Multifocal Contact Lenses

Can soft contact lenses be worn to manage myopia?

Yes, soft multifocal contact lenses have shown to be effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children.  These contacts are worn during the day like regular contact lenses.  

How are soft multifocal contact lenses different than regular contact lenses?

Specially designed multifocal contact lenses adjust the distance focus just like a regular contact lens, but they also adjust the way vision is focused at intermediate and near.  These specific adjustments ultimately result in slowing the elongation of the eye…or slowing the progression of myopia.

Are soft multifocal contact lenses safe for kids to wear?

Yes!  Kids generally do very well with soft contact lenses once they are educated in proper handling and hygiene techniques.  We generally recommend a daily disposable option to reduce the risk of complications.  Studies have shown the risk of microbial keratitis for soft daily contact lens wear is 0.42% over a cumulative 10 year time span.  

How many hours per day would my child need to wear the soft multifocal contacts need to be worn?

We recommend following practices for safe and comfortable contact lens wear.  The advancements in disposable contacts make them breathable and safe to be worn for a maximum 10-12 hours per day.  We also recommend that the soft multifocal contact lenses be worn every day to best manage the progression of myopia.

How long does myopia management with soft multifocal contact lenses last?

This may depend on several factors.  Most kids vision stabilizes by mid to late teen years.  We generally look for 2 years of stability in the prescription before discontinuing therapy.  However, many patients remain in soft multifocal contact lenses as their main form of correction even after therapy.