contact lens case with contact lens on finger

New Technology in Bifocal Contact Lenses

by ArticlesBlog

Bifocal contact lenses have been around for years, but over the course of time they’ve come a long way. Thanks to advances in technology, today’s options are more comfortable, more effective, and available in a wider variety of designs than ever before. If one type or brand doesn’t work for you, there’s a good chance another will.

As of early 2026, new bifocal/multifocal contact lens technology focuses on enhancing comfort for presbyopia through advanced water-gradient materials, daily disposable options, and customized, stable designs. Key innovations include “celligent” technology for enhanced surface hydration, “digital boost” features for screen time, and expanded, stable Toric multifocal options.

Around age 40, many people begin to notice changes in their near vision due to presbyopia—a natural condition that makes it harder to focus on close objects. You might find yourself holding menus, books, or your phone farther away to read clearly, or relying on reading glasses or bifocals. For those with active lifestyles, bifocal and multifocal contact lenses offer a convenient alternative—no extra pair of glasses needed.

There are several types of contact lenses designed to address both near and distance vision:

Concentric Multifocal Lenses
These lenses feature a center zone for distance vision, surrounded by rings that alternate between near and distance prescriptions.

Aspheric Multifocal Lenses
Similar to progressive eyeglasses, these lenses provide a smooth, gradual transition from distance to near vision without visible lines. They rely on your brain’s ability to adapt and select the correct focus depending on where you’re looking.

When choosing the right lens, factors like your pupil size and near vision prescription (called your “add”) are important. In general, aspheric lenses tend to work well for mild to moderate presbyopia, while concentric or segmented designs may be better for more advanced cases.

Bifocal vs. Multifocal Contacts—What’s the Difference?

  • Bifocal contact lenses contain two distinct prescriptions—one for distance and one for near vision. Some designs, called segmented or translating bifocals, position the near prescription in the lower portion of the lens, similar to bifocal glasses.
  • Multifocal contact lenses offer a range of powers within the same lens and typically work in one of two ways:
    • Simultaneous Vision: Your eye looks through both near and distance zones at once, and your brain selects the appropriate focus.
    • Alternating Vision: The lens shifts slightly as your eye moves, allowing you to look through different zones for near or distance vision.

Today’s lenses are available in soft, rigid gas permeable, and hybrid materials. Many options also offer flexible replacement schedules, including daily disposables for added convenience and hygiene.

If you’ve struggled with bifocal contacts in the past—or thought they weren’t an option for you—it may be time to try again. Modern designs have made them more accessible and effective for a wider range of patients.

Ready to simplify your vision and enjoy activities like reading, gardening, or sports without switching glasses? Contact Bissell Eye Care at 724-443-6767 or 724-226-0444 to learn how today’s bifocal and multifocal contact lenses can work for you.

About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD, is the owner of Bissell Eye Care, proudly serving the Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. Dr. Bissell has received advanced training through the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, enabling him to help patients living with vision impairment and low vision challenges. With two convenient office locations and evening appointments available, Bissell Eye Care offers comprehensive eye exams for the entire family—starting as young as six months. Our services include ocular disease detection and treatment, prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, specialty activewear eyewear, contact lenses, and dedicated low vision evaluations for those with significant vision impairment and vision loss. We accept most vision and health insurance plans. To learn more, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown office at 724-443-6767 or our Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.

close up of bifocal contact lenses being placed in open eye via index finger

Bifocal Contact Lenses: A Clear Solution for Aging Eyes

by ArticlesBlog

Are you constantly switching between glasses — one pair for distance, another for reading? Maybe you’ve been relying on bifocals for years, or you’ve noticed that you’re starting to hold books, menus, or your phone at arm’s length just to see the text clearly.

If that sounds familiar, it might be time to consider a more flexible solution: bifocal or multifocal contact lenses.

Why Do Patients Choose Bifocal or Multifocal Contacts?

There’s a common perception that as your vision changes with age, your only options are bifocal glasses or reading glasses. But thanks to advancements in contact lens technology, many people now have a better alternative — especially those with active lifestyles who want the freedom of glasses-free vision.

These lenses are designed to help people with presbyopia — a natural, age-related condition that reduces your ability to focus on close-up objects. Presbyopia typically starts to affect people in their 40s or 50s and progresses gradually.

There are two main types of contact lenses for presbyopia:

  • Bifocal Contact Lenses

These lenses contain two distinct prescriptions in each lens — one for distance and one for near vision — much like traditional bifocal glasses. A segmented bifocal design places the reading prescription in the lower part of the lens and the distance vision in the upper portion, mimicking the design of bifocal glasses.

  • Multifocal Contact Lenses

Multifocal lenses offer a more blended visual experience. They contain multiple prescriptions across the lens, allowing your eye to transition naturally between near, intermediate, and far distances.

