Spherical-equivalent contacts may shift binocular function
Compared with spectacles, the lenses produced modest changes in convergence and accommodation that remained within clinical ranges.
By
Andrea Surnit
September 29, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Spherical-equivalent contacts may shift binocular function
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Low myopic astigmatism Key Mechanisms Changes in binocular vision measures with spherical-equivalent soft contact lenses Target Population Patients aged 15 to 35 years with low myopic astigmatism Care Setting Optometry practice
Key Highlights
Study involved 36 patients with low myopic astigmatism Comparative analysis between spectacles and spherical-equivalent soft contact lenses Statistically significant changes observed in accommodative lag, near point of convergence, and positive relative accommodation Changes were modest and within normative clinical ranges Further studies comparing toric and spherical soft contact lenses are warranted Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess binocular vision measures in patients with low myopic astigmatism Management
Consider spherical-equivalent soft contact lenses for patients with low myopic astigmatism Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor changes in binocular vision parameters when switching from spectacles to contact lenses Risks
Potential for subtle functional adaptations rather than clinically significant deterioration Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with at least −0.50 to −3.00 diopters of myopia and 0.75 to 2.00 diopters of astigmatism
Spherical-equivalent lenses may leave residual uncorrected astigmatism
Clinical Best Practices
Conduct binocular vision testing before and after switching to contact lenses Evaluate accommodative and fusional vergence measures Consider individual patient responses to contact lens wear Related Resources & Content
