Clinical advantages of multifocal soft contact lenses in myopia control for adolescents

To compare the clinical effectiveness of multifocal soft contact lenses (MFSCLs) and orthokeratology (OK) lenses in managing myopia in adolescents.

This retrospective study enrolled 106 myopic adolescents, divided into two groups: OK (n=50) and MFSCLs (n=56). Refractive error (RE), intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), and choroidal thickness were measured at baseline (T0), 6-month follow-up (T1), and 12-month follow-up (T2). Additionally, accommodative amplitude, accommodative sensitivity, negative/positive relative accommodation (NRA/PRA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), epidermal growth factor (EGF), psychological status, and quality of life were compared between T0 and T2. Safety during treatment was also assessed.

Both interventions resulted in a significant increase in RE at T1 and T2 (P<0.05), with no significant differences between groups (P>0.05). IOP, AL, and choroidal thickness remained stable (all P>0.05). At T2, the MFSCLs group showed significant improvements in accommodative amplitude, accommodative sensitivity, and NRA (all P<0.05), along with a reduction in PRA (P<0.05), although no significant inter-group differences were observed (P>0.05). Furthermore, the MFSCLs group exhibited significantly lower IL-6 levels, higher EGF, and fewer adverse reactions (all P<0.05). Psychological status and quality of life improvements were significantly greater in the MFSCLs group (P<0.05).

MFSCLs and OK lenses demonstrate comparable myopia control effects. However, MFSCLs offer additional benefits in reducing inflammation, enhancing safety, and improving mental health and quality of life.