I have both progressive eyeglasses and, at different time and trials, have had multifocal and monovision versions of lenses. I definitely read and see better with the eyeglasses. As for the contact lenses, a whole other story. Multifocal lenses never worked that well for me, but several friends went through many trials to get the right prescription. I gave up, and now have monovision again. Again, I went through several contact trials to get an Rx that worked well (enough) for everything - distance, computer, and close- range reading/writing. I finally decided to use the Rx that gave me the best reading ability; my distance vision is not bad. But, there are tradeoffs; to make them "balance", some other things look fuzzy. Most everyone I have talked to has had pretty much my (and your) experience; you just have to keep trying different contacts to get what works. And to a person and opthamologist, they all say glasses work best. Good luck!!!!!

I just got bifocal contacts a couple months ago and I haven't seen this well in years !! I love them. They are not progressive , if I am understanding what you are saying. They have distance at the top and close at the bottom...just like bifocal glasses.

I have worn contacts for 45 years ! I had hard lenses till 1988 or so. Then I got gas perm as my corneas were getting so hard from no oxygen. I love the gas perm and have them still.

My regular lenses were not allowing me to see distance well or close well anymore. I was going to have to get reading glasses and I refuse to wear reading glasses..they make me too sick and dizzy when I have to switch back and forth. I had sacrificed all the distance I could to get all the close I could.

When I went in for a check up a few months ago my eye dr said that bifocal contacts had really come a long way and he thought I would be pleased. He was right. It took 3 tries to get them perfect. He is a great guy and was more than willing to work with me and he sent the left one back 3 times...3rd was the charm. As a byproduct my night vision, which had gotten to the point that I could no longer safely drive in a city at night , is now almost perfect again.

I hope that you will look into the contacts that are not progressive but have the divide that is more defined. I don't notice it at all . c

I wish I could wear multifocals and correct my vision without glasses, but after 30 years of wearing contacts to correct my myopia and astigmatism, and having to wear reading glasses for presbyopia for the past couple of years, I'm giving serious thought to just switching full time back to glasses because so far they don't make soft contacts that can correct all 3 conditions at the same time. It really drives me crazy to have to wear reading glasses on top of my contacts and not having them at hand when I need close focus, especially since being nearsighted most of my life I'd grown used to best vision being within 6 inches of my eyes - old age presbyopia is not a welcome squatter! I keep hoping that the technology will improve (okay, it has a lot, just not enough for me yet) but I think I'm going to end up wearing glasses as the norm and contacts for the special occasions where I don't need to read a menu.... My doc keeps trotting out the idea of Lasik for the myopia, but i'm terrified of being in that small percentage that goes blind from it, so that's not going to happen. Maybe correct for 2 out of 3 conditions for each eye for a total of 3 out of 3 overall...hmm, you've given me a question to ask my doc next month at the annual exam!

I really, really hope the progressives work for you - I definitely agree it's annoying to have to put reading glasses on and off with each activiity change after being used to the freedom of contacts. I want to turn back the clock selectively!

I wear gas permeable contacts and tried the progressive ones and just about passed out when I first put them in. I have a very strong prescription and it was hard to balance my needs so I finally gave up. I wear contacts and reading glasses. Is it a pain - yep but I'm used to it now. My glasses are progressive and like some of you they are best for my vision. Unfortunately I'm too vain to wear them in public.

Goldgirl - my son has a slight astigmatism and wears soft contacts without any problems.

Interesting thread!

Yes...my 50y/o eyes are getting worse too!! My right eye is getting worse faster than my left one. Been years since existing glasses were bought...I've let it slide too long!

I used to wear the early versions of the "Extended wear" soft-lenses back in the early/mid 80's. LOVED those things!! Could leave-'em in all night, and wake up seeing clearly! I think you could throw them away after 2 wks. and put a new pair in?!
(course I was in my mid-20's then...LOL!)

My world of clear vision is about ONE FOOT! Past that...blurrrrr city!

It's very exciting to me to know that I may have a chance with the new multi-focal contacts!!

Also-
I don't know what astigmatism, myopia are...can't remember!
Could some kind soul here explain these?!?!?

Faron

I used to have the monovision contacts -- one eye for distance and one eye for close up. The result was that I couldn't see either very well. I pretty much only used them for special occasions or for when wearing glasses was a problem, like skiing. I had to use reading glasses to see small type.

Later I switched to wearing just one contact lens. Because I was already nearsighted, as presbyopia set in I actually could read very well without glasses at all. Even then, I'd need reading glasses for low-light situations or for small print.

My brother has worn contacts all his life but cannot adjust to the bifocal contact lenses. I guess it's worth a try. You may be one of the lucky ones for who they work well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

You have my sympathy with the struggle to get decent vision. My next step is to have cataracts removed and to choose what kind of lens I want -- forever!!!

