Twelve-month success rates with a hydrogel diffractive bifocal contact lens

In this study we assessed success rates over 12 months with a hydrogel diffractive bifocal contact lens. A total of 108 presbyopes were fitted with lenses, and after 12 months 46% were still wearing the lenses. Subjects with previous presbyopic lens-wearing experience achieved greater success (58% of those fitted) than neophyte lens wearers (33% of those fitted, and 17% of all neophyte presbyopes initially expressing an interest in contact lenses before screening). More neophytes failed for nonvision-related reasons than experienced subjects (31% vs. 12% of those fitted). Consequently, when nonvision-related failures were excluded from the calculation of success rates, 59% of those fitted with lenses (49% of neophytes and 66% of experienced subjects) were still wearing the lenses at 12 months. Most discontinuations from lens wear occurred in the first month of the study, the major reason for discontinuation being poor near vision (blur and/or ghosting; 47% of discontinuations).