My doctor told me I couldn’t wear regular contact lenses for presbyopia. Why not?

Presbyopia is a vision condition (generally after the age of 40 years) in which the eye cannot focus on near objects. In most cases, reading glasses or bifocal glasses are prescribed to correct presbyopia. In order for a contact lens wearer to read, he or she has to wear reading glasses over the contacts. But contact lenses can be prescribed also. Special bifocal contact lenses are also available in both rigid gas permeable or soft lens designs.

As an alternative, many practitioners prescribe a system called monovision where one eye is fitted with a distance lens and the other with a reading lens, with the brain automatically switching to the eye more clearly in focus. Monovision is a good solution for some people, but not everybody can successfully adapt to the arrangement.