The 10 Best Selling Contact Lenses for Presbyopia in 2023

Do you have trouble reading or seeing nearby objects clearly? If so, you may have presbyopia, in which case you need multifocal contact lenses. Multifocal contacts are specifically designed to correct presbyopia. They are also a convenient alternative to bulky reading glasses.

In this article, you will learn about the best-selling contact lenses for presbyopia (on Lens.com, at least). Hopefully, you will also understand presbyopia and how you can address it through contact lenses.

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a condition caused by the hardening of the eye’s lens and naturally occurs with age. In fact, the word “presbyopia” comes from a Greek word that means “old eye.”

When you are young, the lens is still soft and flexible, and it can easily change shape. This is why your eyes can easily focus on nearby and distant objects. But as you get older, the lens becomes more rigid. It can no longer change shape as easily as before, making it harder to do close-up work, like reading a book.

Most people with presbyopia will notice this change in their vision in their forties or fifties. Their vision will gradually get worse from then on. Unfortunately, even those who have always had perfect vision are not exempt from presbyopia as it eventually catches up with everyone. Experts estimate that nearly two billion people worldwide have presbyopia.

What are the symptoms of presbyopia?

Presbyopia develops gradually. However, you may notice the following symptoms as early as age 40:

• Blurred vision at normal reading distance,
• Eyestrain or headaches after reading,
• Difficulty reading small print,
• Difficulty seeing and focusing on nearby objects, and
• A tendency to hold reading material at arm’s length.

Schedule a visit if your eye care professional (ECP) if blurry near vision keeps you from enjoying your day-to-day activities. Only your ECP can determine whether you have presbyopia and advise you of your options.

However, you should seek immediate medical care if you have a sudden vision loss in one eye, see flashes of light, have double vision, or experience sudden hazy vision.

How is presbyopia corrected?

Presbyopia is typically corrected with eyeglasses that have either bifocal or progressive lenses. Also known as multifocal lenses, progressive lenses contain three distinct optical powers in each lens. These prescription strengths allow the wearer to do close-up work (like reading a book), middle-distance work (like reading on a computer), and distance viewing (like driving) without having to use different glasses. For this reason, progressive lenses are especially popular among presbyopia sufferers over the age of 40.

On the other hand, Bifocal lenses have two distinct optical powers in each lens. In a typical bifocal lens, a small portion of the lens’s lower part contains the power needed to correct near vision, while the rest of the lens has the power needed to correct distance vision. Bifocal lenses provide a more limited range of vision for people with presbyopia than progressive lenses. The transition between the two distinct optical powers in a bifocal lens is also not seamless. For these reasons, bifocal lenses are often prescribed for children and young adults with relatively minimal vision problems.

Today, multifocal contact lenses are also a popular option for people with presbyopia. Multifocal contacts are a more convenient and comfortable alternative to bulky bifocals and reading glasses. They are also beneficial for presbyopic patients with other refractive errors, such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.

Multifocal contacts come in two designs: simultaneous vision designs and segmented designs. In multifocal contacts with a simultaneous vision design, different lens zones are designated for far and near vision. Depending on the object being viewed, the wearer determines which lens area provides the clearest vision.

Meanwhile, multifocal contacts with a segmented design have distinct near and distance power zones. In most segmented contact lenses, the top of the lens is for distance vision, and the bottom is for near vision.

What are the best contact lenses for presbyopia?

Your ECP will recommend a specific brand of multifocal contact lens based on your eye health needs. However, it helps to keep yourself informed on the topic before visiting your ECP for an eye exam or contact lens fitting. To that end, here is an overview of the 10 best-selling contact lenses for presbyopia on Lens.com.

Note that no contact lens is best for correcting presbyopia. As some articles do, it is misleading to claim that there can be a ‘best’ multifocal lens for everyone. Be aware that some websites with similar lists use affiliate links that earn a commission when readers click them. We do not use such links on Eyestyle. Instead, we give you hard metrics (e.g., water content, material type, and replacement schedule) to help you compare one multifocal lens to another.

