Defocus Curve of Emerging Presbyopic Patients

Abstract

Purpose

To create a defocus curve of emerging presbyopic patients of various age groups.

Setting

Single site private practice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Design

This was a non-randomized, prospective study. All subjects were enrolled from healthy volunteers.

Methods

Subjects aged 37–9, 40–42, 43–45 and 46–48 that have 20/20 best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) were included. Binocular visual acuity at different defocus steps ranging from +0.5 D to −3 D was measured in each age group. Defocus curves were generated from the mean logMAR visual acuities at each defocus step, by age group.

Results

Of the 60 subjects, 23.3% of subjects were between the ages of 37–39, 26.7% were between the ages of 40–42, 25% of subjects were between ages 43–45, and 25% were between the ages of 46–48. Visual acuity significantly decreased from plano to −3 D defocus steps in all groups (p < 0.0002, p = 0, p = 0 and p = 0). The 46–48-year-old group had worse visual acuity compared to the other three groups from the −1.0 to −2.0 D defocus steps (p = 0.037, p = 0.022 and 0.017, respectively). Starting at a near point of 40cm, the 37–39 group had the best logMAR vision and the 46–48 group had the worst vision (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The defocus curves of emerging presbyopic individuals demonstrate a decreasing visual acuity at near defocus steps that decreases with age. Defocus curves at different age ranges can help doctors explain various presbyopia treatment options in terms of near point capabilities at various ages.

Keywords:

• presbyopia
• defocus curves
• advanced technology IOLs

Acknowledgments

Results from this study were presented virtually at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery May 16–17, 2020 and live in Las Vegas, Nevada at the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons on July 25, 2021.

Disclosures

Drs. Shafer, Thompson, and Berdahl are all consultants for Alcon^®. Dr Berdahl reports personal fees for consulting and/or ownership from Alcon, Bausch and Lomb, Expert Opinion, Johnson and Johnson Surgical Vision, Ocular Surgical Data, RxSight, Zeiss, during the conduct of the study; personal fees for consulting and/or ownership from AbbVie, Aerie, Aerpio, Aldeyra, Aurea Medical, Aurion Biotech/CorneaGen, Dakota Lions Eye Bank, Elios Vision INC, Equinox, Expert Opinion, Glaukos, Gore, Imprimis/Harrow Health, iRenix, Iacta Pharmaceuticals, Kala, Kedalion, MELT Pharmaceuticals, MicroOptx, New World Medical, Ocular Therapeutix, Omega Ophthalmic, Orasis, Oyster Point, Santen, Sight Sciences, Surface INC, Tarsus, Tear Clear, Vertex Ventures, ViaLase, Vittamed, Vance Thompson Viison, Verana Health, Versa Biologics, Visionary Ventures, Visus, and Zeiss, outside the submitted work. Dr Vance Thompson reports personal fees for research from Alcon, Acufocus, Bausch & Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, RxSight, Zeiss, and Allergan, during the conduct of the study; personal fees for consulting and/or research from AdOM, Allotex, Avellino, Avisi Technologies, Inc, BRIM Biotechnology, Inc, BVI, Centricity, Conjtac, Crystilex, CSO, Equinox, Euclid Systems, Expert Opinion, eyeBrain Medical Inc, Eyedetec, Eyesafe, Forsight Robotics, Glaukos, Imprimis, iVeena, LayerBio, Medevise, Melt Pharmaceuticals, NanoDrops, Ocular Innovations, Ocular Therapeutix, ORA, Oyster Point Pharmaceuticals, Rayner, Reopia, SightSciences, Stepwise Medical, Stuart Therapeutics, Tarsus Rx, TearClear, TearOptix, Thea, TherOptix, Treehouse Health, Vance Thompson Vision, Visant, Visionary Ventures, Visus, Vivior AG, and 2EyesVision, outside the submitted work. Dr Mitch J Ibach and Dr Justin A Schweitzer report grants from Alcon, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for this manuscript was provided by Alcon^®.