Changes in accommodation and behavioural performance with a contact lens for myopia management: A comparison between a dual‐focus and a single‐vision soft contact lens

INTRODUCTION: Dual‐focus soft contact lenses for myopia management have demonstrated to be an effective strategy to reduce myopia progression. However, this optical design has been shown to alter visual quality and accommodative function. The aim of this study was to examine the accommodative and behavioural performance during the execution of a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) while wearing dual‐focus and single‐vision soft contact lenses. METHODS: The steady‐state accommodative response was recorded with the WAM‐5500 binocular open‐field autorefractor during the execution of a 10‐min PVT at 50 cm either with the dual‐focus (MiSight 1‐day) or single‐vision (Proclear 1‐day) soft contact lenses, using a sample of 23 healthy young adults. Each experimental session was performed on two different days in a counterbalanced order. RESULTS: A greater lag of accommodation, variability of accommodation and reaction time was found while wearing dual‐focus in comparison with single‐vision soft contact lenses (mean differences during the 10‐min PVT were 0.58 ± 0.81 D, p < 0.001; 0.31 ± 0.17 D, p < 0.001 and 15.22 ± 20.93 ms, p = 0.002, respectively). Also, a time‐on‐task effect was found for the variability of accommodation and reaction time (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), observing higher values over time. However, the lag of accommodation did not change significantly as a function of time‐on‐task (p = 0.33). CONCLUSION: Dual‐focus soft contact lens wear influences the steady‐state accommodative response and behavioural performance during the execution of a visual vigilance task in the short‐term. Eye care practitioners should be aware of these effects when prescribing these lenses for myopia management, and provide specific recommendations according to the individual visual needs.