Multifocal contact lens vision simulated with a clinical binocular simulator

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Visual Science

Background:

• Multifocal contact lenses (M-CLs) are widely used to correct presbyopia.
• Accurate assessment of visual performance and patient satisfaction is crucial for successful M-CL fitting.
• Current fitting processes can be time-consuming, necessitating efficient evaluation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare binocular visual perception in participants wearing actual multifocal contact lenses (M-CLs) with simulated M-CLs using a temporal multiplexing visual simulator (SimVis Gekko).
• To evaluate the accuracy of the SimVis Gekko in replicating visual acuity and perceived visual quality compared to real M-CLs.

Main Methods:

• Visual performance (LogMAR visual acuity at various distances) and perceived visual quality (Multifocal Acceptance Score-2EV [MAS-2EV] and questionnaires) were measured in 37 participants.
• Participants wore actual M-CLs and viewed through the SimVis Gekko programmed with the same lens designs.
• Data from simulated and actual M-CLs were compared to assess simulator accuracy.

Main Results:

• Both actual and simulated M-CLs demonstrated similar increases in depth-of-focus.
• Mean LogMAR visual acuity differences between actual and simulated M-CLs were small (0.08-0.12 letters).
• The MAS-2EV scores showed moderate differences but were highly correlated with visual quality questionnaire responses, indicating good patient-reported outcome correlation.

Conclusions:

• The SimVis Gekko, a simultaneous vision simulator, accurately represents vision with M-CLs, including visual acuity and perceived quality.
• The MAS-2EV metric effectively captures patient-reported outcomes, aligning with standard vision questionnaires.
• Combining the SimVis Gekko and MAS-2EV shows potential to significantly reduce chair time in multifocal contact lens fitting procedures.