There are two main design styles:

  • Simultaneous Vision: Your eye views both near and far zones at the same time, and your brain automatically focuses on the appropriate one.
  • Alternating (or Translating) Vision: Similar to bifocal glasses, these lenses move with your eye’s natural motion, allowing you to shift focus as needed.

Materials & Wear Options

Bifocal and multifocal contacts are available in a variety of materials:

  • Soft lenses (comfortable and easy to adapt to)
  • Rigid gas permeable lenses (offer sharper vision for some prescriptions)
  • Hybrid lenses (combine a gas permeable center with a soft outer ring for comfort and clarity)

Many of these lenses are available in daily disposable options, offering convenience and reducing the risk of infection — a great option for those new to contact lenses or who prefer low-maintenance wear.

If you’re tired of juggling glasses or feel like reading glasses are taking over your life, you’re not alone. Many patients who thought they’d never be able to wear contacts have found success — and freedom — with bifocal and multifocal lenses.

At Bissell Eye Care, our doctors will assess your lifestyle, visual needs, and eye health to determine the best option for you. We’ll guide you through the fitting process, help you adjust, and make sure you’re seeing clearly and comfortably.

Modern Lenses

Modern contact lenses have come a long way — and so has your chance to enjoy clear vision at every distance without the hassle of multiple glasses. Whether you’re golfing, working on the computer, or reading bedtime stories to your grandchildren, there’s likely a contact lens solution that fits your needs.

Call us today at 724-443-6767 or 724-226-0444 to schedule a consultation and find out if bifocal or multifocal contact lenses are the right choice for your lifestyle.

Your vision matters — and so does your freedom.

About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.

Depositphotos_1473579_S

New Technology for Bifocal Contact Lenses

by Blog

Bifocal contact lenses have been around for many years, but until recently they weren’t very popular.  Today, new technology has produced more successful and a greater variety of designs. So if one design or brand doesn’t work for you, another might.

Often after the age of 40 people develop presbyopia, a condition that affects our ability to focus on objects that are near.  Think about it.  Do you have a separate pair of glasses for reading?  Or do you need to wear bifocals to see both near and far?  Some people find that they struggle to read newspapers, books, or menus and must hold them further away to be able to see the print better.  Bifocal contact lenses are great for people with active lifestyles who do not want to be chained to their reading glasses.

There are several different types of contacts that can be used to find what works best for you to replace your need for reading glasses or bifocals.  The doctors at Bissell Eye Care can give a proper diagnosis as well as help you find the best treatment options.

Concentric multifocal contact lens design contains the lens power for seeing distant objects in the center of the lens, which is surrounded by concentric rings of near and distance powers of your bifocal contact lens prescription.

The design of aspheric multifocal contact lenses is similar to that of progressive eyeglass lenses — there’s a gradual change in power from far to near, with no visible lines in the lenses.  Unlike eyeglasses, however, aspheric multifocal contacts are simultaneous vision lenses, so your visual system must learn to select the proper lens power for the moment.

Your pupil size and your “add,” or near prescription are two factors our doctors consider in choosing a bifocal contact lens that is best for you.   There are no hard and fast rules; but, aspheric multifocal contact lenses tend to work best for mild to moderate presbyopia, and concentric or segmented multifocal contacts often are more successful for advanced presbyopia.

Bifocal and multifocal lenses come in both soft and rigid gas permeable materials.  They also come in a hybrid form.  This means that the contacts have the option to be used and disposed of at set times, and can even be daily in some cases.

What is the difference……Bifocal, Multifocal contacts?

Bifocal contact lenses have two different prescriptions in the same lens.  They are similar to bifocal glasses where the top half is used for seeing far while the bottom is used for seeing close.  A segmented bifocal, and sometimes also referred to as an alternating or translating bifocal places the near vision prescription in the lower part of the lens, and the normal, distance prescription is in the rest of the lens.

Multifocal Contact Lenses and how they work

Multifocal contacts have a range of powers in each lens and are designed two different ways.

  1. Simultaneous Vision. This option is set up so your eye looks through both near and far at the same time.  Your brain adapts and allows focus on either the near or far prescription depending on the distance of the object.
  2. Alternating Vision. In the alternation set up is more like a bifocal glasses design.  It allows your pupil to move up or down as necessary to get the proper focus.

If you’re tired of carrying around two pairs of glasses, or have tried bi-focal contacts years ago but couldn’t wear them, technology has changed.    The doctors at Bissell Eye Care will work with you to see how bi-focal contact lenses can benefit you.

Are you ready to enjoy outdoor activities such as gardening and sports more easily?  People who once thought they could never benefit from contact lenses now have a second chance.  To learn more about the latest technology in bi-focal contact lenses, give our office a call at 724-444-6767 or 724-226-0444.

About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening and Saturday appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.