Myopia Progression Trial With Novel Myopia Control Design Spectacle Lenses

A Double-masked, Randomized, Cross-over Comparative Study of Novel Myopia Control Designed Lens (Test Lens) Versus Single Vision Lens (SVL; Control)

This is a mono-center, randomized, double-masked, cross-over study to evaluate rate of myopia progression with novel designed myopia control lens (test) compared to SVL (control). A total of 120 children will be recruited where 60 participants each will be randomized either to wear test (Group 1) or SVL lenses (Group 2) for 6 months each. At the end of the 6 months period, there will be a cross- over of lenses and the lenses evaluated for a further 6 months. At the end of the 12 month period, all participants (Group 1 and Group 2) will wear test lenses for another 6 months.

Myopia has been considered as a 'global epidemic' owing to its rapid rise in prevalence across the world. Myopia significantly affects the quality of life of an individual socially by restriction of employment in various fields and economically by additional cost for eye care and spectacles and contact lenses (Lim, Gazzard et al. 2009). In addition, high myopia increases the risk of ocular morbidity such as retinal detachment, cataract, glaucoma which can could lead to blindness. Several optical and pharmaceutical strategies were developed over the recent years that could control or slow the progression of myopia.

It has been shown that persistent myopic defocus constantly applied on the whole retina has a beneficial effect on myopia progression, i.e. decrease in myopia progression (Anstice and Phillips 2011, Cheng, Woo et al. 2011, Ehsaei, Chisholm et al. 2011). In addition, a meta-analysis on the efficacy of non-invasive optical treatment strategies for myopia control reported prismatic bifocals to have the best outcome (Cheng, Woo et al. 2011). Therefore, test lenses were designed to increase the area and amount of myopic defocus on the retina without compromising vision.

Thus, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of test lenses to reduce the progression of myopia by either reducing the myopia progression rate per year and/or reducing the elongation of eyeball through myopic defocus compared with SVL. A total of 120 healthy children aged 8 to 13 years will be recruited to participate in a double-masked cross-over clinical trial. Cycloplegic autorefraction will be the primary measure for myopia progression and axial length will the secondary outcome measure. Visual acuity will also be compared between test lens and control lens to determine the quality of vision using test lens.

Inclusion Criteria:

General inclusion criterion:

- Volunteer subject and guardian, fluent Vietnamese spoken, willing to follow the protocol and able to read, comprehend and sign the informed consent form.

Study related inclusion criteria:

• Age: equal to or greater than 8 years and not older than 13 years.
• Spherical refractive error of -0.75 to -4.75 D in each eye (spherical equivalent), as measured by cycloplegic autorefraction.
• Astigmatism of not more than 1.50 D.
• Anisometropia of not more than 1.00 D.
• Best corrected visual acuity of equal or better than 0.05 LogMAR
• No strabismus by cover test at near and distance.
• Have the ability to comply with the protocol to get the reliable study measurements.
• Absence of ocular disease with full ophthalmic examination, such as retinal disease, cataract and ptosis. Good general health, without systemic or neurodevelopmental conditions. Without ocular or systemic medicine, which might affect myopia progression or visual acuity through known effects on retina, accommodation or significant elevation of intraocular pressure.
• No history of progressive addition lenses (PALs) or bifocal use and no prior use of contact lenses

Exclusion Criteria:

General exclusion criteria:

• Vulnerability of the subject,
• Participation in another study which might have an influence on vision or interfere with study assessments.