Multifocal / varifocal contact lenses

[Perihols]

Hello.
I have negative 3 vision in both eyes and have been wearing contact lenses for over 20 years, now in my mid 40s. My near vision has deteriorated and I need to change my lenses (+1.5 power for reading)

What make of lenses did people get on with? Should I register for a contact lenses trial somewhere or do I just need to buy and try various combinations? I had my eye tested at a local boots opticians but I dont rate them. I have read about monovision lenses vs multifocals - is this something that needs to be tried and recommended by an optician?

Lastly, does laser surgery help? I dont mind getting that done if it means I can fix either my short or long sightedness and just wear simple lenses.

Thank you.

I've tried both... and neither were satisfactory unfortunately.
I've worn contact lenses for many many years (-5.75 and -6.25 so fairly strong prescription) and so when I needed reading glasses on top, decided to give them a go.
The optician did warn me that there is a slight compromise with varifocal contacts... your distance vision isn't quite as sharp as with your normal contacts and neither is the reading vision. I found it frustrating and could really tell the difference. The mono vision didn't work for me.. my brain refused to adjust!
I wear my distance contacts with readers on the top of my head in the day and some really good varifocal glasses in the evening!

@Sonolanona ah, thanks for sharing. not the news I was hoping to hear. Want to avoid wearing glasses - not just for vanity, but when I occasionally did, they made my head hurt (on the right prescription at that time). I still want to try contact lenses before I give up

@Sonolanona ah, thanks for sharing. not the news I was hoping to hear. Want to avoid wearing glasses - not just for vanity, but when I occasionally did, they made my head hurt (on the right prescription at that time). I still want to try contact lenses before I give up

Bump

I've tried the varifocal lenses. My opticians where I get my usual lenses from gave me a week's worth, but I just could not get along with them. My brain didn't seem to want to cope with them.

From people I know who have had it, the laser surgery works brilliantly. But it can be expensive, and I'm not at the stage where I really want to take the risk, however minimal it is.

Yes do a trial

I tried varifocals and got on with them apart from I didn't think the distance was as good for driving so I stayed with my standard lenses and resigned myself got wearing glasses for computer work etc

However after a couple of issues with the branch I was with re lens deliverer and after care I went to another high street chain and had a trial and ended up with mono vision and it's been a revelation -I'm loving it

I wear varifocal contact lenses. They work brilliantly but I had to try a couple of different versions of my prescription to find the right balance. The lenses have circles of long and short distance adjustment and my brain just immediately sees 20:20 vision. Specsavers.

The only change is I use my glasses to drive at night as I don’t feel as clear in the dark. But I’m in my 50’s so that’s part of it too.

In a similar position as you. Worn lenses for 30+ years, very short sighted (-6.5/-7.5). Started struggling with near vision/reading. Optician confirmed +1.5 for that. Suggested we try changing my lens prescription to counteract, rather than trying varifocal lenses (I also have astigmatism, which would make varifocal much more expensive). They swapped me to -5.5/-7. I was skeptical at first, but the monovision has been great. Effectively my left eye does the reading, and my right does distance work, but I don't really notice it unless I'm consciously only using one eye at a time.