ZEISS MyoCare Lenses Slow Myopia Progression in Indian Children

We conducted a real-world analysis of one of the commonly used myopia control lenses, i.e. MyoCare, to understand its efficacy in slowing myopia in children. The study was a single-center retrospective analysis of data collected from the Myopia Clinic, Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, India, involving children aged 6-16 years prescribed with MyoCare spectacle lenses. Data were extracted from electronic medical records, and children were matched for age and baseline spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error with those wearing single vision spectacle lenses (SV SPL). Changes in SE and axial length (AL) from baseline to 1 year were determined and compared between the two groups.

Similar to trends observed in other regions, there has been a steady increase in myopia prevalence in India, from 4.44% in 1999 to 21.15% in 2019, with projections indicating it could rise to 48.14% by 2050. This rapid increase signifies a growing public health problem, as myopia is associated with a higher risk of vision-threatening complications. Addressing this issue is crucial to prevent avoidable blindness and improve overall eye health in the population.

The results indicated that in this real-world sample, MyoCare lenses were associated with slower myopia progression compared to a matched control group wearing single vision lenses. Change in cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error and axial length from baseline to 12 months was -0.08±0.21 D/0.07±0.14mm with MyoCare lenses versus -0.28±0.37D/0.17±0.15mm for SV lenses (p < 0.001). Additionally, fewer MyoCare lens wearers experienced fast progression (>0.50D) and required prescription changes.

Yes—this was an interesting and important finding. Axial length reversal observed in 34.3% of MyoCare lens wearers compared to 5.6% of SV lens wearers indicates that ZEISS MyoCare lenses not only slow the progression of myopia but may also contribute to a reduction in axial length. This suggests a potential for reversing some of the structural changes associated with myopia, highlighting the effectiveness of MyoCare lenses.

The study found that ZEISS MyoCare lens wearers were younger (12.01±2.56 years) compared to single-vision lens wearers (13.19±2.29 years), which was statistically significant (p = 0.0237). However, multivariate analysis did not find an association between age, parental myopia, baseline SE, or AL with the progression rate of myopia. This indicates that the effectiveness of MyoCare lenses is consistent across different demographic characteristics.

This study’s findings provide crucial evidence supporting the efficacy of ZEISS MyoCare spectacle lenses in an Indian population, which was previously lacking. This could influence future research to explore long-term effects and larger sample sizes, and it may encourage clinicians to adopt myopia control spectacles including MyoCare lenses as a method for myopia management in Indian children.

Further research should focus on larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up to assess the sustained efficacy of MyoCare lenses. Additionally, exploring the impact of combining spectacle lenses such as MyoCare lenses with other interventions, such as behavioral modifications and pharmacological treatments, could provide a more comprehensive approach to myopia management.

Note: The title image was created by Generative AI / AdobeStock.