If you wear multifocal contact lenses, you know the pitfalls: vision is often a compromise between clear distance and clear reading, lighting has huge affects on vision quality, and finding a balance between good computer vision versus clear reading vision is often a struggle in higher prescriptions. Multifocal contact lenses on the market today are leaps and bounds better than their predecessors, but I always counsel my patients on what to expect, because vision won't be as clear as it is through glasses, no matter what power multifocal contact lens we chose. This is all the function of the lens design, since in a contact lens you are only looking through the center of the lens, the multiple powers for distance and near must be layered in rings one on top of the other. That means your brain is processing a distance and a near image at the same time, and having to select the clear image to process. But luckily, multifocal designs are continuing to improve, and Bausch and Lomb's new design has been a true upgrade to the market!
The PureVision2 Multifocal uses the company's new thinner silicone hydrogel material, that has also received approval for overnight monthly wear due to its high oxygen transmission (130 dk/t in a -3.00 lens). It is a monthly disposable contact lens, just like the best soft lens designs on the market. The design is tailored from the the innovative C-Vue multifocal designs that have found a regular place in my arsenal. Previous multifocals have a 2 power design: 1 for distance and 1 for near. The PureVision2 offers a "3-Zone Progressive" design that offers blended distance, computer and reading vision. The result? A much stronger reading vision effect without compromising distance clarity to the extent other lenses on the market do!
How to Fit the Lens
I've had this lens in my office for less than a month, so fitting is still a work in progress. I have had good results with the company's recommendations for fit, so here's a quick break down:
Glasses add up to +1.50D = Fit both eyes in LOW Add
Glasses add +1.75 or up = Fit both eyes in HIGH Add
My rep recommended letting the lens settle for 10 minutes for best vision results, and I have found that near tends to focus quickly, but it does take a few minutes for best distance vision to come into view for the patient. You need to give it that focusing time, just like you would an astigmatism contact lens. Trouble shooting? B and L recommends splitting adds if the patient is suffering from blur before over-refracting:
Like most multifocals on the market, the PV2 MF doesn't mask astigmatism well. Apparently up to -1.00D cyl you may be able to get acceptable vision, but past that the results are mediocre. Still waiting on a good soft contact lens with astigmatism and multifocal correction (keep dreaming right now...).
Liking this lens? Have any trouble shooting advice or want questions answered? Please post in the comment section and I will try to help out!
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| Via Parameters available +6.00 to -10.00, approved for 30 days extended wear! |
How to Fit the Lens
I've had this lens in my office for less than a month, so fitting is still a work in progress. I have had good results with the company's recommendations for fit, so here's a quick break down:
Glasses add up to +1.50D = Fit both eyes in LOW Add
Glasses add +1.75 or up = Fit both eyes in HIGH Add
My rep recommended letting the lens settle for 10 minutes for best vision results, and I have found that near tends to focus quickly, but it does take a few minutes for best distance vision to come into view for the patient. You need to give it that focusing time, just like you would an astigmatism contact lens. Trouble shooting? B and L recommends splitting adds if the patient is suffering from blur before over-refracting:
- Low add lenses with near blur? Bump the non-dominant eye to a high add lens
- High add lenses with distance blur? Bump the dominant eye down to a low add
Then over-refract as per usual for refinement. So far I have had good results without splitting adds so you may find you don't have to go that route often.
Like most multifocals on the market, the PV2 MF doesn't mask astigmatism well. Apparently up to -1.00D cyl you may be able to get acceptable vision, but past that the results are mediocre. Still waiting on a good soft contact lens with astigmatism and multifocal correction (keep dreaming right now...).
Liking this lens? Have any trouble shooting advice or want questions answered? Please post in the comment section and I will try to help out!
