Multifocal contact lenses have been around for some time but it is only recently that the mainstream producers have been putting contact lenses for presbyopes in the front line.
Johnson & Johnson introduced the multifocal version of its 1-Day Acuvue Moist product at the BCLA conference in Liverpool this year with the promise of a lens that will maintain comfort and vision at all distances seamlessly into presbyopia. The points of difference J&J claims for the Moist multifocal lens are its design, which takes pupil size into account, the known comfort of the Moist material and the fitting process. The fitting centres around a guide which the company claims can achieve success (94 per cent) within two pairs.
From a wearer’s point of view the fitting is certainly simple. After a fresh refraction, dominant eye determination and a +1.00 blur test the patient’s reading needs are assessed. A simple fitting guide offers the best balance of distance and near vision, the first fit is then made. The patient is invited to let the lens settle for ten minutes and encouraged to try real life tasks such as using their phone, the vision is then checked. After this settling in period a second tweak for enhanced near, or enhanced far is offered. This is also specified in the fitting guide.
In this case the initial fit provided excellent vision at near and the distance vision was as good as could be expected for a low astigmat in a spherical lens. The balance of vision felt good and the Moist material is certainly comfortable and easy to handle and put on the eye.
After a week of wear, in an attempt to sharpen the distance vision, I opted for the enhanced distance tweak suggested by the fitting guide. This helped distance at the expense of some clarity at near. For an office setting I would suggest the original fit was probably most suitable.
Despite the small size of my pupils this was a successful fit. Johnson & Johnson 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal is a very comfortable lens that provides spectacle free vision for a varifocal wearer. Whether that wear is for sport or just to stay in lenses it’s an option many presbyopes will appreciate.