one sees white with yellowish tint, the other sees white with a pink tint.
Oddly, with quarantine and more computer work but no driving, my vision has improved. I no longer see 4 moons when looking at a quarter moon.
(I think that’s astigmatism. I saw just one the other night!).
Am I using my PC less than at work, is iPad’s blue filter helping, is no night time driving glare the factor, or is am I getting more time with my eyes shut (no commute = literally more shut eye time). Don’t know but interesting.
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When I got into the age range where it’s usual to eventually need reading glasses/bifocals, a board-certified ophthalmologist told me that it’s normal to feel as though one suddenly needs help – to wake up one day and realize that one can’t read a menu, for instance, where one has been compensating for quite a while and can’t compensate any more. When I asked how I could tell if I needed them, he said I wouldn’t wonder, I’d know, because I wouldn’t be able to read (and my arms wouldn’t be long enough, lol).
However, what has actually happened is that my very slight nearsightedness is apparently just enough to have prevented me from needing reading glasses or bifocals. A couple years ago, my current ophthalmologist told me that, at this point in my life, my eyes most likely won’t change in that regard any more. I’m very thankful to be able to go without, although, back when I thought it was a given that I’d require them, my plan was to purchase several super-cute pairs and own my new look.
He has also told me that there’s research showing adults blink only half as much when on a device (computer, smart phone, tablet), which dries the eyes out, which can affect vision and be uncomfortable. His advice was to make an effort to blink more, to take a break to look off into the distance occasionally, and to consider lubricating eye drops (such as GenTeal or Thera Tears).
I’m throwing this out there in case there might be some others who are experiencing this.
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I have these as well, after hating the monovision method. We’ve split the difference between seeing well close up and seeing well at a distance, so I still use reading glasses for prolonged reading.
FWIW my doctor said either your brain can process the multifocal lenses or it can’t (he says it’s about 50%) in his experience. Thankfully mine does!
I tried bifocal lenses for 3 weeks and it just didn’t work for me. I felt I was in a perpetual fog. Ugh.
Fortunately, my current contacts prescription still allows me to read normally unless it’s really small, small print, and I can read fine without my contacts. Crossing fingers that it lasts as long as possible!
Another vote for trying mono-vision contact lenses. It took me about 30 seconds to adjust to them and absolutely love not having to worry about reading glasses stashed everywhere.
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I’ve tried a variety of options. I have had contacts with one eye for near and one eye for distance. I liked that. From there now I have bifocal contacts. My only concern with them is my doctor prescribed them so that I can see great close and far - but my mid-range isn’t great. That would be my complaint. If they could make a progressive lens contact I would be all in. When I put my progressive eyeglasses on everything is crisp and clear - reading, mid-range and distance. I don’t like wearing glasses full time so contacts it is. OP don’t be afraid to tinker around a bit. I did have to make 2 or 3 small adjustments on Rx when I switched to bifocal contacts. My eye doctor was very patient and worked with me over a few weeks to tweak my Rx to be better and better. They should have free samples they can give you as you start to try it out. I now am using bifocal dailies, which are pretty expensive but have been keeping my eyes healthy. She also said sometimes it takes a few days/weeks for our brains to process the new information. Inst’ the brain amazing??
