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Spherical aberration in relation to visual performance in contact lens wear
A Lindskoog Pettersson1, L Mårtensson, J Salkic
1Unit of Optometry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. anna.lindskoog.pettersson@ste.ki.se
Summary
Non-custom spherical aberration control contact lenses showed minimal impact on visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. These findings suggest limited changes in visual quality with standard and aspheric soft contact lens designs.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Vision Science
Background:
- Spherical aberration is a common optical imperfection.
- Contact lenses can alter the eye's optical system.
- Evaluating visual quality with different contact lens designs is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in spherical aberration induced by non-custom contact lenses.
- To determine the effect of these aberrations on visual acuity and contrast sensitivity at distance and near.
Main Methods:
- Wavefront analysis measured ocular aberrations with standard and aspheric contact lenses.
- Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were tested at distance and near under various contrast conditions.
Main Results:
- Aspheric lenses induced positive spherical aberration, while standard lenses resulted in near-zero aberration.
- Statistically significant changes in aberration occurred with all tested lenses.
- No significant differences in visual quality were found between lens types or with spectacle correction.
Conclusions:
- Non-custom spherical aberration control contact lenses have a minimal effect on visual quality.
- Current standard and aspheric soft contact lens designs do not significantly alter distance or near visual performance.
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