Clinical Ophthalmology (Jan 2022)
A Clinical Study of the Impact of Soft Contact Lenses on the Progression of Myopia in Young Patients
Abstract
Andrzej Malinowski,1,* Małgorzata Mrugacz,2,* Marcin Stopa,3 Erita Filipek,4 Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska,5 Piotr Czupryna5 1EliteOptyk Malinowscy, Białystok, Poland; 2Laboratory of Eye Rehabilitation; Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Heliodor Swiecicki University Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 4Clinic and Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland; 5Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska Tel +48-85-740-95-14Email [email protected]: To assess the impact of soft contact lenses on the progression of myopia in young patients.Patients and Methods: The observational study included 102 patients divided into 3 groups: MFCL (multifocal contact lenses) group: 15 girls and 9 boys, aged 8– 20 (= 14.12 ± 2.863) with soft multifocal contact lenses with myopia: = − 3.12 D ± 1.776 D and mean myopia progression − 0.23 ± 0.233D after 2 years; SVCL (single vision contact lenses) group: 30 girls and 5 boys, 11– 20 years old (=15.5 ± 2.24) with myopia = − 2.88 ± 2.122 D at admission and mean myopia progression − 0.54 ± 0.464 D after 2 years; the spectacle (single vision glasses) group: 25 girls and 18 boys, aged 8– 18 years ( = 13.65 ± 2.448) with single vision glasses with myopia: = − 1.74 ± 1.412 D at admission and mean myopia progression − 0.86 ± 0.489D after 2 years. Medical history and physical examination were performed every 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Refractive error was examined using the autorefractometry after cycloplegia.Results: The analysis of myopia correction after 2 years showed differences between MFCL and spectacle correction. The change in myopia progression after 2 years was statistically significant for MFCL vs SVCL and MFCL vs spectacle correction when the myopia occured before the period of intensive growth. When myopia occurred during the period of intensive growth, difference was noted for MFCL vs spectacle correction and SVCL vs spectacle correction. When myopia occurred after a period of intensive growth, no significant differences between the groups were observed.Conclusion: 1) Multifocal contact lenses and some single vision contact lenses (Biofinity) may be useful in the control of myopia in younger patients, slowing the progression of nearsightedness; therefore, they can be a therapeutic option in inhibiting the progression of myopia. 2) The best effects of using multifocal contact lenses occur if myopia is diagnosed before the period of intensive growth.Keywords: myopia, multifocal contact lenses, single vision contact lenses, spectacles
