Visual Quality and Accommodation With Novel Optical Designs for Myopia Control.

Purpose: We evaluated through-focus visual performance and accommodative response in young subjects through three segmented multifocal designs for myopia control, mapped on the spatial light modulator of a monocular adaptive optics visual simulator (AOVS), and compared with single vision (SV).

Methods: The segmented multifocal patterns included a 4 mm diameter center distance zone and offset peripheral defocus (MP1), astigmatism and coma (MP2), or a combination (MP3). High-contrast logMAR visual acuity (VA) was measured with monochromatic stimuli (555 nm). Ocular aberrations were measured using the Hartmann-Shack aberrometry channel. Measurements were taken for distance viewing and five accommodative demands (AD, up to 4.5 D). Accommodative lag was calculated from the dioptric shift of the maximum retinal image quality metric from the corresponding wave aberrations.

Results: Best-corrected logMAR VA was -0.11 ± 0.02 (SV) and slightly reduced by multifocal patterns (-0.08 ± 0.03 [MP1], -0.07 ± 0.04 [MP2], -0.05 ± 0.04 [MP3]). Accommodative lag with SV was lower in emmetropes than myopes (by 0.43D for the largest demand). MP1 significantly decreased accommodative lag in myopes (P = 0.03), unlike MP2 or MP3. Multifocal patterns reduced pupil diameter in myopes at all distances. MP1 improved accommodative response in myopes without compromising distance vision.

Conclusions: AOVS helped to understand the interplay of physiological and lens design factors, potentially guiding custom corrections. A center distance with off-centered positive power in the lens periphery could feature suitable properties (peripheral focus and accommodative focus control) for myopia control.

Translational relevance: We demonstrate a two-zone contact lens design that provides excellent visual quality and accommodative response, important properties for myopia control lenses.