Bifocal contacts have been available since the days of the first
hard contact lenses. However, early bifocal contacts weren't
tolerated very well by most patients. Today, bifocal contacts
are available in rigid, gas-permeable materials and soft
materials. The rigid types have a success rate of about 70
percent. The first soft bifocal contact lenses became available
in 1985, and there have been several different forms since then.
Each uses a different technique to achieve clarity for near, as
well as far vision. Current success rates for vision correction
with soft, bifocal contact lenses are only about 50 percent, at
best. However, new designs are continually being developed, so
the next generation of lenses may provide a better success
ratio. Another option that works for some patients who need
bifocals is a contact lens technique called ""monovision"" (MAH-
no-vih-zhun) With this technique, one eye is fitted with a near-
vision prescription lens, and the other eye is fitted with a
distance-vision one. This wo