In a hyperopic patient, is the proximal point closer when using glasses or contact lenses?

In a hyperopic patient, is the proximal point closer when using glasses or contact lenses?

• A. Closer in glasses
• B. Closer in contact lenses
• C. Same distance
• D. Indeterminate

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the corrective lens position changes the accommodative demand for near tasks in hyperopia. With glasses, the lens sits away from the eye (back vertex distance). This separation means the eye has to accommodate more to bring near objects into focus, so the near (proximal) point moves farther away. When a contact lens sits directly on the cornea, there’s virtually no back-vertex distance, so the correction acts at the eye itself and the eye requires less accommodation for near. The result is a closer proximal point with contact lenses.

The key idea is how the corrective lens position changes the accommodative demand for near tasks in hyperopia. With glasses, the lens sits away from the eye (back vertex distance). This separation means the eye has to accommodate more to bring near objects into focus, so the near (proximal) point moves farther away. When a contact lens sits directly on the cornea, there’s virtually no back-vertex distance, so the correction acts at the eye itself and the eye requires less accommodation for near. The result is a closer proximal point with contact lenses.