Specialty Contact Lenses for Astigmatism and Presbyopia
Eyewear treatment for astigmatism and presbyopia was once limited to eyeglasses. However, today Specialty contact lenses have made contacts an option for people with these conditions. At Family Vision - Clemson, we offer many types of contact lenses, including specialty lenses.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is an irregularity in the lens or cornea of the eye. The eye's curvature focuses light into the retina at the back of the eye. An imperfection in the curve of the eye causes your vision to be blurry or distorted.
Symptoms of astigmatism include:
- blurry vision
- distorted vision in certain areas
- eye strain
- headaches
- squinting
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is also known as age-related farsightedness. This means that as you age, it is harder to see or focus on nearby objects. This occurs because the eye lens loses its elasticity. Symptoms usually begin in the mid-40s and continue to get worse until age 65.
Symptoms of presbyopia:
- Holding objects farther away
- Difficulty with close up tasks, including threading a needle and reading
- Headaches
- Eye strain
Specialty Contact Lenses
Both astigmatism and presbyopia can be treated with multifocal lenses. They are available as soft contact lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses, known as RGP. These are often referred to as soft and hard lenses. We often prescribe Bausch + Lomb ULTRA Multifocal for Astigmatism Contact Lenses or Biofinity® toric multifocals to treat these conditions.
Some styles can be worn for up to a week without removing them, and others need to be removed each night. Some lenses are disposable, meaning you put in a new pair each day, while others require daily lens care.
Simultaneous Vision Designs
Simultaneous vision multifocal lenses have different areas of the lens for near and far vision. The wearer learns to automatically use the area that provides the best vision for the distance. They typically have distance vision in the center of the lens, and near vision on the outer area, but these can be reversed.
Concentric lenses have well-defined areas of distance and near vision. Aspheric lenses transition gradually from one to the other. These are most like progressive eyeglass lenses.
Segmented Multifocal Lenses
These lenses are segmented into a top and bottom. These are hard, or RGP, lenses. They have distance power on the top and center sections, and near vision at the bottom. Some lenses also have an area in the center for intermediate vision. These are most like bifocal or trifocal eyeglass lenses.
Multifocal Lenses at Family Vision - Clemson
No one should have to live with vision problems or be limited to one type of vision correction treatment. If you are looking for an optometrist in Clemson SC, contact us at Family Vision - Clemson. We will start with an eye test and then discuss your treatment options, including multifocal lenses.
