Acute and Short-term changes in binocular Vision with Spectacles & Spherical Equivalent Soft Contact Lens Wear in Low Myopic Astigmatism

Abstract

Abstract Background Binocular vision is a complex process that involves the coordination of the two eyes to produce a single image. Spectacles and soft contact lenses are common refractive correction options for low myopic astigmatism. However, the effect of these correction methods on binocular vision has not been extensively studied in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the acute and short-term changes in binocular vision between spectacles and spherical equivalent soft contact lens wear in low myopic astigmatism. Purpose To investigate the acute and short-term changes in binocular vision with spectacles & spherical equivalent soft contact lens wear in low myopic astigmatism. Method All the subjects underwent a thorough optometric examination and a complete binocular vision evaluation was performed with spectacles and contact lenses on the same day in a group of 36 participants. The accommodative amplitude and accommodative facility, stereo acuity, cover test, horizontal phoria, near the point of convergence (NPC), negative relative accommodation (NRA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), positive fusional reserve, and negative fusional reserve were compared with myopic spectacles and spherical equivalent corrected contact lenses in these subjects. Results Statistically significant differences were found with the use of soft contact lens in comparison to the spectacle: a higher value of NPC (MD; -0.36±0.76, p=0.007), lag of accommodation (MD; -0.11± 0.31, p=0.03) and PRA (MD; 0.35± 0.16, p=0.035). Conclusion The NPC, lag of accommodation, and PRA were changed while wearing contact lenses although other parameters did not show statistical significance. These findings imply that; the spherical equivalent corrected soft contact lens could not be prescribed even in a patient with low myopic astigmatism before screening all the binocular vision parameters.