Prospective clinical evaluation of the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens.

Purpose: We conducted a 15-month prospective clinical studyto evaluate the performance of the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens and to determine the objective and subjective factors that influence patient success rates in a general presbyopic population presenting to a contact lens specialist's office.

Methods: The first 100 patients who were initially fit and dispensed the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens are included in this study data. At each follow-up visit, visual acuity, slit lamp evaluation of lens/cornea relationship, and any change in ocular surface characteristics were noted. The study population was a general population with an interest in wearing disposable multifocal contact lenses. Success was defined as the patient actually purchasing the lens for continual wear.

Results: The overall success rate with the lens in this diverse study group was 53%. The majority of the successful patients achieved 20/25 or better distance and near acuity with the Acuvue Bifocal. None of the study participants had any adverse effect of lens wear or changes in keratometry or ocular surface characteristics. Of the successful patients, 57% wore the lens in a binocular fashion, while the remainder used some form of monovision. Virtually all patients rated lens comfort as excellent or very good, with the major factor in success or failure being visual performance.

Conclusions: This prospective study in an average group of presbyopic contact lens or spectacle wearers yielded valuable insights into the performance of a disposable multifocal contact lens in a general contact lens practice. The Acuvue Bifocal should prove to be a valuable addition to the contact lens fitter's practice.