Progressive Lenses - Everything You Need to Know for Clear Vision at All Distances

What Are Progressive Contact Lenses?

Progressive contact lenses, or multifocal contact lenses, support vision at multiple distances. They combine different powers to help you see near, intermediate, and far.

They are mainly for people with presbyopia. This age-related change makes it hard to focus on nearby objects. It often starts in your early to mid-40s.

Progressive contact lenses differ from progressive glasses. Eyeglasses use different lens areas for different distances. Multifocal contacts contain several powers within the optical area.

How Do Progressive Contact Lenses Work?

Multifocal lenses contain more than one optical power. Designs vary, but the aim is the same. They provide vision across distances and reduce the need for reading glasses.

Common multifocal contact lens designs include:

• Aspheric designs: The optical power changes gradually across the lens rather than being divided into sharply separated zones.
• Concentric designs: Different powers are arranged in rings or zones within the contact lens.
• Centre-near and centre-distance designs: The central part of the lens may prioritise either near or distance vision, with other powers arranged around it.

Many modern soft multifocal contact lenses use what is known as simultaneous vision. This means that visual information for more than one distance is available at the same time. Your visual system gradually adapts to use the information that is most useful for what you are looking at.

Vision with multifocal lenses can feel different at first. Because of this, an adjustment period is common.

Progressive Contact Lenses for Presbyopia

Presbyopia develops as the natural lens inside the eye becomes less flexible with age. This reduces the eye's ability to change focus efficiently between different distances, particularly when looking at nearby objects.

Multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia provide several powers. This removes the need for a separate pair of reading glasses.

They may be worth considering if you:

• Find that small text is becoming more difficult to read
• Need to hold your phone or book farther away
• Frequently switch between distance correction and reading glasses
• Already wear contact lenses but are beginning to experience presbyopia
• Want an alternative to progressive glasses for some or all of the day

An optometrist can assess your prescription, eye health and contact lens fit before recommending an appropriate multifocal lens design.

Understanding ADD in Multifocal Contact Lenses

If you use multifocal lenses, you may see an ADD value. This is found on your prescription or packaging.

The ADD value represents the additional near correction incorporated into the multifocal design. Different manufacturers express addition in different ways. Some use numerical values, while others may use categories such as LOW, MED or HIGH.

Multifocal designs vary by manufacturer. An ADD value on one lens may not translate to another product. Do not switch models just because the power looks similar.

Read more about power, base curve, and addition in our guide to contact lens parameters.

Who Are Multifocal Contact Lenses Suitable For?

These lenses are for people with presbyopia. They need correction at multiple distances and want fewer reading glasses.

They are available for a range of prescriptions and in different materials and replacement schedules. However, the experience can vary between wearers.

Some people adapt quickly, while others notice that one viewing distance initially feels clearer than another. Contrast and vision in challenging lighting conditions can also feel different compared with single-vision correction.

A professional fitting is therefore particularly useful with multifocal contact lenses. Small adjustments to distance power, ADD or lens design can influence the balance between near and distance vision.

Benefits of Progressive Contact Lenses

For suitable wearers, progressive or multifocal contact lenses can offer several practical advantages:

• Vision at several distances: One pair can support near, intermediate and distance vision.
• Less dependence on reading glasses: Some wearers can reduce how frequently they need additional readers.
• Frame-free vision: Contact lenses move with your eyes and do not restrict the field of view with spectacle frames.
• Useful for active lifestyles: Contact lenses can be practical for exercise, sports and other activities where glasses may be inconvenient.
• Different replacement schedules: Multifocal designs are available as both daily disposables and reusable lenses.

Multifocal contact lenses do not necessarily provide identical vision to single-vision lenses at every distance. The goal is to find a useful balance between near, intermediate and distance vision for your everyday needs.

Daily or Monthly Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Progressive contact lenses are available with different replacement schedules.

Daily contact lenses are worn once and discarded after removal. They can be convenient if you want a fresh pair each day or only wear contact lenses occasionally.

One example is Dailies Total 1 Multifocal, a daily disposable multifocal lens designed for presbyopia.

Monthly contact lenses are reusable lenses that are cleaned, disinfected and stored between uses according to their recommended replacement schedule.

An example is Biofinity Multifocal, a reusable monthly multifocal lens.

Replacement schedules depend on several factors. These include your prescription, wear frequency, handling routine, and recommended lens model.

Getting Used to Multifocal Contact Lenses

It can take some time for your visual system to adapt to multifocal contact lenses. The experience differs from person to person, but several things can help during the adjustment period:

• Wear them as recommended: Consistent use can give your visual system time to adapt to the multifocal design.
• Allow time for adjustment: Near and distance vision may not feel equally natural immediately.
• Use the prescribed lens and parameters: Small changes in power or ADD can alter the balance between different viewing distances.
• Attend follow-up appointments: Your optometrist can check the fit and adjust the prescription if necessary.
• Consider another multifocal design if needed: Different manufacturers use different optical designs, so one multifocal lens may suit your visual needs better than another.

Can You Switch Between Multifocal Contact Lens Brands?

Multifocal contact lenses from different manufacturers are not automatically interchangeable.

Similar powers can still differ in design and material. They may differ in base curve, diameter, or how corrections are distributed.

If your current lenses work, stay with them. Use the same model and parameters that were recommended for you.

If you want to change brand, lens design or replacement schedule, discuss the change with your optometrist first.

Progressive or Multifocal Contact Lenses?

The terms progressive contact lenses and multifocal contact lenses are sometimes used for the same general type of vision correction. In the contact lens market, however, multifocal contact lenses is the more commonly used product term.

This should not be confused with progressive eyeglasses. Progressive glasses use different areas of the spectacle lens for near, intermediate and distance vision. Multifocal contact lenses instead place several optical powers within the contact lens itself.

If you have presbyopia and want to reduce your dependence on reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses may be an option. Start with a professional contact lens assessment and use the model and prescription recommended for your eyes.

You can explore our complete range of multifocal contact lenses at Netlens or browse all contact lenses.