Soft toric contact lens wear improves digital performance and vision—A randomised clinical trial

Purpose: To compare objective and subjective digital near visual performance and comfort in low to moderate astigmatic participants fitted with toric versus spherical equivalent silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses. Methods: This was a double-masked, randomised, crossover study. Participants aged 18 to 39 years with astigmatism of −0.75 to −1.50 D were recruited and fitted with toric and spherical contact lenses, in random order. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after 1 week of wear with each contact lens type after the follow-up visits. High- and low-contrast near logMAR visual acuity, automated visual acuity, zoom (%), contrast (%), reading distance (cm), critical print size (logMAR) and reading speed were assessed. Participants also completed the validated Near Activity Visual Questionnaire (NAVQ) and Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire 8 (CLDEQ-8) for each correction type. Results: Twenty-three participants completed the study (74% female, average age 24.4 ± 4.2 years). When participants wore toric contact lenses, near high- and low-contrast visual acuity and automated visual acuity improved by 3–4 letters (all p < 0.03) and participants were able to read faster on an iPad (p = 0.02). Participants were also able to read with 8% less contrast on the iPad with toric lenses (p = 0.01). Participants reported better subjective vision on the overall NAVQ (p = 0.001) and better comfort on the CLDEQ-8 (p = 0.02) with toric lenses. Fewer participants reported difficulty with maintaining focus at near, reading small print, reading labels/instructions, reading the computer display/keyboard and reading post/mail with toric correction. Conclusions: Toric contact lenses improve comfort, subjective and objective visual performance with digital devices and other near tasks compared with the spherical equivalent correction in participants with low to moderate astigmatism.