Contact Lenses After Forty in Beverly Hills

Many people notice changes in their near vision after age 40. Reading menus, labels or text messages becomes harder, even for patients who have never needed glasses. Contact lenses can correct these changes, so patients can keep wearing contacts as their vision changes with age. Visioncare Associates has fit specialty contact lenses since 1964, and Dr. Shily fits lenses for patients over 40 at the Beverly Hills office.

Why Vision Changes After Forty

The lens inside the eye becomes less flexible with age. This makes it harder to focus on close objects, a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia is a normal part of aging and affects nearly everyone at some point.

Tear production can also decrease with age. Some patients find that contact lenses that were comfortable in their 20s and 30s start to feel dry later in the day. Dr. Shily checks tear quality and can recommend lens materials that suit drier eyes.

Contact Lens Options for Patients Over Forty

Multifocal Contact Lenses
Multifocal lenses have several powers in one lens to correct near, intermediate and distance vision. They come in soft and gas permeable materials.

Bifocal Contact Lenses
Bifocal lenses have two prescriptions, one for distance and one for near vision. Gas permeable bifocals shift position when the patient looks down to read.

Monovision
With monovision, one eye wears a lens for distance and the other wears a lens for near vision. Patients usually need some time to adjust, and Dr. Shily may test monovision with trial lenses first.

Contact Lenses With Reading Glasses
Some patients prefer to wear their distance contact lenses and use reading glasses for close work.

Scleral Lenses for Dry Eye
For patients whose eyes feel dry in standard lenses, scleral lenses hold a layer of fluid over the cornea throughout the day. Scleral lenses can also be made in multifocal designs.

Who These Lenses Can Help

Contact lenses after forty can help patients who:

• Have trouble reading up close in their current contacts

• Wear reading glasses over their contact lenses

• Want an alternative to bifocal or progressive glasses

• Notice their contact lenses feel dry later in the day

The Fitting Process

1. Eye Exam and Vision Review
Dr. Shily reviews the patient’s near and distance vision needs and checks eye health.

2. Corneal Measurements
The office uses Zeiss corneal topography and keratometry to measure the shape of the cornea and guide the lens design.

3. Trial and Adjustment
The patient tries a lens design in the office and during daily activities. Dr. Shily adjusts the power or design at follow-up visits until the patient sees well at the distances that matter to them.

Insurance for Contact Lenses

Coverage for multifocal and specialty contact lenses varies by plan. Call the office at (310) 271-3937 to ask about your benefits.

Schedule a Contact Lens Consultation

Request Your Over-40 Contact Lens Consultation