My hub tried contacts- forget it.
We normally go to Lens Crafters for his glasses; when we got new insurance he was going to try a local place that was in plan but when we went; the frames just did not seem like they'd last- he drives a truck for a living & if he can't get his glasses fixed in any state; he could be stranded. I told him I was not comfortable cheaping out on his vision & I'm glad we did not because I ended up finding a post on City-Data & people who have had progressive bifocals have problems. I can't remember if it's the actual cut or a combination of cut plus the type of glass used

I'm posting this because it may not be you but where you had the contacts made; I assume what applied to glasses could apply to contacts

I'm an optician and I wear progressives glasses and mono vision contact lenses. I love my progressive glasses, I am completely comfortable with them. Since I am nearsighted I do sometimes remove them when I am just reading.

Mono vision contacts worked well for me until I got into my 50's. I tried mulifocal(progressive)contacts but one area was always lacking. So my mono contacts correct the distance and intermediate well but the close vision is just okay. Sometimes I use readers over them for very fine print.

For the original poster, it is normal to have to try different lenses and different strengths with the multifocal lenses. Don't give up!And it is also normal to never have it as perfect as a what your vision used to be like.

If the reading is made stronger often the distance suffers. That is why even with the multifocals often one eye is corrected more for the distance and the other more for close.

Followup for Faron on eye condition terminology (as I understand them as a patient, not a practitioner)-

Myopia = Nearsighted (can see close, distance is blurry)
Astigmatism = Wavy lenses (flat doesn't look flat, vision is skewed/wavy/surreal - maybe Dali was astigmatic?)
Presbyopia = 'Old Age' focal inflexibility (focus can't adjust enough, leading to the dreaded, detested reading glasses)
Hyperopia = Farsighted (can see distance, close is blurry)

More than 2 of these at the same time = difficulty finding soft contacts that can correct them all without resorting to a pair of glasses on top of the contacts.

Thanks OCD!
Very kind of you!

Sometime this winter, I've gotta get my eyes checked!

Leg vein removal 1st-up though!
Leg #1 is this Thursday!
2nd leg surgery is Thu. Dec. 8th

Faron

Hmmm, I have #'s 1,2 and 3. It's a wonder I can see at all! I do wear progressive lens glasses now and have no problem with them.

Happyladi, do you know anything about the ReStor lenses for cataract surgery? I am considering them and would love more first hand reports.

Faron, good luck with vein removal. Sounds like you and I have reached the age where the old bod needs constant touch-ups.

I've been wearing contacts for the last 10 years ( I'm near sighted ) have just hit 43 and the Optometrist tells me as I've now also developed Presbyopia I need to switch to mono vision contact lenses, one lens for close up work and one for distance, seems weird to me, not sure I'll get used to it. Does anyone know of any other options to deal with presbyopia other than reading glasses ?

jess....I have the same two problems. As I stated above you can get real bifocal contacts....outer circle part is for close and center is for distance. They are wonderful. These are called concentric rings.I have not seen this well in years. Also my night vision has greatly improved. Here is a link to what I am talking about. Perhaps you can talk again to your eye Dr or else seek someone else to evaluate your condition. I do wear gas perms as they provide much better acuity than soft lenses. They are very easy to wear and very comfortable. c

Here is a link that might be useful: bifocal contacts

Trailrunner, I did not know that. I've had Ciba Air Optix multifocal contacts for nearly a year now. I see great reading and near and far distance. It did take a few trials. I originally tried Accuvue Oasys multifocal, but either my reading or my far distance vision was not quite right. So, we tried all the options with the Accuvue multifocals and moved on to the Ciba. These are so comfortable I don't even feel I have them in.

Sue -- It does take a couple tries to get it right! I have multifocal contacts (Air Optix) and progressive glasses. Love the progressive glasses for reading, computer and distance! Love the contacts for computer and distance, but reading -- not as much. But that was my choice. The optician told me that multifocal contacts would not be perfect, and would require some compromise between close-up and distance vision.

After trying several prescriptions, I chose better mid-range and distance vision over reading because I wear my contacts out and my glasses at home. I can read well with the contacts for short term things like the cell phone, grocery store labels, magazines, etc... At home, if I'm working or reading for any length of time, I'll put my glasses on.

The glasses are definitely better, but the contacts are pretty good, and I'm vain enough to not want to wear the glasses. After having to ask a stranger in the grocery store to read my list to me, I'm just happy to be able to see again!

Hope this helps. Good luck finding a solution that works well for you.

Well, just an update, I am on pair #3 right now and they are ALMOST working. I wonder if I might end up like you, happytobehome, wearing glasses occasionally. The first pair I tried were terrible for reading but great for distance. The second pair, I had the reverse problem. This time, the reading isn't great but it's better than the first round. I go back next week -- I think I will ask them to try one more time! I can't see print in magazine articles very well, and seeing emails, etc., on my iphone is a bit tricky.