Effectiveness of Multizone-Defocus-Plano spectacles (MDPs) during nearwork in slowing axial elongation and myopic shift in non-myopic children: A cluster randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the efficacy of Multizone-Defocus-Plano spectacles (MDPs) during nearwork activities in slowing myopic shift and axial elongation in non-myopic children.

PARTICIPANTS

Children 7-8 years of age with refractive errors between 0.00 and +2.00 D from five primary schools participated in a cluster randomised study.

METHODS

The study group used MDPs during nearwork, while the control group had no intervention. Axial length (AL) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) were measured every 6 months over 1 year. MDPs have an 11 mm central plano area surrounded by 540 units, each with a +3.50 D myopic defocus. AL and SER changes were compared between groups, with analysis by baseline SER and gender subgroups.

RESULTS

A total of 391 children were randomised (average age 7.3 years; 52.2% male). After 1 year of follow-up, AL elongation in the MDP and control group was 0.22 ± 0.02 mm and 0.34 ± 0.02 mm, respectively (F(1, 31.72) = 25.35, p < 0.001). The respective SER change was -0.26 ± 0.04 D and -0.57 ± 0.04 D (F(1, 25.71) = 33.44, p < 0.001). The AL difference between the two groups was greater at a lower baseline SER (0.22 ± 0.02 mm vs. 0.38 ± 0.02 mm, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Wearing MDPs during nearwork activities can effectively slow axial elongation and myopia shift in non-myopic children, especially for children with a lower baseline SER. Wearing MDPs during nearwork activities may help prevent or delay myopia's onset and enable group interventions.