Aspects of the present invention provide multifocal ophthalmic lenses—for example, an ophthalmic lens having a progressive addition optical power region—having one or more discontinuities. The discontinuities can be used to merge or connect regions of the lens surface having different curvatures or average optical power. The use of discontinuities can obviate the need for blend zones which are largely responsible for the introduction of unwanted astigmatism in conventional lenses. In turn, a multifocal ophthalmic lens of the present invention can provide a desired additive power with less unwanted astigmatism than a conventional progressive addition lens (PAL).