How to succeed with multifocal contact lenses

Multifocal contact lenses are advancing fast in the contact lens market, and optometrists may be surprised at their applications. This topic was discussed at a rapid-fire session at the American Academy of Optometry 2019 annual meeting in Orlando.

Speakers included:
• Beth Kinoshita, OD, FAAO, at Pacific University College of Optometry
• Vinita Henry, OD, FAAO, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry
• Dawn Lam, OD, FAAO, at Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
• Julie DeKinder, OD, FAAO, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry

Soft multifocal considerations
A crucial aspect of fitting soft multifocal contact lenses, according to Dr. Kinoshita, is good centration.

With single-vision (SV) contact lenses, there is some room for error in centration. But in multifocal lens designs, specific optics can help the lens center over the visual axis. Thus, centration is more important for a proper fit.

“Today’s off-the-shelf contact lenses provide many of these features,” she says.

Fitting considerations for multifocal contact lenses are anatomical, so ODs should take care to ensure good coverage and movement.

“I challenge ODs in practice to really start looking at the decentration, though slight, of their contact lens fits,” Dr. Kinoshita says.

Related: How to master hybrid contact lenses