I was just introduced to multi-focal contact lenses. I don't use progressive glasses (yet).

Wow. It's only been in use for a day but I like them. I can see distance and read up close (well, not perfectly like when I take off my glasses but good enough). Good enough such that I don't need separate readers when wearing contacts now (w/ my distance Rx contact lenses, I need to use readers for books, menus, phone, etc).

Anybody been using them already? Thoughts? Any reason not to get them?

Yes; they work “pretty good” in most cases; no.

Always good to have an independent professional opinion. Isn't SF great?

I have a -3.75 / +1.25 sample (Rx is -4.25).

I think it would be better to increase to -4.0 (not necessary for day but may be a little better at night). If I do so, wondering if I should keep +1.25 or increase ADD to +1.50 to compensate. Wondering if the increased delta is going to be adverse or not.

I've tried them about 10 years ago for about two years. They never work well enough for me and they were super expensive. Maybe they have improved since then. My complaint was while driving. The distance to the dash instrument and height of focus was the problem. This was particularly problematic with the phone/tablet running apps mounted above the radio. Reading at handheld distance and downward angle was not a problem.

Your RX is slight more nearsighted than me if I am understanding it correctly. How is it performing for you while driving, and shooting pistols and rifle if you had a chance to evaluate it for the latter two.

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MF contact lenses?

Oh, thought this had something to do with Samuel L Jackson

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Originally posted by BigSwede:

quote:

MF contact lenses?

Oh, thought this had something to do with Samuel L Jackson

That would be Contact Lenses, MF

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Always good to have an independent professional opinion. Isn't SF great?

I have a -3.75 / +1.25 sample (Rx is -4.25).

I think it would be better to increase to -4.0 (not necessary for day but may be a little better at night). If I do so, wondering if I should keep +1.25 or increase ADD to +1.50 to compensate. Wondering if the increased delta is going to be adverse or not.

Jealous of that...
I'm 11.5L/10.5R, non-Lasik candidate.

I make them.
We make the power in .25 steps so -3.25, -3.50, -3.75 from -12.00 to +6.00
We only make the offset, or reading power, in 4 powers. -0.75, -1.25, -1.75, and -2.25. There are plans to expand that but I don't know if they are available yet.
You get the offset that is closest to your reading power but it may not be exactly what you need so they work "ok".

If you need a -2.25/-2.00 you can try a -2.25/-1.75 or a -2.25/-w.25 and see which one works better. Economics dictates that we don’t make closer offset powers.

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

I had Lasik back in 1999 for near-sighted, wore contacts for about 8 years leading up to the surgery. My distance vision has been diminishing over the past 1.5 years, so I spoke with a few Dr's about touching up the Lasik. The surgeon I decided to use is going to correct just my dominant eye, so that I can retain close vision for reading with my non-dominant eye; but, he's out of commission till after the new year, so I decided to get contacts for my dominant eye in the mean time. It's been a week, and correcting one eye only has worked out perfectly.

I will have to remember the MF contacts if my non-dominant eye gets too bad in the future.

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Originally posted by konata88:
Always good to have an independent professional opinion. Isn't SF great?

I have a -3.75 / +1.25 sample (Rx is -4.25).

I think it would be better to increase to -4.0 (not necessary for day but may be a little better at night). If I do so, wondering if I should keep +1.25 or increase ADD to +1.50 to compensate. Wondering if the increased delta is going to be adverse or not.

What make/model of lens are you trying (B&L Revive?)? There only a few MF SCLs that have a +1.25 add; most are in 1/2 diopter steps for add (i.e. +1.00, +1.50, etc).

As far as modifying distance for night, that is an individual thing. I actually do better under-corrected...and my Rx is very similar to yours; this is also a lens-dependent variable.

J&J Acuvue Max. I've been using their Oasys line without issue.

I'll give these samples a few more days. Then maybe go ask for a different Rx or just order the same as the samples.

I don't have any major complaints, just wondering if I can get an Rx that may be marginally more optimal. Mainly worried about the delta since the whole point is to improve near vision - I feel that moving to -4.00 and keeping +1.25 would compromise the desired level of near vision. But maybe not.

I tried them a few years back, and they were okay in the office and in daylight. But at night I couldn't see well enough, couldn't read street names, etc.

From what I could tell they basically just knocked down the correction enough that you didn't need readers. But distance vision was also affected. Not a true bifocal, but somewhere in between.

I need more testing at night but it seemed fine the first time.

I heard and read that MF lenses may not be good depending on the person. Aberrations and such.

But luckily, it's been fine for me and no need for an acclimation period. I can see distance but magically can read as well. I'm just in a tweaking mode to see if I can make it marginally better but I'm actually probably fine as-is.

Costco has my sample lenses for sale at about $1 per lens I think. Not sure what my doc will charge. They have 1 day and extended versions too (same make/model).

My understanding, conceptually, is that the lenses have varied concentric corrections. Your eye is actually getting two+ images at the same time but your mind uses the one "in context" (what you're looking at).

Alright-so those lens add powers are a "range" of power: Low (+0.75 to +1.25); Med (+1.50 to +1.75), High (+2.00 to +2.50).

Depending on your age, the jump from Low to Med might compromise the distance more than you would like.

One thing you and your eye doc could consider is keeping you dominant eye at the Low add power and trying the Med add in the non-dominant eye.

Your conceptual understanding is pretty much what I tell people.

Thanks. Okay, that's what I was worried about. I may still try a sample but may either stick w/ the sample Rx or try -4.00 / +1.25 (keep low).

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Originally posted by konata88:
...

My understanding, conceptually, is that the lenses have varied concentric corrections. Your eye is actually getting two+ images at the same time but your mind uses the one "in context" (what you're looking at).

That is my understanding as well, and in the office I could see the distance chart fine and read as well. When I left the office I could see fine at distance and see my instrument cluster/steering wheel fine. But that night it was just like driving with reading glasses on.

To be fair, I didn't try them very long, but I'd think my brain would have picked the distance correction if it were able to at night.

Also, I'm pretty sensitive to left eye/right eye differences, so would not be happy with the alternate eye plan.

I do have a heavy correction, like -7.50, so maybe that's why they didn't work as well for me.

I am excited and very happy for you if they work out!

Yea, I've been wondering how the distance and near Rx play together and modulate the final result.

Thanks - I hope so too. I prefer wearing contacts for activities, especially swimming, but carrying reading glasses around was inconvenient.

If this works, I may just wear contacts most of the time unless I'm just putzing around at home.

I'm now rethinking my use of the MF lenses. Maybe I can use them, and instead of needing readers all the time, I could get some added correction glasses to use at night, while driving. Wouldn't need them in most situations.

FWIW, the Acuvue Max are only available as daily disposables.

...and the "eye doc" party line is "no swimming with contact lenses."

As far as sensitivity between left and right eye differences...I've found that some individuals do better if the difference is minimized; others do better if the is a CLEAR difference between the two.

Hmm. Okay, I thought my doc said that they were available as multiple wear as well. I guess I misunderstood.

I wear them for swimming but I use goggles. Been doing this most of my life. I know the party line but I don't want to get Rx goggles.... The goggles are pretty secure - they stay on the face even w/o the elastic (just by suction). And I'm not diving / flipping - just leisurely going back and forth. Sometimes even twice