Effectiveness of spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets in slowing axial elongation among non-myopic children.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets are effective in controlling axial elongation and slowing myopia progression in children with myopia, and its effectiveness may extend to children at risk of developing myopia.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of plano highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) spectacle lenses in slowing down axial elongation and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression among non-myopic children, using retrospective data records.

METHODS

This retrospective study included data from medical records from an eye hospital network (Wellem Group) in Shanghai, China. Non-myopic children (non-cycloplegic SER between >-0.50 and ≤+0.75 D) aged 4-9 years, prescribed plano HAL lenses, were reviewed (N = 147). With available data prior to intervention, annualised changes in axial length and SER before and after wearing plano HAL lenses were computed. Effectiveness was evaluated with pre-treatment rates acting as controls, and differences in changes over time were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 105 non-myopic children were prescribed plano HAL lenses and had both pre-treatment and post-treatment visits (≥6 months). The mean ±SD age, SER, and axial length was 6.8 ± 1.3 years, 0.22 ± 0.29 D, and 23.1 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. The mean ±SE axial length and SER pre-treatment change was +0.44 ± 0.01 mm/year and -0.28 ± 0.03 D/year, respectively. After treatment, the mean axial length and SER change were +0.13 ± 0.01 mm/year and +0.14 ± 0.03 D/year, respectively. The mean difference in axial length and SER change over time was significantly different at -0.31 ± 0.02 mm/year and 0.42 ± 0.06 D/year, respectively (both p < 0.001). Lens wearing time was significantly associated with difference in axial length change over time (R2 = 0.19, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Plano HAL lenses are effective in slowing axial elongation and SER progression among non-myopic children aged 4-9 years, which can potentially help in delaying myopia onset.