A comparison of vision-related quality of life between Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lenses and single-vision spectacles in Chinese children.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) between Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lenses and single-vision spectacles in Chinese children, in order to evaluate their visual performance and subjective acceptance of this bifocal designed contact lenses treatment.

METHODS

Chinese participants aged 7 to 12 years, with myopia of -4.00 to -0.75 D, astigmatism < 1.50 D, and monocular best-corrected visual acuity 0.0 or better, were recruited in the study. All participants had been wearing DISC lenses, or single-vision spectacles, for the last 6 to 18 months and were requested to complete the routine ocular examination and Chinese version of the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP 2) questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 7 scales: vision, symptoms, appearance, activities, handling, peer perception, and overall score. According to their habitual correction modalities, fifty-four children were allocated to the DISC group and 56 to the single-vision spectacles group. A generalized linear model was fitted to assess variables associated with the PREP 2 score.

RESULTS

Participants wearing DISC lenses scored significantly higher than those wearing single-vision spectacles for vision, appearance, activities, peer perception, and overall (all P < 0.05). The improvement of VRQoL in the DISC group was mainly represented in appearance, peer perception, and activities. The quality of life improved more for older participants on scales of vision, symptoms, handling, appearance, and overall score (all P < 0.05). The interaction between treatment and age was statistically significant for the activities scale (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

DISC lens wear significantly improves VRQoL in Chinese children compared with single-vision spectacles for most of the survey scales, especially in the areas of appearance, peer perception, and activities. The benefits provided by DISC lenses contribute to greater satisfaction than single-vision spectacles for myopic children.