Researchers recently found that multifocal contact lenses significantly improved visual acuity at near to intermediate distances, suggesting their viability for presbyopic correction in eyes with monofocal intraocular lenses (IOL).

This prospective study assessed uncorrected visual acuity, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), Objective Scattering Index (OSI), contrast sensitivity and patient satisfaction before, during and after multifocal contact lens wear in IOL-implanted eyes.

The researchers observed visual acuities during multifocal contact lens wear at 0.3m, 0.4m, 0.5m, 0.7m, 1m and 5m distances. They reported a significant improvement at near to intermediate distances (30cm, 40cm and 50cm) but no significant change at intermediate to far distances (70cm, 1m and 5m).

The investigators discovered that log contrast sensitivity significantly decreased at six and 12 cycles/degrees but did not significantly change at 1.5, three or 18 cycles/degrees. While third-order aberrations significantly increased after lens wear, they noted that fourth-order aberrations and total HOAs did not significantly change during lens wear. Despite no significant change in the OSI, they added that the patient satisfaction score for overall vision significantly improved with lens wear.