Simultaneous vision bifocal contact lenses: a comparative assessment of the in vitro optical performance

We measured the modulation transfer functions (MTF's) of five simultaneous vision bifocal contact lenses: center-near (Alges, University Optical Products), center-distance (BiSoft, CIBA Vision), diffractive rigid gas-permeable (Diffrax, Pilkington Barnes-Hind), diffractive hydrogel (Hydron Echelon, Allergan), and varifocal center-near (PS-45, G. Nissel). MTF's were measured at various aperture sizes (1 to 7 mm) and at a wavelength of 546 nm. The soft diffractive bifocal MTF's were measured at various wavelengths. The results tended to confirm previous theoretical calculations. The optical performance of the concentric designs was highly sensitive to variations in aperture size. The optical performance of both the rigid and soft diffractive lenses was largely (but not entirely) independent of aperture size. The varifocal lens was sensitive to changes in aperture size with respect to both optical quality and optimal focus.