Changes in peripheral refraction , higher order aberrations , and accommodative lag 1 with a radial refractive gradient contact lens in young myopes

26 Objective: To evaluate changes in the peripheral refraction (PR), visual quality, and 27 accommodative lag (LAG) with a novel soft radial refractive gradient (SRRG) 28 experimental contact lens that produces peripheral myopic defocus. 29 Methods: Fifty-nine myopic right eyes were fitted with the lens. The PR was measured 30 up to 30 degrees in the nasal and temporal horizontal visual fields and compared with 31 values obtained without the lens. The LAG was measured monocularly using the 32 distance-induced condition method at 40 cm, and the higher order aberrations (HOAs) of 33 the entire eye were obtained for 3and 5-mm pupils by aberrometry. Visual performance 34 was assessed through contrast sensitivity function (CSF). 35 Results: With the lens, the relative PR became significantly (P<0.05) less hyperopic 36 from 30 to 15 degrees temporally and 30 degrees nasally in the M and J0 refractive 37 components. Cylinder foci showed significant myopization from 30 to 15 degrees 38 temporally and 30 to 25 degrees nasally (P<0.05). The HOAs increased significantly, the 39 CSF decreased slightly but reached statistical significance for 6 and 12 c/d (P<0.05), and 40 the LAG decreased significantly with the SRRG lens (P=0.0001). There was a moderate 41 correlation between HOAs and CSF at medium and high spatial frequencies. 42 Conclusion: The SRRG lens induced a significant change in PR, particularly in the 43 temporal retina. Tangential and sagittal foci changed significantly in the peripheral nasal 44 and temporal retina. The decreased LAG and increased HOAs particularly in coma-like 45 aberration may positively affect myopia control. A longitudinal study is needed to 46 confirm this potential. 47 48