Myopia management is a topic highlighted in optometry news lately. Myopia is on the rise and increasing at a remarkable rate worldwide. It’s estimated that 23% of the population is currently myopic and that by year 2050 this number will rise to 50%. There is also a correlating trend upwards of high myopia which is the chief concern at hand. Not only is high myopia an inconvenience, but also associated with a significant increase in pathological risks; therefore, researchers are finding ways to manage this myopia epidemic and eye care professionals are starting to educate patients and their parents on the latest management options.
In recent years, research studies on optical methods have been found to reduce myopia progression, including progressive addition lenses, orthokeratology, and multifocal or aspheric designed soft contact lenses. The mechanism of myopic defocus has been shown to slow down the progression of myopia by inhibiting eye growth and therefore axial length. Myopic defocus in dual focus contacts work by alternating powers of distance correction and myopic defocus, which allows for correction of the child’s refractive error while simultaneously controlling the progression of myopia.
One such contact lens that uses hyperopic defocus is MiSight lenses by CooperVision approved in Canada. CooperVision MiSight® 1-day contact lenses have shown to reduce the rate of myopia progression by 59% over 3 years. A study by Anstice and Phillips evaluated the effect of dual-focus contact lenses in 40 children aged 11 to 14 years old. The results showed that after 10 months, the change in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length was significantly less in the eye wearing the dual focus lens compared to the eye wearing the single vision lens. Spherical equivalent was -.044D in the dual focus wearing eye versus -0.69D in the eye with a single vision lens. Axial length was 0.11mm in the dual focus lens wearing eye versus 0.22m in the single vision lens wearing eye.
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the MiSight daily disposable soft contact lens in slowing progression in spherical equivalent refractive power and axial length. The results of the clinical study can give eye care professionals the confidence to start adding myopia management to their practice. In turn, they can increase patient satisfaction, lower disease risks and increase revenue.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=anstice+and+phillips
