[Visual performance in myopic correction with spectacles and soft contact lenses]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Myopia correction is crucial for visual function.
• Evaluating visual performance with different correction methods is essential for patient outcomes.
• Soft contact lenses are a common choice for myopia correction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare visual performance in myopic patients using spectacles versus three types of soft contact lenses (Acuvue 2, Biomedics 55, Focus 1-2 week).
• To assess visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and wavefront aberrations.
• To determine the most sensitive method for evaluating visual performance.

Main Methods:

• A prospective clinical trial involving 40 myopic patients.
• Randomized evaluation of one eye per patient.
• Measurements included high contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and wavefront analysis using a Zywave aberrometer.

Main Results:

• Wavefront analysis revealed significant differences in third-order aberrations, indicating better visual performance with Acuvue 2 and Biomedics 55.
• No significant differences in visual acuity or contrast sensitivity were found between spectacles and the soft contact lenses.
• Aberrometer detected over-refraction and differences in refractive components between Acuvue 2 and Biomedics 55, with both showing hypercorrection compared to Focus 1-2 week.

Conclusions:

• Wavefront analysis is a more sensitive tool for assessing visual function with spectacles and soft contact lenses than high contrast visual acuity or contrast sensitivity.
• The developed wavefront analysis model can be valuable for future vision studies.
• This study highlights the utility of wavefront analysis in optimizing soft contact lens selection for myopic patients.