What are progressive contact lenses?

Progressive contact lenses, also called bifocal or multifocal lenses, are contacts that combine prescriptions for farsightedness and nearsightedness into one lens. There are several different methods for combining different powers into one contact lens. The human eye adapts to shifting between multiple powers, so it can focus on all distances.

Progressive lenses are designed for people suffering from the eye condition presbyopia, in which a different prescription is needed to see objects that are far away and objects that are close. Prior to the invention of progressive contact lenses, the only option for contact wearers with presbyopia was to carry reading glasses to see nearby objects.