Comparative Evaluation of Binocular Visual Function in Myopic Individuals Wearing Spectacles and Soft Contact Lenses: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: Myopia has emerged as a major global visual health concern, particularly among young adults. The mode of optical correction-spectacles or soft contact lenses (SCLs)-can influence binocular function through variations in vertex distance, prismatic effect, and accommodative demand. This study compared binocular visual performance between myopic individuals wearing spectacles and those using SCLs under habitual correction conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 60 myopic participants (30 spectacle wearers and 30 SCL wearers) aged 18–35 years. Standardized optometric tests evaluated accommodation (amplitude, near point, relative accommodation), vergence (near point, fusional ranges, facility), and stereopsis. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests and Pearson correlations at α = 0.05, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), Cohen’s d, and post-hoc power reported. Results: SCL wearers exhibited greater accommodative amplitude (Δ0.60 D, p = 0.03, d = 0.57) and positive relative accommodation (Δ0.27 D, p = 0.02, d = 0.63), along with a closer near point of accommodation (Δ0.70 cm, p = 0.04, d = 0.54). Vergence parameters also favored the SCL group, with a 1.30 cm closer near point of convergence (p = 0.01, d = 0.69) and higher vergence facility (p = 0.03, d = 0.57). Stereoacuity improved slightly but was not statistically significant (p = 0.21, d = 0.33). Positive correlations were observed between accommodative amplitude and vergence facility (r = 0.49, p < 0.01) and between near point of accommodation and convergence (r = 0.43, p = 0.02), indicating coordinated enhancement. Conclusion: Soft contact lenses provide superior accommodative and vergence function compared to spectacles, promoting greater binocular efficiency and visual comfort. These findings suggest that SCLs may reduce eyestrain and improve endurance during prolonged near work and digital device use, representing a more physiologically natural correction modality for young myopic adults.