Highly Aspheric Lenslets Demonstrate Pediatric Myopia Control Efficacy

Highly aspheric lenslets (HALs) result in less axial elongation and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression compared with single vision spectacle wear, according to research published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. 

The report shows that individuals who underwent 2-year myopia control treatment with other spectacle lens therapies experienced similar outcomes to individuals who consistently wore HALs for 2 years, after switching to this treatment for 1 year. 

Researchers included participants who previously wore highly aspheric lenslets (n=51), slightly aspheric lenslets (n=50), or single vision lenses (n=42) before undergoing treatment with HALs in the 1-year clinical trial extension. The team enrolled a new control group consisting of 48 sex- and age-matched single vision spectacle lens wearers for comparative purposes, and performed follow-up visits at 6 months and 1 year.  

Study participants treated with highly aspheric lenslets experienced slower myopia progression compared with control group participants, regardless of their initial treatment method. Individuals who consistently underwent HAL treatment and participants who were initially treated with slightly aspheric lenslets or single vision lenses prior to HAL treatment experienced SER changes of -0.38, -0.36, and -0.33 diopters [D], respectively compared with -0.56 D among control group participants (P ≤.02 for all). 

Axial elongation was also slower among all subgroups of individuals treated with highly aspheric lenslets. Compared with a 0.28 mm progression in the control group, participants treated with HALs experienced axial progressions of 0.17 mm, 0.18 mm, and 0.14 among the groups initially treated with HALs, slightly aspheric lenslets, and single vision spectacles, respectively (P <.001 for all). 

Axial elongation and SER progression were similar in all 3 subgroups undergoing highly aspheric lenslet treatment, the report shows (P >.05 for all).

“In this study, the myopia control efficacy of HAL was not affected by previous optical correction methods [single vision lenses or slightly aspheric lenslets],” according to the researchers. “Whether the myopia control efficacy of HAL is affected by previous use of other myopia control treatments, such as low-concentration atropine, needs to be further investigated.”

Study limitations include an inability to blind participants to highly aspheric lenslet or single vision treatment methods. 

Disclosure: This research was supported by Essilor. Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures.