Multifocal or monovision contact lenses

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

I’m 46, and starting to struggle a bit with my close vision. I had a lens check earlier this week - have worn contact lenses for distance since my teens - and have come away with trials of multifocal and monovision lenses. I wondered if anyone had experience of either? Previously I was wearing -4 and -4.25, and have been given multifocal lenses of -4.75 (with a close reading addition), and monovision lenses of -3.25 and -4.75.

I tried the multifocal lenses after work today, and my vision was great - but I felt weird, headachey and slightly nauseous. That might have been because I switched from my usual lenses, and also possibly because I’m just getting over tonsillitis and a rotten cold, so my eyes were tired and dry anyway. Both types of lenses are the same brand as I’ve worn for years - Clariti silicon hydrogel dailies.

It would be really helpful to hear other people’s experience of either/both. (I did search but the previous threads are quite old, and I think the multifocal lenses have become more sophisticated since.)

I have mono vision lenses and they are fine for day to day, great for things like reading labels in the supermarket. They were easy to get used to. I find them fine to drive in as well. At work I stick to glasses, I have specific office glasses which are meant for using a computer but are also good for reading and fine for walking around (but not for longer distances). I find the mono vision lenses tiring at work. I have mild astigmatism though, which my lenses don’t correct, which probably leads to them not being great for reading. My eyes have very different prescriptions which is meant to make mono vision easier. The good eye has the close lens, the bad eye has distance. Mine are -1 and -4.

I have multifocal lenses, or to be more precise I have one multifocal lens. I use a toric lens in one eye so can’t have a multifocal lens for that.

I have got on well with it (only been using it for a few months). Can’t see for really close work (use cheap reading glasses for that) but otherwise really good.

I wear multifocals but not every day (dry eyes). Great on distance and driving but not so great for reading.

I was told I'd be better getting lenses for distance and glasses for reading. I mainly wear them for going out though so stick to glasses at work.

Thanks for the replies. I woke up with a migraine thus morning, so I wonder if it was connected or coincidence.

How long did it take to get used to the lenses, and did you build up to wearing them gradually? I wore them from about 4.30 - 9 last night, maybe that was too much? I’m going to try the monovision next. I don’t drive, so that’s not an issue, but I work as a lecturer and need to see the room I’m teaching, plus for marking. I have always hated wearing glasses and only really use them at home, so I really don’t want reading glasses.

I am a dispensing optician...well was when I worked for a living...

I have tried all sorts and tbh the only thing that gives me GOOD results is distance lenses and reading specs. Lots of the multifocals were okay for everyday, at home and work but really felt dangerous for driving in the dark.

The best visual results I got were with lenses was with Mark Ennovy toric multifocals...but they had to be fitted tight to avoid excessive movement to ensure decent vision, but the wearing time was down to eight hours tops and I really was glad to get them out of my eyes at the end of the day

Currently I am back to basic silicone hydrogel torics, monovision which this time round is working well, I tried it before and the reduced distance acuity in the left eye drove me bonkers.
However I think this is mostly because there was a fair shift in my last prescription ...more short sighted in the left and my last specs were effectively monovisioning me because they were the old powers!
Wearing time is basically all the time I am up...lenses go in once I wake up and out when I go to sleep so well over 12 hours and mostly 14 hours daily, comfort with the hydrogels is fabulous.

Wear my single vision specs maybe once a week and squint at things held right in front of my face if I really need to see anything close up, or perch specs on the end of my nose.

I keep a pair of +1.50DS ready readers in my bag for a boost in emergency small print in dark places situations when the mono vision is not quite cutting it but on the whole it's working!

I mostly just put the lenses in and get on with it, swapping and easing them in gradually just prolongs any adaptation I find.

msmighty that’s really helpful, thank you. It sounds like the multifocal lenses are quite tricky to get right.

I have the monovision lenses in today and think they are a better option for me. I’m in silicon hydrogel dailies, and have been for years, so no worries on comfort, it’s just about getting used to the prescription. I wasn’t using reading glasses at all, so my long sightedness is pretty minor.

I’m also a lecturer, I found that seeing notes, the board and the class was a challenge. I have varifocal glasses for that (which isn’t a solution for you). Most of my colleagues seem to have distance lenses and reading glasses. They’re men, though, so they have pockets to keep glasses in. I don’t know what they do in lectures, Perch glasses on the end of their noses? Mono vision lenses would be idea. You might find you need some reading glasses in addition for close work.

chememger I see female colleagues with what I assume are reading glasses on their heads, like people do with sunglasses. I have been fine with distance lenses only, but I know when I am using the iPad I frequently need to stretch out the screen.

I know ageing is a privilege but some parts really suck!

oh yes, +125% is a great help on screens! :o

I had mono vision lenses for a while but found I needed reading glasses for close vision at certain times which was a hassle. I also felt it gave me eye strain as well and would find that I had a headache by mid afternoon. The thing that gave me the best vision was single vision contacts and reading/computer glasses (computer glasses are a slightly different prescription to readers, opticians will put it on your prescription if you ask) when I needed them. My eyes have got drier as I have got older, though, which has made wearing contacts less comfortable and I got sick of carrying glasses around with me so a few years ago I, very reluctantly, gave up my contacts and got varifocals.

Thanks catmar - I feel like the monovision is working for me, but I haven’t done a full day, or work, so I will be mindful re headaches.

Interestingly, where I really noticed my close vision wasn’t good was painting my nails, which I tended to do with my glasses on, but usually taking them off and leaning right in. Tonight I painted my nails with my contacts!