Multifocal Contacts Part 2: Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia

UPDATE:  It's been almost a month since I've had these Acuvues for presbyopia -- and I LOOOOVE them!  I do NOT have to use drops during the day, much unlike the previous brand I was using.  And here's the true comfort test for me: we've had some fiercely cold temperatures for several weeks now -- i.e. really dry air indoors -- and I still do not need to use rewetting drops.  These new lenses remain comfortable all day long.  (The only time I need drops if if I've slept in them overnight.  Then, I need a few drops to 'wake them up', and they instantly return to terrific.)  The prior brand Purevision, while good, after about 8 hours left me wanting to take them out -- even on really humid, rainy days.  They frequently felt "gummy" on my eyes.  However, these new Acuvues remain fabulous allllll day!  AND -- the distance vision is so much sharper compared to Purevision -- my big complaint.

Back to the original post ...

Last year I posted about a new discovery: multifocal contacts.  (Click here for that original post.)  I found that, in addition to having to use reading glasses over the past years, my mid-range vision was deteriorating.  The speedometer was looking a bit fuzzy, and looking down at my textbook while teaching also required popping on my readers.  So, before going for my annual vision check-up, I did some research about bifocal contacts.  I found, however, that "multifocal contacts" had just come out, and my optician prescribed Bausch & Lomb's PureVision multifocal contacts.  I was quite happy with the results, only needing to use reading glasses when grading papers late at night, my tired eyes requiring a bit of a boost while grading in lower lighting student work sometimes written in light pencil.

I would say, however, that I was never completely happy with the loss of sharp distance vision.  Close-up and mid-range was terrific, but sometimes I was frustrated with distance.  While driving, signs were blurry until I was very close.  So, whenever I would be doing a lot of driving, I would use my single vision contacts in order to have crisp vision.  (I still love, by the way, Ciba Vision's Night & Day and have several boxes for back-up.)   At one point, I felt so cross-eyed with the blurriness that I quit wearing the multifocals for about a week or two, wearing instead the single vision ones.  Another complaint was that the lenses would feel "gummy" after a couple of hours, and I frequently needed to use eyedrops about mid-day.

Luckily, I went in 2 weeks ago for my annual check-up.  I talked with my optician about my occasional frustrations with the B&L Pure Vision multifocals -- the blurriness at distances.  I learned that there is ongoing development of products for us baby boomers, and that Johnson & Johnson had just released a new product in May 2009: Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia!!  THESE ARE AWESOME!!!  I was hesitant at first, because I had tried one of the Acuvue's other "Oasys" products a few years back and found that my eyes did not like the "Hydraclear" material -- the vision was blurry and it was a bit painful to peel them off my corneas at the end of the day!  However, these "Oasys" lenses are terrific.

The distance vision is much clearer AND they are super comfortable!   I got to try them out first for a few days before committing to buying them; but, I called the eye doctor on Monday to order.  Yesterday I happily picked up my 6 months' supply ... and think that I probably won't need to resort to my stash of single-vision lenses.  (Well, maybe if I go to some absolutely beautiful place like the mountains ...) 

So, my fellow baby boomers, if you are tired of having to pop on your readers for more and more things, such as reading a recipe while cooking, working at your computer, putting on make-up, etc. you'll love multifocal contacts!  And, I highly recommend these new Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia ones.  They are an improvement over last year's selection!

[By the way, one of the cheapest online contacts suppliers I've ever found is Contact Lens King.  I highly recommend it!]