Results presented at last weekend’s British Contact Lens Association clinical conference (June 9-11) on a three-year study into a pioneering contact lens therapy have shown the treatment was effective in slowing myopia progression in children by 59%.
The Coopervsion-led study assessed a specially-designed, dual-focus myopia control one-day soft CL in reducing the rate of progression of juvenile-onset myopia.
The lens, which has alternating visual correction and treatment zones, was effective in slowing myopia progression by 59% as measured by mean cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) and 52% as measured by mean axial elongation of the eye, when compared to the children in the control group wearing a single vision one-day CL.
The multi-centre, double-masked, randomised study enrolled 144 myopic children aged 8-12 years from Singapore, Canada, England, and Portugal.
‘Myopia’s growth has been dizzying, and now affects the vast majority of young adults in some countries, especially in East Asia,’ said Arthur Back, chief technology officer for Coopervision.
‘Not only does it create blurred vision, but also increases the likelihood of conditions later in life such as glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy if not addressed.
‘Early intervention by parents, in partnership with eye care professionals, is essential for the near- and long-term health and well-being of their children. The Coopervision Misight dual-focus one-day lens used in this study provides a new, effective and repeatable approach.’