Two-dimensional relative peripheral refractive error induced by Fractal Contact Lenses for myopia control

TL;DR

This study evaluates how fractal contact lenses influence peripheral refraction in myopic eyes using two-dimensional RPRE maps, revealing asymmetric myopic shifts and correlations with corneal shape, aiding myopia control strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed two-dimensional mapping method to assess peripheral refraction changes induced by fractal contact lenses in myopic eyes, highlighting the effects of lens decentration.

Findings

FCLs induce significant peripheral myopic shifts at 20-30 degrees.

Corneal asphericity correlates with RPRE vector components.

Lens decentration affects the magnitude and distribution of peripheral refraction shifts.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the peripheral refraction induced by Fractal Contact Lenses (FCLs) in myopic eyes by means of a two-dimensional Relative Peripheral Refractive Error (RPRE) map. Methods: FCLs prototypes were specially manufactured and characterized. This study involved twenty-six myopic subjects ranging from -0.50 D to -7.00 D. The two-dimensional RPRE was measured with an open-field autorefractor by means of tracking targets distributed in a square grid from -30 degrees (deg) nasal to 30 deg temporal and 15 deg superior to -15 deg inferior. Corneal topographies were taken in order to assess correlations between corneal asphericity, lens decentration and RPRE represented in vector components M, J0 and J45. Results: The mean power of the FCLs therapeutic zones was 1.32 +/- 0.28 D. Significant correlations were found between the corneal asphericity and vector components of the RPRE in the nacked eyes. FCLs were decentered a mean of 0.7 +/- 0.19 mm to the temporal cornea. M decreased asymmetrically between nasal and temporal retina after fitting the FCLs with a significant increment of the myopic shift besides 10 deg (p<0.05) and the induced myopic shift at 25 deg and 30 deg decreased with FCLs decentration to temporal cornea. The peak of maximum myopic shift at the peripheral retina (M= -1.3 D) was located at 20 deg. Two-dimensional maps showed uniform significant differences in extreme positions of the visual field in comparison with the horizontal RPRE for M and J0, but not for J45. Conclusions: FCLs measured in myopic eyes showed a similar performance than the reported in previous ray-tracing studies with a small bias explained by the manufacturing process and the lens decentration. Two-dimensional maps are preferable for assessing J45 changes due to the lens.