Peripheral refraction in high myopia with spherical soft contact lenses

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Retinal Physiology

Background:

• Peripheral retinal refractive status is implicated in myopia progression.
• Understanding peripheral optics in high myopia is crucial for myopia control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate peripheral refractions in high myopia patients wearing conventional soft spherical contact lenses (CLs).
• To determine the impact of CL correction on peripheral refractive error in high myopia.

Main Methods:

• Investigated ten young adults with high myopia (>-6.00 D).
• Measured on- and off-axis refractions using an open-field auto-refractor at 5° intervals (up to 20°) peripherally.
• Analyzed refractive data as spherical and astigmatic vector components; assessed eye size with partial coherence interferometry.

Main Results:

• Correcting high myopia with soft CLs shifted peripheral refraction from hyperopic to myopic.
• Significant myopic shift observed, particularly in temporal retina (up to -1.21 D at 20°).
• Peripheral astigmatism (J(0)) also became more negative with CL correction; eye length measurements indicated a prolate retinal contour.

Conclusions:

• Standard spherical soft CLs can induce significant peripheral myopic defocus in high myopia.
• This induced peripheral myopic defocus may potentially benefit myopia control.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the role of peripheral refraction in myopia progression and the efficacy of soft CLs in managing it.