A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Toric Versus Spherical Contact Lenses on Vision and Eyestrain.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To compare the effect of toric versus spherical soft contact lenses on objective measures of visual performance using visual acuity and electromyography of the orbicularis oculi muscle.

METHODS:

Current soft contact lens wearers with -0.75 to -1.75 D astigmatism in each eye were binocularly fitted with toric (1-Day ACUVUE MOIST for astigmatism) and spherical (1-Day ACUVUE MOIST) contact lenses in random order. After each fitting and at 1-week follow-up, high- and low-contrast visual acuities were measured. Electromyography was used to objectively evaluate eyestrain. Linear mixed models were used to assess differences between toric and spherical contact lenses.

RESULTS:

The mean age (±SD) of the 60 participants was 27.5±5.0 years, spherical refractive error was -3.68±2.01 D, and cylinder was -1.28±0.36 D. High- and low-contrast visual acuities with toric lenses were better than with spherical lenses at both fitting (toric high-contrast: -0.065±0.078 and low-contrast: 0.133±0.103 vs. spherical high-contrast: 0.001±0.104 and low-contrast: 0.224±0.107) and follow-up (toric high-contrast: -0.083±0.087 and low-contrast: 0.108±0.107 vs. spherical high-contrast: -0.015±0.095 and low-contrast: 0.211±0.104) (all P<0.0001). Electromyography-measured eyestrain was less with toric versus spherical contact lenses at fitting (least-square ratio of toric over spherical=0.72; P=0.0019) but not at follow-up (ratio=0.86; P=0.11).

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that toric contact lenses provided improved objective measures of vision in a low-to-moderate astigmatic population.

• Authors: David A Berntsen, Stephanie M Cox, Katherine M Bickle, Jessica H Mathew, Daniel R Powell, Scott H Seidman, Borm Kim Little, Kathrine Osborn Lorenz, Jason J Nichols
• Journal: Eye & contact lens (Eye Contact Lens) Vol. 45 Issue 1 Pg. 28-33 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 1542-233X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30562274 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Asthenopia (etiology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic
• Cross-Over Studies
• Electromyography
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oculomotor Muscles (physiopathology)
• Refraction, Ocular (physiology)
• Refractive Errors (complications, physiopathology, therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Single-Blind Method
• Visual Acuity
• Young Adult