Peripheral Lenslet Designed Spectacles Improve QOL in Children With Myopia

Peripheral lenslet designed spectacles may improve ocular comfort and reduce psychological symptoms in children with myopia.

Peripheral lenslet designed spectacles can be a better myopia control method for improving pediatric health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with orthokeratology and single vision spectacle treatment, according to a study published in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye.

Researchers enrolled 648 pediatric patients with myopia (age range, 7-17 years; boys, 347) in the cross-sectional study conducted between February 2021 and August 2022 and included participants treated with peripheral lenslet designed spectacles (n=231), orthokeratology (n=211), or single vision spectacles (n=206). 

The team determined utility values for all 3 cohorts using a general preference-based Child Health Utility-nine Dimensions (CHU9D) questionnaire, which assessed psychological factors, physical pain, and ability to perform daily functions. 

Better eyesight and less eye pain/discomfort from myopia correction could improve the HRQoL of children.

Overall mean utility score was 0.936 (95 % CI, 0.929-0.943). Children treated with the peripheral lenslet designed spectacles had a significantly higher utility score (0.955; 95% CI, 0.946-0.963) compared with individuals who underwent single vision spectacle (0.926; 95% CI, 0.913-0.939) or orthokeratology lens treatment (0.925; 95% CI, 0.913-0.937). 

Children who wore peripheral lenslets reported being less likely to be worried, sad, tired, or annoyed compared with those who underwent single vision spectacle or orthokeratology treatment (P < .05), the report shows. They also reported improved eyesight and less eye pain and discomfort compared with participants using the other 2 myopia control strategies. 

Myopia level did not significantly affect HRQOL in participants treated with single vision or  peripheral lenslet designed spectacles, but children treated with orthokeratology who had a higher degree of myopia reported a better HRQoL compared with children with lower degrees of myopia who underwent the same myopia treatment.

“Better eyesight and less eye pain/discomfort from myopia correction could improve the HRQoL of children,” according to the study authors. “This study indicates that [peripheral lenslet designed] spectacles may be considered for myopia management in children and adolescents.

The use of self-reported data from the CHU9D questionnaire, a single center design, and the observational nature of the investigation are all acknowledged limitations to the research.

References:

Yang Y, Jiang J, Lin Y, Peng Y. Health-related quality of life for children using orthokeratology (OK), peripheral lenslet designed (PLD) and single-vision (SV) spectacles: based on Child Health Utility 9 Dimensions (CHU9D). Cont Lens Anterior Eye. Published online April 4, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2023.101839