The prevalence of myopia was 2.5 billion people worldwide in 2020. One of the myopia control options is soft multifocal contact lenses (MFCL), which were originally designed to correct presbyopia with an aim to influence the central and peripheral mapping on the retina. They reduce the growth of the eyeball by allowing patients to maintain sharp vision and thus inhibit the progression of myopia. An observational study showed that MFCL demonstrated significant change in myopia progression after two years of use as compared to contact lenses (SVCL) and spectacle correction before the period of intensive growth, as reflected by change in refraction over time. The study has confirmed that MFCL is effective in controlling myopia in young patients under 20 years old and slowing the progression of the defect; therefore, it can be a potential therapeutic option for progression-preventive purpose. MFCL should be used before emerging into the period of intensive growth for optimal preventive outcomes.

References

Malinowski A, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2022;16:51-62.