Relative peripheral refraction, higher-order aberrations, and visual quality with single-vision, progressive-multifocal, multifocal, and dual-focus soft contact lenses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure relative peripheral refraction, higher-order aberrations, horizontal coma, and visual quality in young myopic adults wearing progressive-multifocal and multifocal center-distance soft contact lenses, dual-focus soft contact lenses, and single vision soft contact lenses for four days. Methods: The eyes of 34 young, healthy adults ages 20–35 were analyzed while the participants wore progressive-multifocal and multifocal center-distance soft contact lenses (ArtMost SoftOK SMR and SEED 1dayPure UP Multistage daily disposable, respectively), dual-focus soft contact lenses (CooperVision MiSight 1 Day), and single vision soft contact lenses (iLens Aqua Bi-weekly). Non-cycloplegic central and relative peripheral refractions were determined at 10, 20, 25, and 30 degrees along the nasal and temporal meridians of the horizontal visual field. In addition, visual acuity, stereoacuity, accommodative amplitude, accommodative posture, spherical aberration, and horizontal coma were measured. Results: Relative peripheral refractions showed that myopic defocus and myopic J0 astigmatism both were highest with the SoftOK and the MiSight contact lenses. Accommodative amplitude was slightly reduced with the MiSight contact lens and spherical aberration was significantly higher with the SoftOK lens compared to the other lenses. Horizontal coma was higher and more variable with the SoftOK lens compared to the other lenses, although no statistical significance was determined. Conclusions: The contact lenses used in this study displayed differences in relative peripheral defocus and myopic J0 astigmatism, accommodative amplitude, and spherical aberration. The relevance of these differences in the context of myopia progression control remains to be determined.