The effect of peripheral defocus on axial growth and modulation of refractive error in hyperopes.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Beasley, Ian G; Davies, Leon N; Logan, Nicola S
- Source
- Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics. May2022, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p534-544. 11p. 1 Diagram, 5 Charts, 3 Graphs.
- Subject
- *REFRACTIVE errors
*SOFT contact lenses
*CONTACT lenses
*HYPEROPIA
- Language
- ISSN
- 0275-5408
Purpose: To establish whether axial growth and refractive error can be modulated in hyperopic children by imposing relative peripheral hyperopic defocus using multifocal soft contact lenses. Methods: A prospective controlled study with hyperopic participants allocated to a control or test group. Control group participants were corrected with single vision spectacles and changes to axial length and refractive error were followed for 3 years. For the test group, axial growth and post‐cycloplegic refractive error were observed with participants wearing single vision spectacles for the first 6 months of the trial and then corrected with centre‐near multifocal soft contact lenses with a 2.00 D add for 2 years. The central 'near' portion of the contact lens corrected distance refractive error while the 'distance' portion imposed hyperopic defocus. Participants reverted to single vision spectacles for the final 6 months of the study. Results: Twenty‐two participants, mean age 11.13 years (SD 1.72) (range 8.33–13.92), completed the trial. Axial length did not change during the first 6 months in either group (p = 1.00). Axial growth across the 2‐year intervention period was 0.17 mm (SEM 0.04) (p < 0.0005) in the test group versus 0.06 mm (SEM 0.07) (p = 0.68) in the control group. Axial length was invariant during the final 6 months in either group (p = 1.00). Refractive error was stable during the first 6 months in both groups (p = 1.00). Refractive error change across the 2‐year intervention period was −0.26 D (SEM 0.14) (p = 0.38) in the test group versus −0.01 D (SEM 0.09) (p = 1.00) in the control group. Neither the test (p = 1.00) nor control (p = 0.63) group demonstrated a change in refractive error during the final 6 months. Conclusions: The rate of axial growth can be accelerated in children with hyperopia using centre‐near multifocal soft contact lenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]