Objective and subjective visual performance of multifocal contact lenses: pilot study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Optometry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Presbyopia affects near vision, necessitating multifocal correction.
• Soft multifocal contact lenses offer a non-surgical solution for presbyopia.
• Evaluating the performance of different multifocal contact lens designs is crucial for patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the objective and subjective visual performance of three distinct soft multifocal contact lenses.
• To assess accommodative response and optical aberrations in early presbyopes wearing different multifocal contact lens designs.

Main Methods:

• 10 subjects (40-45 years) with habitual soft contact lens wear were fitted with three silicone hydrogel multifocal contact lenses.
• Visual performance was evaluated using tests for visual acuity (low/high contrast, distance/near), contrast sensitivity, range of clear vision, and through-focus curves.
• Objective measures included open-field accommodative response and optical aberrations at various defocus levels and viewing distances.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in accommodative response were observed between the three multifocal contact lens types across different stimulus levels.
• Accommodative lag increased with higher stimulus levels for all tested lenses.
• Ocular aberrations and optical aberrations did not significantly differ between lens designs or viewing distances. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were comparable to spectacles.

Conclusions:

• There were no statistically significant differences in accommodative response, optical aberrations, or visual performance among the three soft multifocal contact lenses in early presbyopes.
• These findings suggest comparable efficacy for the evaluated multifocal contact lens options in this patient group.