- Design
- Randomised non-inferiority trial, one-year interim analysis
- Population
- 194 children aged 8–13 with myopia −0.75 to −4.5 D
- Primary outcome
- Change in spherical equivalent refraction
- Effect
- −0.74 D vs −0.60 D; difference −0.09 D (97% CI −0.26 to 0.09)
This Chinese non-inferiority trial randomised 194 children aged 8 to 13 with myopia of −0.75 to −4.5 D to partition multipoint defocus optics lenses or highly aspherical lenslet lenses, an established myopia-control spectacle design. This is the one-year interim analysis of a two-year trial.
After a year, refraction changed by −0.74 D with the new lens and −0.60 D with the lenslet lens, and axial length grew by 0.26 mm and 0.19 mm. The difference in refraction change was −0.09 D (97% CI −0.26 to 0.09), within the −0.3 D non-inferiority margin.
The point estimates slightly favoured the established lens, and there was no single-vision control, so the absolute effect of the new lens is not known. The final two-year result is what matters.
For families, the wider message holds: myopia-control spectacle lenses are a practical option alongside low-dose atropine and outdoor time. Cost and availability in India vary.
- Offer a myopia-control option to children with progressing myopia, not just single-vision glasses
- Encourage at least two hours of outdoor time a day
- Measure axial length where available to track progression
- Wait for the two-year result before favouring the newer lens design
Why it matters
It adds an option to the growing set of spectacle designs for slowing myopia.
Don't overread it
This is a one-year interim result of a two-year trial, with no single-vision control group.
The statistics, in plain English
Non-inferiority means the new lens was not worse than the comparator by more than 0.3 D. The confidence interval (−0.26 to 0.09) stays inside that margin, but the axial length figures leaned slightly towards the established lens.
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