Driving Performance Under Peripheral Defocus Induced by Ophthalmic Lenses for Myopia Control

The purpose of this study was to assess whether peripheral defocus induced by myopia control spectacle lenses (MCSL) could affect driving performance, thereby posing a risk to driving safety.

Twenty young adult participants (aged 18-25 years), all experienced drivers, were included in the study. Peripheral visual acuity (VA) and peripheral contrast sensitivity (CS) at 40 degrees eccentricity were assessed and compared for 2 conditions: baseline and wearing MCSL. Central dynamic VA and central coherent dot motion (CDM) detection were also assessed in the baseline condition. To study driving performance, participants completed a driving route in a simulator while performing visually demanding secondary tasks in both conditions (baseline and MCSL). The overall driving performance score (ODPS) was obtained.

MCSL significantly reduced peripheral VA at 40 degrees (Z = -1.990, P = 0.047) but had no statistically significant effect on peripheral CS (Z = -0.870, P = 0.384). Similarly, ODPS was not affected by MCSL (Z = -0.465, P = 0.642). Significant correlations were found between dynamic VA and ODPS, particularly during visually demanding secondary tasks (rho = 0.325, P = 0.010). CDM detection also showed significant correlations with ODPS both for the general route (rho = 0.737, P = 0.003), and when interacting with secondary visually demanding driving tasks (rho = 0.356, P = 0.004).

Although MCSL negatively affected peripheral visual function, ODPS did not show significant changes. Further studies are needed to investigate their long-term effects on real-world driving performance.

These findings suggest that MCSL may be a safe option for myopia control in terms of driving safety.