Multifocal lenses, also referred to as progressive lenses, allow you to focus your vision at different distances, depending on which area of your lens you look through. They’re able to do this by having dedicated areas with varying optical prescriptions, as set out by your optometrist. This means even if you’re both long-sighted and short-sighted, or you have astigmatism or presbyopia, the one pair of glasses can help you optimise your vision without ever having to change glasses.

What Is Astigmatism And Presbyopia?

Astigmatism is a vision problem that can lead to blurred or distorted vision, both in objects up close and far away. It occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape, which can cause light to be refracted differently as it passes through the eye.

With presbyopia, the lens of the eye loses its ability to focus primarily on close-up objects. It occurs when the natural lens of the eye becomes less flexible and less able to change shape, making it harder to focus on objects that are nearby. Presbyopia usually starts to occur around the age of 40, and it affects everyone as they age. The condition can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty reading small print or seeing objects up close, eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue.

Multifocals are a common lens option for people with astigmatism and presbyopia, due to their versatility in offering multiple optical prescriptions within the one lens, and typically having a seamless transition between the different prescriptions, with the zones blending together naturally. This makes it ideal for correcting age-related vision problems.

Multifocal Lens Benefits

For our clients that have multiple vision correction needs, multifocal lenses are typically the favourite go-to lens type. Benefits include:

• Seamless transition between different levels of magnification, allowing for clear vision at all distances, from close-up reading to intermediate tasks like using a computer, to faraway objects.


• Convenient to switch between different tasks without needing to change your glasses.


• Improved appearance: unlike bifocal or trifocal lenses that have visible lines separating the different segments, multifocal lenses have a gradual transition between the different levels of magnification, resulting in a more natural, seamless look.


• Greater comfort with a reduced risk of eye strain and headaches due to the abrupt changes in magnification.


• Versatility to be customised to suit your specific vision needs, preferences, workplace requirements and style preferences.

To learn more about multifocal lenses or get your optical prescription from an optometrist, book your annual eye exam at our Queensland and New South Wales clinics by selecting your preferred location here.