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Multifocal Contacts After 40: What Kiwi Lens Wearers Should Know

29th Oct 2026


The short version

  • Blurry close-up vision in your 40s is normal. It’s called presbyopia.
  • You don’t have to give up contacts. Multifocal lenses are one option.
  • They’re a trade-off, not magic. Some people love them, and others prefer a different fix.

Why your eyes change in your 40s

Zooming in on a photo to read the small print? Cranking up the font size? Holding the menu a bit further away?

You’re not alone. In a February 2025 survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson Vision, the maker of Acuvue, 47% of Australians aged 40 to 55 with presbyopia hadn’t yet taken steps to correct it. Many used makeshift fixes. 46% had increased the font size on screens, 38% snapped a photo and zoomed in on their phone, and 32% stretched their arms out to read. (The survey covered 500 adults in Australia, part of a 2,500-person study across five markets.)

That’s presbyopia. It isn’t a disease but a normal part of getting older, and people usually notice it in their early to mid-40s. The lens inside your eye slowly gets less flexible, so it can’t refocus up close like it used to. You can’t stop it, and it doesn’t affect your distance vision.

If you already wear contacts for distance, they don’t help with this. That’s why close-up work starts to feel harder.

Do I have to give up contacts?

No. But a lot of people quietly settle for less. An international survey of contact lens fits for people aged 45 and over found nearly half were given distance-only lenses, and these wearers probably rely on reading glasses for close work.

Here are your main options:

Distance contacts plus reading glasses. Simple and cheap. But you’re putting glasses on and off all day.
Monovision. One eye is set for distance and the other for near. It’s quick and generally cheaper, but it reduces depth perception, so golfers, tennis players and people doing detailed hands-on work should think it through, and night driving can be harder.
Multifocal contacts. Different focusing powers in one lens, so you can see near, far and in between.

Rigid and hybrid multifocals also exist for particular needs. Your optometrist can tell you if they’re worth a look.

Who tends to do well

Current contact lens wearers. Many brands offer a multifocal version, so you can often keep a similar material and replacement schedule.
Active people. Multifocals are likely to be better received than glasses for jobs that need good vision in many directions, and for just about any sport.
People who feel more themselves in contacts. In the Acuvue survey, 71% of those using or considering contact lenses for presbyopia said they feel more self-confident in contacts than in glasses.
Anyone sick of swapping glasses.

Who might need more thought? Anyone with dry eyes. Dry eye gets more common with age, so get it sorted before you start. And if you do very fine close work, you may still want reading glasses for some tasks.

What to ask your optometrist

Pop these in your phone before your appointment:

  • Which multifocal design suits my eyes and my day?
  • Would monovision or a mix of lenses suit me better?
  • How many trial pairs are included, and when is my follow-up?
  • What should I expect at night and when driving?
  • Do I have dry eye, and does it matter for lens choice?
  • Daily or monthly lenses: which suits me?
  • Can I have my full prescription, including the brand and the “add” (the extra near strength)?

How to get started

1
Book an eye exam. Say you’d like to try multifocal contacts.
2
Try lenses. Your optometrist will fit trial lenses and check how you go.
3
Get your prescription. Each brand has its own design and fitting guide, so don’t swap brands without checking first.
4
Reorder here. Pop in your prescription at checkout. Delivery is free on urban orders over $100 and rural orders over $200, and stocked items can go out for next-business-day delivery to urban addresses. Terms apply.

What it costs per day

Multifocals cost more than single-vision lenses. Here’s what our range works out to. Prices are as at 28 October 2026, so always double check our product listing. The per-day figures assume both eyes and lenses only, so monthly and fortnightly wearers need to add a solution..

Type Lens Pack About per day
Monthly PureVision 2 HD for Presbyopia 6 pack, $110.95 $1.23
Monthly Ultra for Presbyopia 6 pack, $117.95 $1.31
Monthly Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde Multifocal 6 pack, $119.95 $1.33
Monthly Biofinity Multifocal 6 pack, $123.95 $1.38
Fortnightly Acuvue Oasys Multifocal 6 pack, $79.95 $1.90
Daily Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia 90 pack, $119.95 $2.67
Daily Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal 90 pack, $139.95 $3.11
Daily MyDay Multifocal 90 pack, $158.95 $3.53
Daily 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal 90 pack, $159.95 $3.55
Daily Dailies Total 1 Multifocal 90 pack, $193.95 $4.31

Monthlies work out cheapest per day. Dailies cost more but are more convenient. Bigger packs usually cost less per day. Your optometrist’s recommendation comes first and price second.

Don’t skip the eye check

Healthify recommends an eye exam every 2 years after 40, unless your optometrist suggests otherwise. Glaucoma NZ says the risk of glaucoma rises from age 40, and early stages can show no symptoms.

So treat your fitting appointment as a bonus health check.

FAQs

Can I get multifocals if I have astigmatism?

Often, yes. Several reusable multifocal toric soft lenses are available. We stock Biofinity Toric Multifocal (6 pack, $179.95, about $2.00 a day). Ask your optometrist if it suits you.

Will I still need reading glasses?

Sometimes, for fine print or dim light. Ask what to expect.

What about eye drops for reading?

Prescription drops for presbyopia are approved overseas, and a University of Auckland optometrist has researched them here. Ask your optometrist what’s available in NZ.

How often should I get checked?

Follow your optometrist’s advice. Contact lens wearers are often checked more regularly.

Ready to reorder? Browse our daily, fortnightly and monthly multifocals.

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from your optometrist.

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