Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
07:06
Binocular Dynamic Visual Acuity in Eyeglass-Corrected Myopic Patients
Published on: March 29, 2022
Peripheral refraction in myopia corrected with spectacles versus contact lenses
Simon Backhouse1, Stephanie Fox, Basma Ibrahim
1Department of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. s.backhouse@auckland.ac.nz
Summary
Spectacle lenses correct myopia with peripheral hyperopic defocus, while soft contact lenses induce peripheral myopic defocus. This difference in peripheral refraction may impact myopia progression, though clinical evidence is mixed.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Vision Science
Background:
- Peripheral retinal refractive status is implicated in myopia development and progression.
- Understanding how different optical corrections affect peripheral refraction is crucial for myopia management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare peripheral refractions in myopic eyes corrected with spectacles versus soft contact lenses.
- To investigate the influence of optical correction type on peripheral defocus.
Main Methods:
- Open-field autorefraction and partial coherence interferometry were used in ten young adults with moderate to high myopia.
- On- and off-axis refractions and eye length were measured at various retinal eccentricities (up to 30°).
- Measurements were taken uncorrected and while wearing spectacles and soft contact lenses.
Main Results:
- Uncorrected and spectacle-corrected eyes showed hyperopic relative peripheral refraction (RPR).
- Soft contact lens correction resulted in a significant shift to myopic RPR.
- Peripheral astigmatism (J(0)) also changed significantly with contact lens wear.
Conclusions:
- Conventional spectacle correction for myopia leads to peripheral hyperopic defocus.
- Conventional soft contact lens correction induces peripheral myopic defocus.
- These findings suggest potential differences in myopia progression rates between spectacle and contact lens wear, aligning with optical models but contrasting with some clinical observations.
