What are Multifocal lenses?

Multifocal lenses are corrective lenses that have multiple focusing powers. These help you see better at a variety of distances. In multifocal lenses, the different parts of the focusing power are mixed. They have a prescription for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and intermediate distances.

Multifocal lenses correct age-related vision issues. They offer a smooth or progressive transition between farsightedness and nearsightedness correction. They also eliminate the need to change glasses depending on your activity. Multifocal lenses let you see comfortably at different distances. They allow you to see up close, near, or far without changing your glasses.

There are different types of multifocal lenses such as bifocals, trifocals, and progressive lenses. Bifocals and trifocals are glasses with two or three prescriptions in one pair. The prescriptions are separated by distinct lines in these lenses. Progressive lenses differ due to their smooth transition between prescriptions. Progressive lenses do not have lines and allow you to switch prescriptions effortlessly.

Difficulties using multifocal lenses for the first time:

One of the key tasks of an Optometrist is to prescribe glasses correction. You may be disappointed when you first put your glasses on, especially your progressive glasses. There could be a variety of causes for your dissatisfaction with your new glasses. One of the reasons for this dissatisfaction can be difficulty in adaptation.

• Adaptation

Adaptation is defined as the ability of the eye to adapt to changes in the environment or changes in the observer, such as those caused by sickness, treatment, age, or a new prescription. Younger patients can adapt quickly and easily to new prescriptions. However, older patients seem to have greater difficulty adapting to glasses. Adapting to the prescribed spectacle is very important. Average dissatisfaction rates for optometry practices are likely to be in the range of 1.0-3.0%. In 2008, a study found that every year around 400,000 patients in the UK return to a practice who are dissatisfied with their glasses due to refractive errors and adaptation problems.

When ascending and descending the stairs, multifocal (progressive lenses) can cause complications. The staircase may appear closer than it is since the reading correction is situated at the bottom of the lens. It is, nevertheless, a matter of adapting to your multifocal lenses. Problems usually go away after a week or two, so give yourself plenty of time to adapt to your new multifocal glasses.

Adapting to Your Multifocal Lenses:

You can more easily adapt to your new multifocal lenses if you follow these steps:

• Wear your multifocal lenses as much as possible when they are new. This will help train your eyes as you move between the various parts of the lenses. Most people can adapt to their multifocal lenses in a week or two if they do it this way. During this time, you may also need to change the way you read.
• When walking, don’t look down. In certain instances, such as while climbing stairs, the lower section of multifocal lenses makes things appear larger, which may cause you to miscalculate your steps and create mishaps. Tilt your head down and look over the lower part of your lenses.
• When converting to multifocal lenses, finding the proper frames is important. When it comes to picking new frames, the height of the lenses about your eyes is vital, so take your time and make sure they are comfortable and fit your face properly.
• Patience is required when wearing multifocal lenses for the first time.
• When you get a multifocal lens, don’t wear other glasses (particularly if you have an older prescription or single vision).
• Adjust the chair height and screen level if you’re working at a computer for the best comfort and clear eyesight.
• When using progressive lenses, turn your head rather than your eye. Do not glance through the sides of the glasses because progressive additional lenses can affect peripheral vision.
• When reading, lower your eyes, not your head.
• Let your optometrist know if you have any problems, and don’t drive until you’re completely comfortable with your multifocal lenses.

Your optometrist is always available to help you, whether you have vision problems or are uncomfortable with your new multifocal glasses. It’s not time to give up multifocal lenses just because you’re experiencing headaches, dizziness, or nausea. If progressive lenses don’t work, it’s possible that the measurement, whether in fitting or on prescription, is switched off. Adjusting the type of progressive lens you’re using, elevating or lowering the optical centers of the lenses, or switching frames could all help you solve this problem. With the latest advancements in technology, adapting to progressive lenses has never been easier. If everything else fails and you still don’t think progressive lenses are right for you, bifocals or trifocals are great options that can help.