Posters assess pediatric lens preference and visual simulations of multifocal quality
Findings from two scientific posters presented by CooperVision at the 2026 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) present new myopia management and presbyopia/multifocal contact lens insights for eye care professionals (ECPs).
Karen Walsh of CooperVision. Photo provided by McDougall Communications.
“CooperVision continues to advance foundational ocular science and research that clinicians can use with patients in the near term,” said Karen Walsh, MCOptom, PGDip, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA, senior director of global professional affairs at CooperVision. “The science we are sharing during GSLS builds on a body of existing myopia and presbyopia work that has helped evolve how these widespread issues are understood and addressed through contact lens innovation.”
POSTER NO. 1: PEDIATRIC LENS PREFERENCE
“Lens Preference and Visual Performance of Two Myopia Control Contact Lenses,” a poster by Chang P et al.1, evaluated how different zonal designs were perceived by children with myopia ages 8 to 15 years with no contact lens wearing experience (n=26). The non-dispensing, single visit, double masked trial contralaterally fit each child with CooperVision MiSight® 1 day* (M1D) and Johnson & Johnson ACUVUE® Abiliti™ 1-Day (AA1D) lenses. After one hour, distance and near vision visual acuity (VA) were assessed under photopic and mesopic conditions, and lens preference was determined using a five-point Likert scale.
Participants’ VA with MiSight® 1 day was more favorable under both photopic and mesopic lighting, and a significantly higher proportion of children achieved 20/20-2 or better photopic distance vision with M1D (81 percent) compared to AA1D (38 percent). Among participants with a lens preference (n=20), vision was the predominant factor (n=13).Of that subset, 12 of 13 participants preferred the vision offered by MiSight® 1 day.
The study was run with the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry & Vision Science, at the University of Waterloo.
POSTER NO. 2: VISUAL SIMULATIONS OF MULTIFOCAL QUALITY
“Computational Optical Modelling to Represent Visual Quality Through Multifocal Contact Lenses,” a poster by Marullo R et al2, acknowledges that ECPs can be challenged to accurately describe how a presbyopic patient may experience corrected vision. This study put forth a method for visually portraying the change, using a computational model to alter images of a street scene outside a window, a computer screen at 74 cm and cell phone at 40 cm as seen through a single vision contact lens (SVCL) and a low add center-near multifocal contact lens (MFCL).
The resulting pictorial depictions demonstrated how the MFCL design offered better vision quality for near and intermediate objects with minimum impact on distance quality. The investigators suggest that modeling of this type may offer an easier way for ECPs to communicate and facilitate discussions with patients prior to MFCL fitting, helping create realistic outcome expectations.
The study was conducted in conjunction with the Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona.
A full schedule of events and presentations for GSLS 2026, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan. 7-10, 2026, is available here.
*Indications for use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) Soft (Hydrophilic) Contact Lenses for Daily Wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 D to -4.00 D (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.
References
- Chang P et al. Lens Preference and Visual Performance of Two Myopia Control Contact Lenses. Poster presentation. Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), Las Vegas, January 2026.
- Marullo R, et al. Computational Optical Modelling to Represent Visual Quality Through Multifocal Contact Lenses. Poster presentation. Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), Las Vegas, January 2026.
