Effect of Photochromic Contact Lens Wear on Indoor Visual Performance and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

Introduction: To quantitatively assess visual performance and patient satisfaction during photochromic contact lens (CL) wear in an indoor environment. Methods: This observational study comprised 82 eyes of 41 healthy subjects (mean age ± standard deviation, 21.7 ± 0.7 years) who had no ophthalmic diseases except for refractive errors at Kitasato University in 2021. We prospectively compared visual acuity, kinetic visual acuity, functional (time-dependent) visual acuity, the maintaining rate of visual acuity, the response time, contrast sensitivity function, higher-order aberrations, and patient satisfaction score for overall vision in such subjects during photochromic and non-photochromic CL wear in such an environment. Results: The kinetic visual acuity at 30 km/h was 0.32 ± 0.21 and 0.41 ± 0.24 in the photochromic and non-photochromic CL groups, respectively (p = 0.008). The kinetic visual acuity at 60 km/h was 0.32 ± 0.21 and 0.41 ± 0.24,

Wavelength Characteristics and Visual Function of Photochromic Contact Lenses in Indoor and Outdoor Conditions

“…Several reports have also indicated that photochromic CLs can improve visual function in non-activated conditions in indoor environments. Kamiya et al reported an improvement in dynamic and functional visual acuity and subjective satisfaction when wearing photochromic CLs indoors [18], while Hammond et al reported improvements in discomfort under glare and time to visual function recovery after 5 s of xenon light exposure [17,19]. Although the current study did not find an improvement in visual acuity or contrast sensitivity within the non-activated-photochromic-CL group, the subjective evaluation might have been enhanced, as per prior reports.…”