What are Soft Multifocal Contacts?
Soft multifocal contact lenses are a type of contact lens designed to address the progression of myopia, also known as nearsightedness, in children and young adults. Your child will still be able to see far away and will still be able to read through these contacts. There are a few brands of daily disposable multifocal contacts available as well as custom soft lenses for higher prescriptions.
several ways in which these lenses may help slow down the progression of myopia:
- Peripheral Defocus: Soft multifocal contact lenses are designed with multiple zones of different powers, including a distance-focused zone and one or more near-focused zones. By providing clear vision for both distance and near vision simultaneously, these lenses create an intentional peripheral defocus. Peripheral defocus refers to the manipulation of the peripheral retina’s optical focus, which is thought to influence the growth and development of the eye. This peripheral defocus may help slow down the elongation of the eye, which is associated with the progression of myopia.
- Peripheral Optics: Soft multifocal contact lenses can also optimize the peripheral optics of the eye. Normal single vision contact lenses may cause peripheral hyperopic defocus, meaning the peripheral retina is exposed to a slightly blurred image. This peripheral blur may trigger eye growth and myopia progression. In contrast, soft multifocal lenses can improve the peripheral optics by providing clearer images in the peripheral visual field, potentially reducing the stimulus for eye elongation.