This new systematic review and meta-analysis has evaluated use of smartphones and tablets separately to computer use and other non-screen based near work. Results are still mixed but overall there was a trend for a slightly increased risk with mobile device use alone, which increased when combined with computer use. More objective measures of screen time are needed to further explore this link.
A vision-screening program was able to provide data before and after Chinese schoolchildren were confined to home learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, more hours were spent indoors and less time was spent outdoors during this time, across all age groups. The younger schoolchildren had increased incidence of myopia and faster progression, whereas an increase in the prevalence of high myopia was found in the older children.
This study reports two year results from a randomized clinical trial examining myopia control spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) or slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL). The findings showed the HAL lens controlled refractive and axial progression by 50-55% and SAL by around 30% over two years. Read more about the outcomes and comparisons to other myopia control spectacles here.
This study showed that aspheric multifocal soft contact lenses (Biofinity +2.50D and NaturalVue) reduce accommodative response and increase exophoria, while MiSight concentric dual-focus minimally impacts binocular vision function compared to single vision contact lenses. All myopia control contact lenses increased divergence range slightly but did not impact convergence.
The MiSight 1 day clinical trial is the longest in soft lens myopia control, showing efficacy in children and teens in up to 6 years of wear. The first three years showed a 50-60% axial length and refractive efficacy. In the second three years, all control group children were switched to MiSight and showed axial growth similar to children under continued treatment, indicating benefits for commencing wear in children and teens alike.
This study investigated the accuracy of the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) myopia calculator in predicting myopia progression. The extent of myopia progression over 1-2 years in children corrected with single vision spectacles was accurately predicted by the BHVI myopia calculator in 32-38% of 7-13 year old Hong Kong children. Around one-third progressed more and one-third progressed less than the range predicted by the calculator.
This meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of orthokeratology in controlling the progression of anisomyopia (unilateral myopia or bilateral anisomyopia) in Chinese children. Total anisomyopia decreased at 2-year follow up, indicating orthokeratology may be a safe clinical method to slow myopia progression coupled with reducing interocular axial length difference.
The Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study has provided invaluable data on comparisons between 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.01% atropine treatment. The three year data has shown 0.05% to be most effective for continued treatment, while children discontinued showed a small, ‘clinically insignificant’ rebound effect. Learn more about the one, two and three year LAMP data here.
The long-term safety of contact lens wear in children is a known concern amongst parents and eye care practitioners alike. This six year study demonstrated successful contact lens wear in a group of 8-12 year olds, with no serious contact lens adverse events reported and no change in clinical ocular signs compared to pre-contact lens wear. This demonstrates that children as young as 8 can successfully wear daily disposable contact lenses for multiple consecutive years.
This meta-analysis of 5 studies of 1, 6 and 12 months duration found that slower axial growth is evident when using orthokeratology in conjunction with atropine as a combined therapy compared to orthokeratology alone. A slowing effect of 0.09mm was seen with the combined approach for up to a 12 month follow-up period. Longer data was not available for the meta-analysis.
