Presbyopia

[Razor X]

Loathe as I am to admit it, like my buddy Mr Jules, I've recently joined the ranks of those needing varifocal eyeglasses.  After almost a year of struggling with worsening eyestrain, I could not wait until the first of the year when I'd be eligible for an eye exam.   Unlike many other people, I adjusted quickly to the new glasses with no problems at all.  However, as a contact lens wearer, things have suddenly become a lot more complicated.

My doctor prescribed multifocal contact lenses, which contain a prescription for both distance and up-close vision in the same lens.  It seemed a logical choice and a simpler solution than carrying around reading glasses to wear in collaboration with my single-vision contacts.  I was told that it would take a while to adjust and that more often than not the prescription had to be tweaked a few times before getting it right.  For that reason, I was told to come back after a week to see if any adjustments were necessary.

After wearing the lenses for a week, I found that they made it a lot easier to read and to use the computer but I found that my distance vision was noticeably worse than it had been before.  I expected that to be corrected with an adjustment to the prescription, so I was extremely disappointed upon my return visit to learn that this is as good as it gets.  I'm told that my distance vision is 20/20 with this prescription, but I am unable to see finer details on things that are far away -- like road signs, or signs in the supermarket aisles or even Powerpoint presentations at work.   For the most part I can see well enough to get by, but I miss the crisp vision that I had enjoyed previously.

There are other things I could try -- wearing a contact lens for distances  in one eye and one for reading int he other, going back to my old prescription and get reading glasses for up-close work, or just wear my varifocal glasses fulltime.  None of these options is particularly appealing.  I have a six-month supply of multifocal contacts, so I will stick with them until they run out.  After that, I'm not sure what I'll do.  I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has gone through this so I'd be interested in hearing what works for the rest of you.

[Tyler]

I'd go with the reading glasses.

[Gary~]

You are indeed lucky if you adjusted to vari-focal lenses easily. I went from bi-focals to vari-focals and found it extremely difficult.

Use up your supply of contacts and then go for the vari-focals -- unless there is a great benefit to the contacts [which there could be]. Vari-focals are pretty good when adjustment to them is complete.

[Mikekoz13]

Razor-

I've been thru some of this. I did the one lens for distance, one lens for reading thing for a couple years. That sucks, don't bother.

I opted for contacts for distance and then I use reading glasses. Go to the dollar store and get a hand full of cheap readers and leave them in the places you read the most.... work, home office, table next to favorite chair, etc..

[Frontier Guy]

Welcome to the Clubhouse.

I've had much the same experience. It seems you can either have "good" vision for near or far and the other is adequate. I settled on better distance for far and revert to glasses for reading at home or if I will be spending the day at work doing detail work.

Living in a hot/humid subtropical climate I truly prefer contacts to avoid the fogging situation with every transition from cold A/C to outside or being subject to unexpected raindrops from summer storms.

A year ago when my contact prescription was updated it took four visits to find one which was acceptable.

Vision issues is one of the less enjoyable aspects of maturity.

[Mr Jules]

Razor X,

Welcome to the world of presbyopia. As your lenses stiffen, you loose the ability to focus between distance and close up. And further complicating any vision problems you may already have.

Seems like you have a choice:

• Carry on with single vision distance contact lens plus reading glasses whenever you need then. My own optician had previously suggested this option.
  
  Or go for varifocals. Which is what I've done.

[Razor X]

The multifocal contacts aren't bad around the office where I need to see things up close rather than at distances. At least I don't have to be taking reading glasses on and off all day. Where they fall short is when I'm trying to see things on overhead projector slides -- and outside of work where the diminished distance vision really annoys me.

[Laser Man]

I've been wearing progressive lenses for about ten years.  A few years ago, I did a trial run of contacts for distance with a pair of reading glasses.  I had a hard time adjusting (it drove me crazy to have to put on glasses to read my watch, etc.), so I went back to wearing glasses with progressive lenses.  I had a similar experience to Razor with the contacts: medium distance vision was great, but distance vision wasn't as crisp and clear as with glasses.  I don't know if it was me or the lenses.

[Razor X]

I had a similar experience to Razor with the contacts: medium distance vision was great, but distance vision wasn't as crisp and clear as with glasses.  I don't know if it was me or the lenses.

I'd say it was probably the lenses.  Look at the diagram on this site.  I just discovered it and it goes a long way to explaining why the distance vision isn't as good.  Look at the narrow band that's provided for distances:

http://www.airoptix.com/contact-lenses/air-optix-aqua-multifocal.shtml

[Laser Man]

Wow - that explains a lot!  Seems like a very small area for distance vision.  I'm curious about how they came up with the design.

[Mr Jules]

I'd say it was probably the lenses.  Look at the diagram on this site.  I just discovered it and it goes a long way to explaining why the distance vision isn't as good.  Look at the narrow band that's provided for distances: http://www.airoptix.com/contact-lenses/air-optix-aqua-multifocal.shtml

That has put me off using multi-focals...

[Razor X]

I'd say it was probably the lenses.  Look at the diagram on this site.  I just discovered it and it goes a long way to explaining why the distance vision isn't as good.  Look at the narrow band that's provided for distances: http://www.airoptix.com/contact-lenses/air-optix-aqua-multifocal.shtml

That has put me off using multi-focals...

For someone who has never worn contacts,  I would definitely advise avoiding multifocals. But for those of us who are used to wearing contacts, it can be difficult going back to glasses.

[clarinetguy]

As I sit here trying to type without my readers, I agree about not combining the lenses- I tried the Bi of las that transition but could not get used to them. As I age my distance vision is a little better so I have 2 pairs of glasses- tons of readers around whenever I work .

[Razor X]

I'm still struggling with this.  I went to see my optometrist on Friday.  I had a whole string of complaints -- from eye fatigue and not being able to see as clearly as I need to, to not being able to wear my contacts for more than 8 hours a day (and some days not even that) due to dryness and discomfort.   He keeps telling me that my distance vision is 20/20 with these lenses.  And I keep telling him that I may be able to read the 20/20 line on the eye chart, but I can't see Powerpoint presentations at work and working on the computer is also difficult at times. 

I wanted to try a different prescription or at least a different brand of lenses, but he wants me to stick with what I have.    All I was able to get out of him were some lubricating drops to make the lenses more comfortable.  He said that should also help with some of the clarity issues.   I agreed to give it a try but if this doesn't work I'll be shopping around for a new doctor next.

I never dreamed that this would be so complicated.  My vision is dramatically better with my glasses than it is with the contacts at this point.  The doctor keeps telling me that compromises have to be made with multifocal contact lenses.  I'm amazed that some people apparently find this acceptable. 

[Mr Jules]

My vision is dramatically better with my glasses than it is with the contacts at this point.  The doctor keeps telling me that compromises have to be made with multifocal contact lenses. 

You've summed up presbyopia. A problem managed, not a problem solved.

You'll have to find a way of learning to live with it.