Multifocal contact lenses--look again!

: In this study aspheric progressive simultaneous vision multifocal contact lenses demonstrated up to 1.8 lines of lost distance visual acuity, reduction in distance and near stereoacuity, and mild to moderate difficulties with night driving, ghost images, haloes and glare. These deficits, which can be minimized with certain designs and lighting conditions, seem to be well tolerated by highly motivated young presbyopes. Combining different styles of multifocal contact lenses in the two eyes simultaneously may be another method of further improving performance. Depending on the design, the performance of these lenses approaches that of spectacle correction in terms of contrast sensitivity and near visual acuity, the latter being important to this population. Both test lenses proved easy to fit based on the manufacturer's recommendations alone. Although multifocal contact lenses may not be suitable for people whose occupations require precise distance visual acuity and stereopsis, our results suggest that they may be an acceptable alternative for a substantial proportion of presbyopes who desire the convenience, performance and improved cosmesis of contact lenses.