Efficacy of Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses in Reducing Myopia Progression Among Taiwanese Schoolchildren: A Randomized Paired-Eye Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract Introduction To evaluate the efficacy and safety of myopia control using a multifocal soft contact lens designed with high peripheral add power in schoolchildren. Methods This 1-year multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study enrolled myopic schoolchildren aged 6–15 years with refractive errors between − 1.0 D and − 10.0 D. Each participant was randomly allocated to wear a daily disposable multifocal soft contact lens as the treatment in one eye and a single-vision soft contact lens as the control in the other eye. The primary endpoints were changes in the cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length at 1 year. Results Fifty-two of the 59 participants (88.1%) completed the study protocol. The mean change in SE was − 0.73 ± 0.40 D in the treatment group. and − 0.85 ± 0.51 D in the control group (mean difference: − 0.12 ± 0.34 D, p = 0.012). The mean change in axial length was 0.25 ± 0.14 mm in the treatment group, and 0.33 ± 0.17 mm in the control group (mean difference: 0.08 ± 0.10 mm, p < 0.001). The treatment was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions Treatment with multifocal soft contact lenses with high peripheral add power was effective in controlling the progression of myopia and axial length elongation in myopic schoolchildren.

Keywords

• Axial length
• Children
• Myopia control
• Multifocal soft contact lens
• Peripheral myopic defocus