Effects of Long-Term Contact Lens Use on Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Using Rotary Chair and Video Head Impulse Testing.

PURPOSE: This study investigated whether long-term contact lens wear influences vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain and suppression across a range of stimulus frequencies. Despite frequent use of contact lenses in clinical populations, it remains unclear how optical correction affects VOR assessment outcomes.

METHOD: Twelve myopic adults (four men, eight women; 21-25 years) who wore contact lenses at least 12 hr per day, 5 days per week, participated. VOR gain and suppression were measured using sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA) rotary chair testing at 0.04-0.64 Hz, and VOR gain at high frequencies using the video head impulse test (vHIT). Each participant was tested twice: with and without contact lenses. Investigators also noted pupil tracking accuracy.

RESULTS

VOR gain increased with frequency, consistent with physiological norms. No significant differences were observed between contact lens and no-contact lens conditions for VOR gain or suppression (SHA and vHIT, right and left canals). Pupil tracking was occasionally more challenging, and variability in VOR gain was higher with contact lenses.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term contact lens wear does not significantly affect VOR gain or suppression. Clinicians may test patients with or without contact lenses; however, caution is advised when lenses are worn due to occasional pupil tracking difficulties and increased response variability.