{"id":1328,"date":"2020-05-05T14:26:13","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T14:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=1328"},"modified":"2021-08-05T05:43:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T05:43:29","slug":"multifocal-designs-for-children","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/multifocal-designs-for-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Multifocal Designs for Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your eye doctor may have prescribed multifocal lenses for your child\u2014 but aren’t these lenses only for adults?<\/h2>\n

What are multifocal lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Multifocal lenses, which many associate with reading glasses, contain varying optical prescriptions throughout the single lens. While these lenses are generally prescribed for adults who have blurry near vision, and complain of reading difficulties due to lack of vision clarity, eye doctors are also prescribing these lenses for children.<\/p>\n

Multifocal lenses are similar to bifocals in the sense that they contain more than one optical prescription. The main difference between these two types of lenses lies in their appearance and number of optical powers within the lens design.<\/p>\n

Schedule an appointment<\/strong><\/a> with an eye doctor near you to find out if multifocal lenses are a good fit for you.<\/p>\n

Bifocals or Multifocals?<\/h2>\n

Bifocals<\/strong> contain only two different lens powers, that allow for improved focusing for distance vision and reading. These lenses usually have a bisecting line or a noticeable segment on the lens indicating where the different lens powers are situated.<\/p>\n

Multifocals <\/strong>contain many lens powers, that allow for clear vision for distance, reading, computer use, and other objects placed at an intermediate distance. Unlike bifocals, these lenses are designed to combine lens powers without a visible line.<\/p>\n

Why do children prefer multifocals?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many parents and children favor multifocal lenses over bifocal lenses because the casual blend of powers within the lens limits \u201cimage jumps\u201d which can occur when looking from one lens power to the next.<\/p>\n

Children generally prefer multifocal lenses for aesthetic reasons\u2014 a lens without a bisecting line is more attractive and stylish.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children also find multifocal lenses are easy to use and quick to adapt to. Multifocal lenses are designed according to their lens powers\u2014 the higher the powers, the \u2018harder\u2019 the lens design, the lower the powers, the \u2018softer\u2019 the lens design. Children generally require lower powers (+0.50 to +1.25), as compared to adults (+1.50 to +4.00), and therefore the majority of children find their multifocal lenses to be easy to use and with very fast adaptation.<\/p>\n

When are multifocal lenses prescribed?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Multifocal lenses are generally prescribed for two reasons:<\/p>\n