All about Multi-Focals!

Has your Optometrist recommended Multi-Focal Lenses to you?

We’re here to guide you through!

MultI-focals or Varifocals is a term used for a specially designed lens that assists you with all your visual needs

As we age and approach the age of 40, our eye muscles tend to weaken and it becomes very difficult to focus on nearby objects with clarity. This condition is called presbyopia

The treatment for presbyopia is either reading glasses, bi-focals or multifocals

Bi-focals was introduced in the late 1700s and served the purpose of using one pair of glasses to see far as well as to read or see near objects clearly. It’s easy to get confused between bi-focals and multi-focals. The main difference is that bi-focals has a distinctive line on the lens which separates the distance lens from the near lens. It only serves for two distances i.e. far and near. Read more about our bifocals!

Multi-focals on the other hand, serves the very same purpose with a more advanced approach. It is a progressive lens so instead of two focal points, there are multiple focal points thus making it easier for you to read at different distances, i.e. your computer screen or novel as well as to see far clearly. Multi-focal serves for distance, intermediate and reading correction all in one pair. Isn’t that Awesome!

Varifocals come in different designs and from different lab suppliers. One may ask the question of price differences between Optometrists. Each design may be more sophisticated and advanced. The higher the quality of the design, the more advanced the lens is and thus prices vary.

Multi-focals can be worn all the time with no hassle of having two pairs!

Just as using anything new in life, your brain needs adjusting to get used to the new pair of multi-focals

Here are a few tips on wearing Multifocals lenses for the first time:

• Wear your multi-focals all the time for the first week: Try to wear your multifocals as much as possible so that it helps to train your eyes to adjust to the new lenses. By wearing your new multifocals more often, you are able to adjust quickly During this period you will be able to familiarise yourself with the different focal points. Once you have become familiarised, you will know exactly how to tilt your head to look through a certain point for maximum clarity

• It is important to know that there are different designs of Multifocals The basic design is designed in a way in which all objects are blur on the side of the lens or in the peripheral field of view. This is unavoidable in all types of multifocal lenses, however tend to be less in more advanced designs.
• Different Designs offer a different level of clarity in te peripheral field of view. The more advanced a multi-focal is, the less distortions or blurry vision one would experience.
• Everything in the center will always be clear. To look at objects or paperwork on the side of you, you will have to move your head towards the target, not your eyes. In this way you are always focusing through the center of the lens and will always see clear

• Don’t look down while walking: The lower part of the multifocals tend to make things look bigger which could make you miscalculate a step and cause accidents. If you must look down while walking, tilt your head down and look through the top part of the lens

• Make sure your glasses fit your face properly: Upon collection of your spectacles, Our team will assist in the fit of the frame as well as demonstrate how to use your new lenses. If after some time of collecting, you notice your frame is loose or falling off, visit us in store and we will be ready to assist!

• Multifocals can take anywhere between 2-6 weeks to adjust. Patience is key while learning to adjust to the new pair!
• Slight dizziness, headaches and distorted peripheral vision are all normal symptoms of the adjustment phase

• By wearing the multifocals more often, you may adjust more quickly and will be able to exactly determine which portion of the lenses to look through for maximum clarity

This image will best describe how Multifocals work

Are you not one for spectacles?

We’ve got you covered!

Not only do multifocals exist in lenses but they are also available in contact lenses as well!

A thorough contact lens examination followed by a second consult is needed to find the perfect multi-focal contact lens for you!

Visit us for a full comprehensive eye test and we are ready to assist!