Researchers at Brien Holden Vision Institute have been developing novel contact lenses to slow the progression of myopia, which incorporate extended depth of focus (EDOF) principles to help enhance visual performance. They recently compared the visual performance of two EDOF prototypes against two commercial contact lenses used to slow the progression of myopia with superior results for the prototypes in the majority of subjective variables tested.

Current contact lenses designed to slow the progression of myopia can result in compromised visual performance, which can in turn mean poor compliance and uptake of these lenses.

Visual performance (both visual acuities and subjective experience) of myopia management contact lenses is especially critical in young children and teenagers due to dynamic visual demands. This includes up-close reading and near work, school and classroom viewing involving intermediate distances, and sports demanding good distance vision.

Study lead author, optometrist Jennifer Sha, says “Contact lenses that provide good visual acuity do not always provide good subjective vision due to factors like ghosting, halos and other visual disturbances. It is important to assess subjective visual performance with myopia management contact lenses because if the child doesn’t like wearing the lenses, the efficacy of myopia control will likely be affected.”

The study compared clarity of vision, ghosting, vision stability and driving vision (all under day- and night-time conditions), as well as night-time halos, ocular comfort, and overall vision satisfaction.

“What we found was that while the commercial lenses provided good high- and low-contrast visual acuity at all distances, the EDOF prototypes proved superior in the majority of subjective variables tested,” she adds.