Multifocal contact lenses and defocus incorporated multiple segments lenses slow myopic progression in Chinese...

To evaluate the efficacy of multifocal soft contact lenses (MFSCLs) and defocus incorporated multiple segments lenses (DIMS) to limit myopic progression in children with high myopia.

This retrospective study included 249 children (aged 8-16 years) with high myopia (non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent [SE] -6.00 to -10.00 D, astigmatism < 2.00 D). Selected participants were those treated with DIMS (N=81), MFSCLs (DISC, N=60), or single-vision spectacles (SVLs, N=108, control group). Myopic progression was assessed based on the 1-year SE change from baseline, categorized as slow (<-0.25 D), moderate (-0.25 to -0.75 D), or rapid (> -0.75 D). The multiple linear regression evaluated the association between myopic progression and characters.

No significant differences in age, SE, or sex were found among the groups at baseline. At one year, the magnitude of myopic progression was significantly smaller in the DIMS (-0.47 ± 0.39 D, 33.8 %) groups and MFSCLs (-0.39 ± 0.47 D, 45.1 %) compared to the SVL group (-0.71 ± 0.54 D; P < 0.001). The proportion of slow progressors was 28.40 % (SVLs), 39.81 % (DIMS), and 51.67 % (MFSCLs). Age was associated with the myopic progression in the DIMS (β=0.108, P < 0.001) and SVLs (β=0.120, P < 0.001) group, but not in the MFSCLs (P=0.776) group. MFSCLs were preferred for children under 12 years, while DIMS and MFSCLs showed comparable efficacy for those over 12 with high myopia.

Both MFSCLs and DIMS have demonstrated efficacy in delaying myopic progression in children with high myopia. The MFSCLs will give children better control up to the age of 12; after that, they remain a good option.