Horizontal and vertical peripheral refraction profiles with single-vision and multifocal contact lenses

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of different commercial single vision (SV) and multifocal (MF) contact lens designs on the horizontal and vertical peripheral refraction (PR) profiles, at two target vergences.

Methods: Forty-three myopic participants [24.2 yr ± 2.4, 65% F, SE:-0.5 to -4.5D] were randomly fitted, contra-laterally, with the following lenses: six SV’s [Air Optix Aqua, Acuvue Oasys, Biofinity, Clariti, Night & Day and Proclear] and eleven MF’s [Acuvue Bifocal, Proclear D & Proclear N in 1.5 & +2.5D adds; AirOptix, Purevision in low & high adds and MiSight]. The PR across the horizontal and vertical meridians, spanning field angles ranging from -50° to +50° in 10° steps, were measured with the EyeMapper, a global Hartmann-Shack aberrometer, for all lens types, at +1D and -3D target vergences. Four repeats were performed with the fellow eye occluded. Relative PR profiles were obtained by subtracting the natural PR profile of each eye for 4mm pupil.

Results: At +1D vergence, Air Optix Aqua and Biofinity produced the flattest horizontal and vertical PR profiles, respectively. With the exception of Night & Day, the remaining SV lenses induced hyperopic and myopic shifts in the horizontal and vertical PR. All MFs, except Proclear D and MiSight, including low and high add, produced hyperopic shifts in the horizontal and vertical PR measures. The PR patterns observed at +1D vergence were maintained at -3D vergence for both horizontal and vertical profiles. Regardless of the lens type or the accommodative state, J0 became increasingly more negative for the horizontal meridian with Proclear D and MiSight showing more myopic shift than all other lenses. Along the vertical meridian, J0 became increasingly more positive with Proclear D lens producing the greater hyperopic shift than other lenses.

Conclusions: In both horizontal and vertical meridians, only Night & Day SV, Proclear D MF and MiSight produced myopic shift in the relative PR profiles. We can speculate in the light of peripheral hyperopic defocus theory that these lenses may have potential applications in slowing down the progression of myopia.

Keywords: 477 contact lens • 605 myopia • 676 refraction