Women Prefer Contact Lens Under-Correction
Clinic-based study suggests sex differences in preferred contact lens under-correction during presbyopia management
By
Julie Greenbaum
March 11, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Women Prefer Contact Lens Under-Correction
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Contact Lens Power Preference Key Mechanisms Under-correction of contact lens power to improve near vision while maintaining acceptable distance vision. Target Population Patients aged 20 to 79 years, with a focus on women aged 40 to 59 years. Care Setting Eye clinic
Key Highlights
Women aged 40 to 59 years preferred greater under-correction than men of the same age. Mean Δ lens power was 0.41 diopters in women vs 0.34 diopters in men. Near addition requirements were similar between sexes across all age groups. Women exhibited worse ocular surface parameters compared to men. Regression analyses identified sex-specific factors associated with under-correction. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess habitual contact lens prescriptions and visual acuity. Management
Consider under-correction strategies for improving near vision in women. Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor visual acuity and ocular surface parameters regularly. Risks
Potential for detection bias due to unequal sex representation in the study. Patient & Prescribing Data
3,082 patients aged 20 to 79 years, predominantly women.
Under-correction may enhance comfort and visual performance in daily activities.
Clinical Best Practices
Evaluate individual patient needs for contact lens power adjustments. Incorporate patient feedback on visual comfort when prescribing lenses. Related Resources & Content
