How to choose the Right Monthly Contact Lens: Sphere, Toric, Multifocal or Multifocal Toric?

Choosing the right 1 month contact lens design depends on your vision needs and lifestyle.  

There are four main designs: sphere (for myopia or hyperopia), toric (for astigmatism), multifocal (for presbyopia), and multifocal toric (for presbyopia with astigmatism). This guide explains the differences — and the clinical evidence behind each — to help you and your eye care professional (ECP) make the best choice.

1 Month Contact Lens Design: At a Glance

Always consult your ECP. Lens selection should be based on individual prescription, lifestyle, and ocular health.

Sphere Lenses: The Starting Point

Sphere lenses are the simplest and most widely prescribed contact lens design, suitable for wearers with myopia or hyperopia and minimal astigmatism. 

For 1 month wear, silicone hydrogel (SiHy) materials are recommended for their high oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t — a measure of how much oxygen passes through the lens to your eye), which supports corneal health during long hours of daytime wear.
Who is this for? You may be a good candidate for a sphere lens if your glasses prescription does not include a significant cylindrical (astigmatism) correction, and you are looking for a straightforward lens for everyday activities such as driving, computer work, or general daily use.

Toric Lenses: Correcting Astigmatism

Toric lenses correct astigmatism (≥0.75 DC) alongside myopia or hyperopia, and deliver measurable functional benefits beyond what standard visual acuity tests can detect. 

A 2025 study (Plainis & Gleni, University of Crete) showed that soft Toric lenses significantly improved digital reading performance and reading eye movement behaviour — including shorter pauses on each word and fewer times the eye had to go back and re-read — demonstrating real-world benefits not captured by standard eye chart tests alone.¹
Who is this for? Consider a toric lens if you notice that vision is blurred or slightly distorted with sphere contact lenses, or if you find it harder to read clearly on screens and printed text. Toric lenses are particularly beneficial for those who spend long hours on digital devices or reading.

Multifocal Lenses: Clear Vision at Every Distance

Multifocal lenses address presbyopia — the natural, age-related loss of near focus typically beginning in the early-to-mid 40s — by providing simultaneous correction at distance, intermediate, and near ranges.

Modern multifocal designs use concentric ring-shaped or gradually changing optical zones to balance distance and near vision and are available in different add powers to match the degree of presbyopia. Clinical studies of Miru 1month Multifocal demonstrate strong fitting and visual performance: ²^,³

• Fitting success: 83% achieved an optimal fit with the first trial lens; 100% fitted within 2 lenses (4 trial lenses for both eyes) ²^,³
• Distance visual acuity: among the highest-performing lenses in independent clinical studies, with statistically significant superiority at both high and low contrast (p<0.01)³
• Subjective distance vision — day and night — rated significantly higher (p<0.05) ³

Who is this for? Multifocal lenses may suit you if you are in your 40s or older and find yourself holding reading material further away, struggling to read small print, or needing to switch between glasses and contact lenses throughout the day. They work well for active lifestyles where clear vision at all distances — from driving to reading a menu — is important.

Miru 1month Multifocal: Add Power Selection Guide²^,³

Multifocal Toric Lenses: Correcting Both Presbyopia and Astigmatism

Multifocal toric (MT) lenses combine presbyopic and astigmatic correction in a single lens. 

A 2026 clinical study (Plainis & Gleni, University of Crete; investigator-initiated grant from Menicon) evaluated 24 presbyopes with 0.75–1.75 DC astigmatism wearing MT (asmofilcon A), toric-only (T), and multifocal sphere (MS) lenses for 30 days each. ⁴

Multifocal Toric vs. Toric vs. Multifocal Sphere: Key Findings (n=24, ISCLR 2026) ⁴

MT = Multifocal Toric; T = Toric only; MS = Multifocal Sphere. ★ Statistically significant. Source: Plainis & Gleni, ISCLR 2026. ⁴

The benefit of MT was most pronounced at ≥1.00 DC astigmatism: 78% of the 1.25 DC group preferred MT, reflecting a strong balance of distance and near vision. Eye-tracking confirmed MT reduced visual effort during reading to a level comparable with MS. ⁴

Who is this for? Multifocal Toric lenses may be right for you if you have both presbyopia and astigmatism and have found that multifocal sphere lenses leave your distance vision slightly blurred. They are especially suited to those who need sharp vision for driving, outdoor activities, and sustained near tasks such as reading or computer work.

An Example: Miru 1month Monthly Lens Range

Miru 1month offers designs across all four categories. Always consult your ECP to determine the most appropriate design for your individual needs.

• Miru 1month(asmofilcon A) — Silicone hydrogel sphere with MeniSilk™ material and NanoGloss™ Elevate surface technology
• Miru 1month Multifocal — Strong fitting performance demonstrated in clinical studies ²^,³
  
• Miru 1month Multifocal Toric — Preferred by 78% of moderate astigmatism presbyopes in functional vision study⁴

FAQ

Q. How do I know if I need a toric lens?

A. If your spectacle prescription includes a cylindrical correction (“CYL” or “DC”), you likely have astigmatism. Generally, ≥0.75 DC benefits from toric correction. Your ECP will confirm.

Q. Can I wear multifocal lenses if I also have astigmatism?

A. Yes — multifocal toric lenses are designed for this. Clinical research suggests that multifocal toric lenses can provide a favorable balance of distance and near vision for presbyopes with moderate astigmatism. In the cited study, 78% of participants in the 1.25 DC subgroup preferred the multifocal toric lens. ⁴

Q. How easy is it to be fitted with a multifocal contact lens?

A. Fitting varies between individuals. In the cited Miru 1month Multifocal studies, 83% of wearers achieved an optimal fit with the first trial lens, and all participants were fitted within two lens selections.²^,³

Key Takeaways

• Sphere lenses suit wearers without significant astigmatism; silicone hydrogel material is recommended for full-time monthly wear.
• Toric lenses correct astigmatism and improve functional reading performance beyond what visual acuity tests alone can detect.¹
• Multifocal lenses address presbyopia by supporting vision at near, intermediate, and far distances. In the cited Miru 1month Multifocal studies, all participants were fitted within two lens selections. ²,³
• Multifocal toric lenses may provide a strong overall balance of distance and near vision for presbyopes with moderate astigmatism. In the cited study, 78% of participants in the 1.25 DC subgroup preferred MT. ⁴
• Your eye care professional is the best guide to selecting the right lens design for your prescription and lifestyle.

References

1. Plainis S, Gleni A. Soft toric contact lens correction of moderate astigmatism improves digital reading performance and eye movement behaviour. Contact Lens Anterior Eye. 2025;48:102450.

2. Tilia D, Diec J, et al. Assessment of a new, monthly replacement, center-near multifocal contact lens. Poster presented at: American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting (AAO 2021); November 3–6, 2021; Boston, MA, USA.

3. CRetallic N, Sugimoto K. Development in multifocal contact lens design. Optician. 2020;262(6781):42–46.

4. Plainis S, Karmpadaki M, Gleni A. Evaluation of functional vision performance of a new design silicone hydrogel lens for the correction of moderate astigmatism and presbyopia. Presented at: Nederlands Contactlens Congres (NCC 2026); March 2026; Veldhoven, The Netherlands.

Reviewed by: Menicon Clinical Affairs 

Updated: September 29, 2026