Comparing children's, teenagers' and young adults' subjective responses to myopia control contact lenses

Myopia control (MC) studies in children link efficacy with subjective performance. There is little MC research in teenagers and young adults. This study compared subjective experience of MC contact lenses in different age groups.

Data were retrospectively reviewed from two double-masked, bilateral wear, crossover contact lens clinical trials (myopia -0.75D to -3.50D and <1.00 DC; 9-35 years). Participants wore two novel lenses (MC lenses with relative peripheral plus [+1.50D and +2.50D]) and a single-vision (SV) control lens (Clariti® 1 day) for 1 week each. All lenses were made from Somofilcon A material. Data collected included visual acuity (VA), wearing time, subjective ratings of comfort, distance and near vision clarity and overall vision. Generalised estimating equations with subject random intercepts and identity link functions were used in the analysis.

A total of 31 participants (10 children, 11 teenagers and 10 adults) were included, with no difference between the age groups for VA with the dispensed lenses (p > 0.05). All groups could discriminate between the SV and MC lenses for vision (distance, near and overall) after 1 week (p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups for comfort or distance and near vision. Children rated the overall vision quality higher than teenagers and adults for both SV and MC lenses (p < 0.05), but there was no difference relative to the SV lens between groups (p > 0.50). Daily wear time was lowest for children for all lens types (all p < 0.02). Wear time was positively associated with ratings of overall vision quality for children and young adults (both p < 0.05).

All age groups rated SV lenses higher than MC lenses. Subjective ratings of MC lenses appear similar between age groups relative to SV lenses. Wear time was lowest in children and was correlated with overall vision quality ratings in children and young adults.