Multifocal Contact Lenses!

Multifocal contact lenses work very differently than multifocal (or bifocal) glasses.  When you wear bifocal or no-line bifocal (progressive/multifocal) glasses the reading prescription is towards the bottom of the lenses.  As a result, you must move your eyes down and the clear reading area will be found.

However, multifocal contact lenses (we call them multifocal due to their ability to address far, computer, and reading distances...bifocal implies only two distances) work on a completely different concept.   Most multifocal contacts work based on pupil reactions.  When an individual looks up close to read, the pupils constrict and become a completely different size than when that individual is looking at street signs far away.   Multifocal contacts take advantage of this natural variation in pupil sizes by placing distant and near prescriptions in different areas of the lenses.

There are several different manufacturers of multifocal contacts, and they each have their own unique method of distributing the prescription across the lens.  The two most common designs are concentric and aspheric.
Translating design can be found in some rigid gas permeable (hard) contacts.

Yet, the best multifocal contact lens design will ultimately depend on your prescription, visual requirements, and pupil size.    But with several brands, there are many options for those who need multifocal glasses and want to experience the convenience of contact lenses.

With all of the technology that goes in to the lenses, it seems like they should look like this!!!