One-year trial shows success in slowing myopia with new lens design
Wearing specialized diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) spectacle lenses significantly reduced the 1-year risk of developing myopia and slowed myopic progression in children, according to results from a clinical trial.
The trial enrolled 450 children aged 5 to 12 years who did not yet have myopia. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either DSDO lenses with placebo drops, DSDO lenses with low-dose (0.01%) atropine drops, or standard single-vision lenses with placebo drops.
Over 12 months, children wearing either form of DSDO lenses had notably lower rates of new myopia cases and slower eye growth compared to those in the control group.
Only 5.8% of children in the DSDO group and 4.8% in the DSDO plus atropine group developed myopia versus 15.3% in the control group. The percentage of children experiencing rapid myopic progression was also significantly lower in the DSDO groups. The researchers noted that adding atropine drops provided no significant added benefit.
The researchers concluded that DSDO lenses alone may be an effective, non-pharmacologic option to delay myopia onset in children though longer-term studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Reference
Lu Y, Yang X, Zhou J, et al. Diversified Segmental Defocus Optimization Lenses With and Without Atropine for Myopia Prevention: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 10. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.2072. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40638107.
