Lined multifocal wearers prefer progressive addition lenses.

BACKGROUND

Despite reported successes with progressive addition lenses, lined multifocals remain the lens of choice for previous lined multifocal wearers.

METHODS

To explore the feasibility of switching lined multifocal wearers to PALs, in a prospective clinical trial we interviewed 265 lined multifocal wearers, prescribed a new PAL (Varilux Comfort) and then interviewed them again to compare the lens types and patient preferences.

RESULTS

PALs ranked significantly higher than lined multifocals for all questions and were preferred by 92 percent of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PALs should be the lens of choice for previous bifocal wearers.