The Five Myths of Monovision Correction of Presbyopia: Myth #4

In this five-part series of EyeMatters, we are discussing the Five Myths of Monovision Correction which are:

We have already dispelled myths 1-3. In this edition, we will address Myth #4, Multifocal lenses provide compromised visual quality.

Of all the myths about monovision and multifocal correction this one couldn’t be further from the truth. As eye care professionals, one of our top goals is to provide patients with the best vision correction options available to them. With that goal in mind, it is critical to assess the true advantages of multifocal contact lens correction over monovision contact lenses. Table 1 delineates the critical differences in visual quality of the leading multifocal design compared to monovision:

Table 1

Certainly monovision correction provides good near and distance visual acuity, but as shown in the Table 1, it falls short when the full range of factors impacting visual performance are considered. The multifocal design delivers a natural and uncompromised visual experience. Patient satisfaction isn’t solely measured on a Snellen chart, so having the advanced multifocal option is great for patients. You can prove it to yourself just by taking a patient newly fit with multifocal lenses out to your reception area to look at a computer screen, magazines or out across the room.

Based on the established success of the Bausch & Lomb Multi-focal optical design, PureVision Multi-Focal lenses are shown to deliver the vision and comfort patients have come to expect. It’s also the only silicone hydrogel multifocal lens sold, providing high oxygen transmissibility for healthy, white eyes and long wearing times. The overall result is more satisfied patients as shown in the Likert-scale study conducted with 220 patients summarized in Chart 1.

Chart 1



As shown in Chart 2, the practitioners for these patients agree PureVision Multi-Focal lenses offer excellent visual performance at distance, intermediate, and near vision ranges.¹ The quality of vision throughout the entire viewing range is an important contributor to the visual quality and patient satisfaction that PureVision Multi-Focal lenses achieve.

Chart 2

Ultimately, the Bausch & Lomb Multi-Focal lens design is shown to deliver excellent visual quality from both the patient and practitioner perspectives. Even in a comparison study of satisfied monovision patients, Bausch & Lomb Multi-Focal lenses were preferred 81% for near and far vision and 94% for overall performance.² For most of us, this type of patient satisfaction is the ultimate measure of overall visual quality. It is also the ultimate arbiter of whether your patients will succeed and thrive with a particular correction. For expert fitting advice watch the brief video at this link http://www.bausch.com/multifocalfittingtips.

Sincerely,

Mike Pier, OD
Director, Professional Relations and Practitioner Education

1. 2005 Bausch & Lomb. A 220-patient study to evaluate performance of PureVision Multi-Focal contact lenses. After 2 weeks of wear practitioners and patients completed forced-choice questionnaires. Data for “Agree” is a combination of responses for: Completely Agree, Agree, and Somewhat Agree. 2. This Comparison Study was an assessment of comfort, near and distance acuity, handling, overall wearing experience of Bausch & Lomb® SofLens® Multi-Focal contact lenses on new and current contact lens wearers. Participating practices were asked to fit current presbyopic patients (who are not presently wearing SofLens Multi-Focal) with SofLens Multi-Focal contact lenses for a one week period. Then a comparative evaluation took place from both patient and doctor perspectives, concluding with a choice of which lens experience was preferred overall. A total of 275 patients completed the study (185 happy with their current lens, 90 unhappy with their current lens) across 5 locations.

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