Comfilcon A multifocal contact lenses correct presbyopia, an age-related condition affecting near focus. These lenses provide clear vision at near, intermediate, and far distances, allowing wearers to perform daily tasks without needing reading glasses or multiple eyewear. Their design and material properties work together to deliver this comprehensive visual experience.
The Comfilcon A Material
Comfilcon A is a silicone hydrogel, a material used in modern contact lenses. It allows significant oxygen to pass through to the eye, maintaining ocular health. Comfilcon A lenses exhibit an oxygen permeability of approximately 128 Dk/t, a measure of oxygen transmission.
The material also features 48% water content, contributing to its softness and flexibility. This allows the lens to conform comfortably to the eye’s surface. CooperVision, a manufacturer of Comfilcon A lenses, incorporates Aquaform Technology. This technology helps the material naturally retain moisture, ensuring the lens remains hydrated throughout the day and resists dehydration and protein deposits.
Multifocal Vision Explained
Multifocal contact lenses achieve clear vision at multiple distances using simultaneous vision. This design incorporates different optical zones within a single lens, each correcting vision for near, intermediate, or far distances. The eye receives light from all these zones concurrently.
Two main design approaches are used for simultaneous vision lenses. Concentric ring designs feature alternating zones of power in a circular pattern, often with a central zone for distance or near vision surrounded by rings for other distances. Aspheric designs provide a gradual change in lens power from the center to the edge. The brain processes these multiple images, learning to instinctively select the clearest focus depending on the object viewed.
How Comfilcon A Lenses Deliver Multifocal Vision
Comfilcon A lenses integrate their material properties with sophisticated optical designs for comprehensive vision correction. CooperVision’s Biofinity Multifocal lenses, using Comfilcon A, incorporate Balanced Progressive Technology. This technology features two distinct optical designs, ‘D’ (dominant) and ‘N’ (non-dominant), optimized for individualized fitting to each wearer and eye.
This design allows the lens to focus light from various distances onto the retina, creating a clear image across near, intermediate, and far ranges. Comfilcon A’s properties, including high oxygen permeability and consistent hydration from Aquaform Technology, support the stability and clarity of this multifocal design. These material benefits ensure the intricate optical zones function effectively throughout the wearing period, contributing to stable visual performance.
Adapting to Multifocal Lenses
Adjusting to multifocal contact lenses involves neuroadaptation, where the brain learns to interpret the simultaneous images presented by the lens. This adaptation period varies among individuals, ranging from a few days to a couple of weeks. During this initial phase, new wearers might experience visual effects like occasional blurriness, shadowing, or ghosting, as the brain filters out less focused images.
The brain’s ability to select the clearest image from multiple focal points is important for successful adaptation. Consistent wear accelerates this process, allowing the brain to become accustomed to the new visual input. Patience is beneficial during this transition, as the visual system gradually learns to optimize perception for clear sight at all distances.