Presbyopia Correction Using Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses in Patients With Monofocal Intraocular Lenses

To investigate the effectiveness of presbyopia correction using multifocal soft contact lenses (MF SCLs) for pseudophakic subjects with monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).

In 11 subjects, after monofocal IOL implantation, disposable MF SCLs (Dailies Total 1 Multifocal, Alcon) were daily used for 3 months. Binocular visual acuity between 0.3 and 5 m was measured using an all-distance vision tester (AS-15, Kowa) at 1 and 3 months and compared before and during MF SCL wear. Binocular contrast sensitivity testing was conducted under mesopic and photopic illuminations at 1 month.

The mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent before MF SCL wear was -0.36 D. The add powers of used MF SCLs were +1.25, +2.00, and +2.50 D in 1, 16, and 5 eyes, respectively. The mean binocular visual acuities during MF SCL wear were 20/20 or better between 0.5 and 5 m and significantly improved at 0.7 m or less (P<0.025). There was no change in the mesopic contrast sensitivity, whereas the photopic contrast sensitivity at 18 cycles per degree was degraded during MF SCL wear.

The use of MF SCL was effective for presbyopia correction in pseudophakic subjects with monofocal IOL, and favorable binocular vision would be obtained in a range from distance to intermediate.