Active illumination spectacle device slows childhood myopia progression

Abstract

Childhood myopia progression occurs due to excessive axial elongation of the eye and results in increased risk for sight-threatening ocular comorbidities. Increased daily time spent outdoors and sustained use of peripheral defocus modifying lenses have been shown to exert anti-myopigenic effects in children. Here, we evaluate a novel spectacle device which projected bright, broad spectrum light combined with myopic peripheral retinal defocus in children. It was theorized that a significant decrease in myopic cycloplegic spherical equivalent autorefraction (CSER) and axial elongation would be observed in treated eyes of subjects who used the device 1.5 hours per day, five days per week, versus age- and ethnicity-matched untreated myopic virtual controls. Projected one-year myopic CSER increase and axial elongation were found to be significantly less in treated eyes, with estimated treatment effects of 0.46 D for CSER and -0.20 mm for axial length versus virtual controls. These treatment effects after part-time wear are similar to values reported for other spectacle and contact lens therapies which are worn on a full time basis for myopia control, which may suggest the novel study device exerts myopic inhibition effects via unique or multifactorial pathways.