Bifocal Contact Lenses
Understanding the Purpose of Bifocal Contact Lenses
Human beings are born to see both near and far, but for some
reason nature also decided that as people aged, these vision
would start to worsen. The condition happens when the eye
becomes less flexible with age, it is a condition known as
presbyopia and it causes a diminishing ability to see objects
up close. Fortunately bifocal contact lenses are able to help
correct what nature has taken away.
Only till recently the only choice that people affected by
presbyopia had was an eyeglass prescription. The look was
obvious with a line cutting horizontally across each lens.
People who wear bifocal eyeglasses tended to keep the glasses
perched towards the tip of the nose and the head would adjust
upwards or down, depending on whether the person was looking
close up or far away. Then finally a clear lens is was invented
and finally, the bifocal contact lens was created.
Bifocal contact lenses are getting more popular with each
passing year, especially as the elderly strive to fight the
signs of aging. Similar to the eyeglass lens, each bifocal
contact lens actually includes two different prescriptions,
which are to correct and enhance near and far distance.
There are three ways which the two prescriptions can be situated
on a contact lens. Both of the prescriptions can be centered
within the cornea for which they are within the boundaries
of the pupil. With this substitute, the eyes will decide and
adjust to the prescription which is needed at the moment and
commonly called simultaneous placement.
Translating placement is the same as the bifocal eyeglass
lenses, which the top portion of the lens has the prescription
for near vision and the bottom half has the prescription for
distance. Another option is the placement of the different
prescriptions in concentric circles with one prescription
situated in the outermost circle, and the other within the
inner circle.
Bifocal contact lenses are easily available as all the major
manufacturers now produce at least one version. They work
as good as at correcting presbyopia as eyeglass prescriptions.
On top of the large varieties of prescription placement options,
wearers can choose bifocal contact lenses in extended wear,
daily wear and disposable styles.
Those who are new to wearing bifocal contact lenses should
expect an adjustment period as the eye might take time to
learn how to adjust to the different prescriptions. Initially,
vision can cause a feeling of being 'off-balance' and it can
be quite bothering but it does pass. You might need to switch
to a different type of prescription placement, but once the
right one is found, there should be no further problems.
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