Multifocal contact lens myopia control.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies on soft multifocal contact lens myopia control published in the peer-reviewed literature reported findings of noncommercial contact lenses worn for 1 year or less. This study sought to determine the progression of myopia and axial elongation of children fitted with commercially available distance center soft multifocal contact lenses for 2 years.


METHODS
Eight- to eleven-year-old children with -1.00 D to -6.00 D spherical component and less than 1.00 D astigmatism were fitted with soft multifocal contact lenses with a +2.00 D add (Proclear Multifocal "D"; CooperVision, Fairport, NY). They were age- and gender-matched to participants from a previous study who were fitted with single-vision contact lenses (1 Day Acuvue; Vistakon, Jacksonville, FL). A-scan ultrasound and cycloplegic autorefraction were performed at baseline, after 1 year, and after 2 years. Multilevel modeling was used to compare the rate of change of myopia and axial length between single-vision and soft multifocal contact lens wearers.


RESULTS
Forty participants were fitted with soft multifocal contact lenses, and 13 did not contribute complete data (5 contributed 1 year of data). The adjusted mean ± standard error spherical equivalent progression of myopia at 2 years was -1.03 ± 0.06 D for the single-vision contact lens wearers and -0.51 ± 0.06 for the soft multifocal contact lens wearers (p < 0.0001). The adjusted mean axial elongation was 0.41 ± 0.03 and 0.29 ± 0.03 for the single-vision and soft multifocal contact lens wearers, respectively (p < 0.0016).


CONCLUSIONS
Soft multifocal contact lens wear resulted in a 50% reduction in the progression of myopia and a 29% reduction in axial elongation during the 2-year treatment period compared to a historical control group. Results from this and other investigations indicate a need for a long-term randomized clinical trial to investigate the potential for soft multifocal contact lens myopia control.
*OD, PhD, FAAO †OD, MS, FAAO ‡OD, MS §PhD, FAAO College of Optometry (JJW, LAJ-J), The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio. Katie L. Greiner is in private practice in Kent, Ohio. M. Elizabeth McVey is in private practice in Englewood, Florida.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Walline
Katie L
KL
Greiner
M Elizabeth
ME
McVey
Lisa A
LA
Jones-Jordan
D000293:Adolescent; D058452:Axial Length, Eye / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography