A recent peer-reviewed clinical trial, published in Optometry and Vision Science, evaluated Bruno Vision Care LLC’s Deseyne (vilfilcon C) daily disposable contact lens for presbyopia with extended depth of focus (EDOF).
The randomized crossover study found that the lens significantly increased DOF and improved intermediate and near vision compared with a standard single-vision contact lens—all while maintaining clinically acceptable distance vision.
Let's start with presbyopia.
Presbyopia develops because the eye's natural crystalline lens gradually loses flexibility, reducing its ability to change focus for near tasks.
- Symptoms commonly begin after age 40 and continue to progress over time, making it progressively more difficult to focus on nearby objects.
And although multifocal (MF) soft contact lenses are widely prescribed, previous research has shown that dissatisfaction with vision quality remains one of the leading reasons adults stop wearing contact lenses after developing presbyopia.
In fact: Reviews of contact lens optics describe several multifocal designs, including newer extended depth of focus technologies that attempt to increase the range over which images remain clear rather than relying solely on multiple focal points.
So where does this Deseyne lens fit in?
The Deseyne lens was cleared by the FDA late last year as the first and only patented EDOF daily disposable contact lens.
It differs from traditional MF lenses because its design incorporates a small optically inactive central zone intended to increase functional depth of focus.
- See here for our coverage on this clearance—and more details on the lens’s unique EDOF lens technology.
- Also take note: The lens is expected to commercially launch in the United States later this year (though no specific date has been set as of yet).
Alright, well what was the point of the study?
Researchers conducted a randomized, crossover, non-dispensing clinical trial at three clinical sites in the United States.
Participants were fitted with both:
- The Deseyne EDOF daily disposable contact lens
- Johnson & Johnson’s 1-Day Acuvue Moist single-vision daily disposable lens (the control)
Each participant wore both lenses in random order, allowing researchers to directly compare visual performance within the same individual.
And what was evaluated?
- Monocular distance visual acuity (VA)
- Intermediate VA
- Near visual acuity
- Lens-induced DOF (primary endpoint)
- Contrast sensitivity with and without glare
So what do we know about these participants?
Researchers enrolled 78 habitual soft contact lens wearers with presbyopia with a few key criteria:
- 45-70 years old
- Refractive errors (REs) ranging from −6.00 to +4.00 diopters (D)
- Less than 1.25 D of astigmatism
- Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA): at least 20/25
And did all 78 patients complete the study?
Not quite. One participant withdrew before testing, leaving 77 participants in the final analysis with the following:
- Mean age: 53.9 years
- 77% women
- Mean RE: −1.76 D
- Average pupil diameter: 4.39 mm
Well, what did the researchers find?
Compared with the monofocal control lens, the Deseyne lens significantly improved several measures of visual performance.
Researchers found:
- Mean DOF increased: 1.44 D to 2.22 D
- Average extended depth of focus improved by 0.78 D
- Intermediate VA improved from approximately 20/29 to 20/21
- Near VA improved from approximately 20/45 to 20/31
- Distance VA remained statistically noninferior (despite a small average reduction)
The greatest improvements were observed among those
- Aged 60+
- With poorer baseline near vision
- With smaller pupil diameters
Other observations reported included: no adverse events or clinically significant corneal findings—and only a few cases of mild lens discomfort that resolved after lens replacement.
Was contrast sensitivity measured?
It was. The Deseyne lens was found to reduce mesopic contrast sensitivity compared with the monofocal lens, particularly at medium and higher spatial frequencies, both with and without glare.
However, the authors noted that similar reductions have been reported with other multifocal contact lenses.
And how do these findings compare to prior research?
Earlier randomized studies comparing commercially available multifocal soft contact lenses similarly found small reductions in distance vision accompanied by improvements in intermediate and near vision.
Other clinical trials evaluating EDOF contact lens designs have likewise reported better intermediate vision than conventional multifocal lenses.
The authors also compared their findings with FDA-approved EDOF intraocular lenses (IOLs).
… and what did they find?
The Deseyne lens's 0.78 D increase in DOF fell within the range reported for FDA-approved EDOF IOLs—suggesting the contact lens achieved clinically meaningful improvements despite using a different optical approach.
Any limitations?
First: This was a non-dispensing study, so participants wore the lenses only during study visits.
- The investigators therefore could not assess long-term comfort, patient satisfaction, spectacle independence, or real-world wear experience.
Second: Only one monofocal control lens was included.
- Future studies comparing the Deseyne lens with commercially available multifocal contact lenses could provide a more complete understanding of its relative performance.
Finally: The researchers did not directly measure residual accommodation or use cycloplegia to eliminate any remaining focusing ability.
- Although they noted this would have affected both study lenses equally, they suggested future studies could further evaluate this factor.
Duly noted. So what did the experts have to say about these outcomes?
The study authors concluded that the Deseyne contact lens successfully extended DOF while improving intermediate and near VA compared with a single-vision contact lens.
They also noted that the lens met all four effectiveness criteria described in the ANSI Z80.35 standard used by the FDA to evaluate EDOD IOLs.
Any recommendations for future research?
The authors emphasized that additional studies evaluating long-term wear, patient-reported outcomes, and comparisons with other MF contact lenses could help further establish the lens's role in presbyopia management.