Abstract
Purpose :
This study investigated changes in higher-order wavefront aberrations (HOA) in eyes wearing Proclear multifocal soft contact lenses with two different add powers in the context of myopia management.
Methods :
Using the Pathfinder II module of a Zeiss Atlas corneal topographer, HOA, up to the 6th Zernike order, were measured with and without Proclear multifocal D soft contact lenses for 6 mm pupil diameters in the right eyes of 40 subjects. Contact lenses with add powers of +1.50 D and +2.50 D were evaluated. Root-mean-square (RMS) values of combined HOA, as well as individual spherical-like (Z4,0 and Z6,0) and coma-like (Z3,-1, Z3,1, Z5-1 and Z5,1) HOA, were evaluated. In addition, Zernike coefficients of spherical aberration (Z4,0) were analyzed. Statistical analysis was carried out using repeated-measures ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test.
Results :
Mean RMS values of combined HOA increased by 0.09µm (SE 0.03) for 1.50D add power and 0.28µm (SE 0.03) for 2.50D add power. (p < 0.0001) Mean RMS values of spherical-like HOA increased by 0.11µm (SE 0.02) for 1.50D add power and 0.23µm (SE 0.02) for 2.50D add power. (p < 0.0001) Mean RMS values of coma-like HOA decreased by 0.01µm (SE 0.02) for 1.50D add power and increased by 0.13µm (SE 0.03) for 2.50D add power. (p < 0.0001) Mean spherical aberration coefficients were 0.26µm (SE 0.02) without contact lenses and further increased by 0.11µm (SE 0.02) for 1.50D add power and 0.22µm (SE 0.02) for 2.50D add power (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions :
Proclear multifocal D contact lenses increase higher-order aberrations of the eye, especially spherical-like and coma-like aberrations. The effects are greater the higher the contact lens add power. Several studies reported significant negative associations between the RMS of total HOAs and axial eye growth and suggested that increased HOAs acted as an inhibitory signal for axial elongation and myopia progression. Especially the impact of spherical aberration on retinal image blur has been proposed to play a pivotal role in this process. Since Proclear multifocal D contact lenses demonstrated their efficacy in slowing myopia progression, it is possible that the increase in the aforementioned higher-order aberrations plays an important role in this process.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.