Prospective clinical evaluation of Sunsoft Multifocal contact lens

Purpose: We conducted a 3-month prospective clinical study to evaluate the clinical performance of the Sunsoft Multifocal contact lens as well as to determine the subjective factors that influence the decision to purchase a multifocal soft contact lens for the correction of presbyopia. Methods: In this study, 215 patients at 16 sites were initially fit with the Sunsoft Multifocal contact lens. At 1 month, 179 patients were still wearing the lens successfully. Slit lamp evaluation of lens-cornea relationship, any change in ocular surface characteristics from initial fitting, and visual acuities were recorded at 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. At the 1-month visit, patients completed evaluation forms to rate their perceptions of handling, comfort, visual performance, overall satisfaction, and whether they would purchase the lens if given the opportunity. Results: Most patients who would choose to purchase lenses (80%) were in the group that achieved 20/25 or better binocular acuity both at distance and at near. Statistical analysis of all patients showed no difference in age, refractive error, comfort, handling, or near addition between those who would or would not purchase lenses; however, there was a significantly smaller monocular acuity imbalance in the purchase group. Analyzing just that subgroup of the population with 20/25 or better vision, the statistical analysis again showed the difference was in the binocularity of the patients. The closer together the right and left eye were in absolute acuity, the more likely the patients were to be satisfied with their lenses. There were no adverse reactions end the most common reason for failure to complete the study was inadequate near vision. Conclusions: This study yielded valuable insight into the performance of the Sunsoft Multifocal as well as those factors that influence the purchase of a soft hydrogel multifocal option.