Peripheral myopization using a dominant design multifocal contact lens

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the central and peripheral refraction across the horizontal meridian of the visual field without and with a multifocal dominant design soft contact lens of different add powers (+1.00 D to +4.00 D) in emmetropic eyes. Methods Twenty right eyes from 20 emmetropic patients (mean spherical equivalent central refraction –0.06 ± 0.54 D) with a mean age of 21.6 ± 2.3 years were fitted with Proclear Multifocal dominant design (Coopervision, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Lenses had add powers from +1.00 to +4.00 D in 1.00 D steps. The central and peripheral refraction was measured along the horizontal meridian up to 35° of eccentricity in the nasal and temporal retinal area in 5° steps using a open-field autorefractometer. Results Only the +3.00 and +4.00 D add powers generated a significant change in the peripheral refractive pattern compared to central refraction and compared with the no-lens wearing situation. The average myopic increase with these lenses was –3.00 D and –5.00 (p < 0.001) at the margins of inspected nasal and temporal visual field, respectively. Conclusions Multifocal dominant design soft contact lenses are able to change the peripheral refractive profile in emmetropic eyes increasing relative peripheral myopia. Lenses with +3.00 D add power seem to be the best option to create such effect due to significant peripheral myopization.