Pupil diameter, working distance and illumination during habitual tasks. Implications for simultaneous vision contact lenses for presbyopia

Abstract

PurposeTo determine working distance, pupil diameter and illumination in real life conditions in a sample of presbyopic participants performing habitual tasks.MethodsA total of 59 presbyopic subjects (aged between 45 and 63 years) with different occupational backgrounds participated in the study. Participants were first interviewed regarding their habitual tasks with the aid of an ad hoc questionnaire, following which in-office photopic and mesopic pupil diameter was determined. Pupil diameter was also evaluated while participants conducted each of the self-reported habitual tasks by taking a photograph, which was later submitted to image analysis. In addition, working distance was determined with a measuring tape and the illumination that reached the pupil during each of the different tasks was measured, in lux, with a light meter.ResultsThe four most common habitual tasks were computer use, reading, sewing and sports. A high intersubject variability was found in pupil diameter, working distance and illumination conditions while conducting the same task. Statistically significant differences were found between the in-office measured photopic and mesopic pupil diameters and those obtained while participants were conducting their habitual tasks in real life conditions (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsPotential multifocal contact lens users may present with different ages, different jobs or hobbies and different preferences regarding lighting conditions and working distances. This results in different pupil size, even within the same task. This information may be critical when selecting a particular lens design and add power. Eye care practitioners are therefore advised to assess pupil diameter in real life conditions.

The Role of Back Optic Zone Diameter in Myopia Control with Orthokeratology Lenses

“…Furthermore, even within the same task, illumination, and working distance, pupil diameter has been shown to present with significant differences between individuals [ 45 ]. A study to determine pupil diameter under different real situations found statistically significant differences between in-office and daily-life conditions [ 46 ]. These discrepancies may be assumed to lead to relevant differences in the light distribution, thus affecting the optical pathways related to myopia control.…”

Light disturbance with multifocal contact lens and monovision for presbyopia

“…Monovision modality is independent of pupil size, and vision is lesser compromised in dim lighting or at low contrast [7][8][9]. On the other hand, the optical principle of multifocal contact lens is based on the formation of multiple images along different foci in each eye, which implies some compromise in visual performance, particularly under low-light conditions [10,11].…”

<p>The Impact of IOL Abbe Number on Polychromatic Image Quality of Pseudophakic Eyes</p>

“…The MTFs in Figure 5 show flat white spectrum polychromatic image quality in the presence of LCA and V λ weighting for three model eyes, one with typical phakic levels of LCA (red dashed lines), one pseudophakic model with slightly elevated LCA due to lower Abbe number (LCA=1.14 x phakic, red dotted line), and one pseudophakic model with reduced LCA due to a higher Abbe number (LCA= 0.8 x phakic, red solid line). MTFs computed for 4.5 and 3.5 mm pupil diameters (fairly typically of older eyes in interior lighting environments set to low photopic or high mesopic levels 22 – 24 ) are shown in Figure 5A and B , respectively. For comparison, monochromatic MTFs (black lines) created by diffraction + defocus are shown for zero, 0.1D, 0.15D, 0.2D, and 0.25 diopters of defocus.…”