Predicting and assessing visual performance with multizone bifocal contact lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how bifocal contact lenses, when combined with the aberrations of the eye, will affect visual performance. Also, to investigate the relationship between the patient's predicted and actual visual benefit with bifocal contact lenses.


METHODS
The monochromatic aberrations of 16 subjects were measured and used to simulate visual quality with three bifocal contact lens designs. Actual and computed visual benefit was compared for an Acuvue bifocal contact lens in 5 of the 16 subjects.


RESULTS
Subjects were predicted to have either a bifocal response or an increase in depth of focus for all lens designs. Our subjects were predicted to have a decrease in visual benefit for distance viewing and a gain in visual benefit at near compared with not wearing a contact lens. We found a statistically significant association between our subjects' predicted and actual visual benefit with the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens (r = 0.685, p = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Bifocal contact lens designs, when combined with the aberrations of the eye, will not always provide bifocal vision. Visual quality with a bifocal contact lens can be predicted based on a patient's ocular aberrations.
Martin
Joy A
JA
University of Houston College of Optometry, 505 J. Davis Armistead Bldg., Houston, TX 77204-2020, USA. jmartin10@uh.edu
Roorda
Austin
A
D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011305:Presbyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014787:Vision Tests; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*