Only your ECP can choose the best multifocal contact lens for you. The best thing we can do at Lens.com is to inform you of the different multifocal contact lens brands in the market and their features so that you are better equipped to discuss options with your ECP.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 best-selling contact lenses for presbyopia on Lens.com (2023):

1. AIR OPTIX AQUA Multifocal

AIR OPTIX® AQUA Multifocal contact lenses work with the eyes’ natural function for uninterrupted clear vision, near through far.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Lotrafilcon B (67% polymer)
• Water content
  – 33%
• Features
  – Precision-Profile® design works with the eyes’ natural function so you can see nearby and distant objects clearly
  – SmartShield® Technology creates an ultra-thin protective layer to help shield the lenses from deposits
  – TriComfort™ Technology lets the lenses breathe and retain moisture from breakfast to bedtime
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

2. Biofinity multifocal

Biofinity® multifocal contact lenses allow for remarkable vision performance at all distances.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Comfilcon A (52% polymer)
• Water content
  – 48%
• Features
  – Aquaform® Technology locks in water so you can enjoy incredible comfort all day long
  – Balanced Progressive® Technology provides several correction zones in each lens that are tailored to your prescription
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

3. 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST Multifocal

1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST Multifocal contact lenses combine multiple prescriptions into one lens for clear vision at all distances.

• Replacement schedule
  – Daily replacement
• Material
  – Etafilcon A (42% polymer)
• Water content
  – 58%
• Features
  – LACREON® Technology ensures a comfortable contact lens-wearing experience
  – Class 2 UV protection blocks over 97% UVB and 80% UVA rays
• Lenses per box
  – 30 or 90 lenses per box (1-month or 3-month supply)

4. ULTRA for Presbyopia

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia contact lenses seamlessly transition between distances for people with presbyopia.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Samfilcon A (54% polymer)
• Water content
  – 46%
• Features
  – 3-Zone Progressive™ Design delivers outstanding near, intermediate, and distance vision
  – MoistureSeal® Technology provides superior comfort all day
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

5. ACUVUE OASYS for Presbyopia

ACUVUE OASYS for Presbyopia contact lenses are designed to provide clear vision at any distance and superior, all-day comfort.

• Replacement schedule
  – 1-2 week replacement
• Material
  – Senofilcon A (62% polymer)
• Water content
  – 38%
• Features
  – STEREO PRECISION TECHNOLOGY™ allows wearers to see clearly at any distance, even in low light conditions
  – HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology helps to stabilize the tear film, minimize dryness, and maintain moisture
  – The highest level of UV protection available in a contact lens
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (3-month supply)

6. DAILIES TOTAL1 Multifocal

DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses deliver predictable, seamless vision at all distances.

• Replacement schedule
  – Daily replacement
• Material
  – Delefilcon A (67% polymer)
• Water content
  – 33%
• Features
  – Water Gradient Technology creates a cushion of moisture on the eye for long-lasting comfort
  – SmarTears® Technology creates an ultra-thin protective layer to help shield the lenses from deposits
• Lenses per box
  – 90 lenses per box (3-month supply)

7. SofLens Multi-Focal

SofLens Multi-Focal contact lenses provide a broad transition for near, intermediate, and far vision.

• Replacement schedule
  – 1-2 week replacement
• Material
  – Polymacon (62% polymer)
• Water content
  – 38%
• Features
  – Natra-Sight™ Optics allows for smooth transitions from one prescription zone to another
  – Visibility tint makes the lenses easy to handle during insertion and removal
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (3-month supply)

8. PureVision Multi-Focal

PureVision Multi-Focal contact lenses deliver long-lasting comfort and clear vision at any distance.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Balafilcon A (64% polymer)
• Water content
  – 36%
• Features
  – All-Distance Optics allows you to see clearly near, far, and in-between
  – AerGel material resists deposit buildup and stays moist all day
  – Rounded edge design ensures comfort
  – Inside-out indicator and visibility tint make for easier handling
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

9. Proclear multifocal

Proclear® multifocal contact lenses are ideal for presbyopic patients who experience eye dryness.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Omafilcon A (38% polymer)
• Water content
  – 62%
• Features
  – Balanced Progressive Technology provides multiple correction zones in each lens that are tailored to your personal prescription
  – PC Technology™ creates a shield around the lens to keep it moist and clean
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

10. PureVision2 Multi-Focal

PureVision2 Multi-Focal contact lenses allow you to focus on any distance in real-world conditions.

• Replacement schedule
  – Monthly replacement
• Material
  – Balafilcon A (64% polymer)
• Water content
  – 36%
• Features
  – 3-Zone Progressive Design delivers outstanding near, intermediate, and distance vision
  – Thin, rounded edges ensure all-day comfort
• Lenses per box
  – 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)

Conclusion

There is a good variety of multifocal contact lenses for presbyopic patients to choose from or consider switching to. Lens.com carries several contact lenses for presbyopia, including all major brands mentioned above. Keep this list in mind when discussing options with your ECP.