Monovision slows juvenile myopia progression unilaterally

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Optometry
• Myopia Control

Background:

• Juvenile myopia is a growing concern.
• Current myopia control strategies aim to slow progression.
• Monovision spectacle correction is explored as a novel approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of monovision in reducing accommodation and myopia progression in schoolchildren.
• To evaluate the side effects and acceptability of this correction method.

Main Methods:

• Children aged 11 with myopia (mean spherical equivalent -1.00 to -3.00 D) were enrolled.
• Dominant eyes were corrected for distance; fellow eyes had induced refractive imbalance (≤2.00 D).
• Myopia progression was monitored via autorefraction and ultrasonography for 30 months; accommodation was assessed using dynamic retinoscopy.

Main Results:

• All participants accommodated with their distance-corrected eye.
• The near-corrected eye experienced consistent myopic defocus.
• Myopia progression (spherical equivalent and vitreous chamber depth elongation) was significantly slower in the near-corrected eyes compared to distance-corrected eyes.

Conclusions:

• Monovision spectacle correction is ineffective in reducing accommodative effort in juvenile myopia.
• Sustained myopic defocus, achieved through near correction, significantly slowed myopia progression.
• This suggests a potential mechanism for controlling axial elongation in the human eye.