Thinking about multifocal glasses?

Do I need multifocal lenses?

Convenience

Do you use multiple pairs of glasses every day, such as one pair for reading and another for driving? Multifocal lenses are more convenient as they combine prescriptions for all distances in one lens. You don’t have to swap your glasses frequently during the day.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the gradual decline in the ability to focus on near objects which causes trouble with vision shifting from distance to near vision. People who have developed presbyopia may find wearing multifocal lenses more comfortable as they assist with both near and distant vision, in the one lens.

Comfort

Is anything bothering you with your current glasses? This may indicate that you might like to try multifocal:

• If you have to take glasses off to read a text message
• If you are holding your phone at arm’s length to read a phone message
• If you tilt your head up and down to get the best reading vision when in front of a computer
• If you have to take your glasses on and off to see people or to see in the distance

What makes a good multifocal lens?

The best multifocal lens will seamlessly adapt to the various vision situations you are faced with, without you noticing.

What to look for:

• Seamless vision as you look at different distances - look from a distance, to a screen, and to a printed document.
• The way the prescription changes at different points of vision through the lens. The better the lens, the less distortion at all points of vision.
• Minimal side distortion – look at how wide the area is in which you can see correctly. When you move your head from side to side, a good lens will have minimal blurriness.

Which multifocal is best for me?

There are many types of multifocal lenses on the market, ranging in basic to the latest technology, and in price.

• Budget – a basic multifocal lens may suit your needs if budget is a concern. If you’ve worn multifocal glasses before and would like a better experience, then trying a higher quality lens may improve your experience.
• Daily use – if you wear multifocal glasses every day, it may be worth considering a high-performance lens.
• Frame size – if you prefer a smaller frame, a high-performance lens may be more suitable or necessary as the newer technology adapts better to this size. Basic multifocals work better in larger frames.

Tips for adjusting to new multifocal glasses:

• Wear them constantly to get used to them. It’s normal for new glasses to feel strange at the beginning. The more you wear them the quicker you will adapt, allow a few weeks.
• Avoid switching back-and-forth between your old glasses and your new multi focal glasses.
• Check your fit. Make sure that the glasses fit is as perfect as it can be this can affect the position of the multi focal lens in the glasses. Ensure your new frames will work well in the multifocal lens – high-performance lenses are more suitable for smaller frames.

Quick exercises to practice:

• When reading, remember to lower your eyes to read. Try to keep your chin up and look through the bottom of the lens.
• When using a computer, adjust your monitor height to be slightly lower than eye level
• When walking down stairs, bring your chin right down towards your chest. This allows you to see through the distance zone of the lenses, rather than the reading zone which could make the stairs blurry
• Point your nose toward the object you’re focusing on and adjust your chin up or down until the object appears clear.
• Turn your head to look at objects instead of moving your eyes from side to side. Peering out the side of the glasses can distort your vision
• Move your head, not your eyes - your clearest vision will be through the centre of the lens.

How we can help

Adjusting to multifocal lenses can take time, and you should feel comfortable in around 2-4 weeks with continuous wearing. If you have any concerns, contact us as soon as possible so we can help.

Health Partners Optical

• Provide expert fitting: We make sure your frames are fitting correctly before measuring the multifocal lenses, and when you’re frames are ready for collection. Correct positioning of the lenses is crucial to successful wear.
• Custom lens: Check with you your lifestyle & work requirements – different lens designs suit different people and their needs
• Satisfaction guarantee: We want you to be 100% satisfied, so if the lenses are not quite right within the first 3 months we’ll exchange or refund you.